Restaurant review: This is what a local restaurant should be

Service at the Fatted Calf in Athlone was warm and efficient and our server even offered to decant our wine to open up the flavours

Joe McNamee: "This is what a local restaurant should be, I need to visit more often." 

I’ve written before about my hometown of Athlone and complained a lot about how it turns its back on the Shannon, its best feature. But I can’t change the fact that I feel at home there, it is part of me, so no more complaining today.

I can’t claim to be a part of Athlone, however, not since my mother died in 2014. My only connection is her (and my father’s) grave in Cornamagh cemetery which is where I placed a colourful planter on Mother’s Day this year.