Have a rock and bowl Christmas!

A state-of-the-art new bowling alley opened in Mullingar this month - just in time to help families beat the recession blues for Christmas.Up until now, families in Mullingar and north Westmeath have had to travel to Longford, Athlone or Dublin to "hit the lanes", but now a dose of American-style family fun is in your back yard.The "Rock 'n' Bowl" centre is part of a 23,500 square foot building which will cater to the popular pastime, as well as a numerous activities, businessman JP O'Brien told the Westmeath Examiner prior to its opening earlier this month.The ten lane, ten-pin bowling alley - a new business venture by the O'Brien family - is located next to the O'Brien's Renault garage on Mullingar's Lynn Road.It includes numerous other attractions, such as electric go-karts and soft play areas for children; party rooms which cater for birthdays and other events; and an American-style pool, with a café diner.Outside, enough parking space has been created for a total of 100 cars. The venture is expected to create 25 jobs.The bowling lanes have been fully kitted out, and it is hoped that ten-pin bowling leagues will be organised in the future.The project has been in the pipeline for the past two years, and was built over a period of four months by Ollie Kenny Construction.