The highlight of Sligo’s Centenary year of celebration will be a ‘Day of Commemoration’ which commences at 12.04pm on Sunday, April 24, on the 100th Anniversary of the reading of the 1916 Proclamation.
‘Music Rising’ is a free open-air concert in Stephen Street Car-park and will feature an-all local line up, with some of Sligo’s top internationally touring musical acts, including Michael Rooney and the Sligo Folk Orchestra, Dervish, Rackhouse Pilfer, Moxie, NoCrows, Seamie O’Dowd and Kieran Quinn.
The days’ activities will also include a procession through the streets of Sligo followed by the raising of the tricolour and reading of the 1916 Proclamation at City Hall, the unveiling of a ‘Sligo Roll of Honour’, a civic reception hosted by Sligo County Council for the families of the Sligo people involved in the 1916 Rising, and a fireworks extravaganza to bring the celebrations to a spectacular close
The Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady, encouraged the people of Sligo to come along.
“This will be a spectacular, colourful and vibrant musical celebration by some of our most notable performers, and is arguably the highlight of our year-long programme. I see the Centenary programme as a gift to the current generation, a gift which enhances and informs our sense of identity, and provides an invaluable insight into the events that shaped our nation.
“As well as informing us, this programme will also challenge us to question old certainties, consider new perspectives and broaden our historical horizons with the wealth of archival material being published.
“I would strongly encourage people of County Sligo not to let 2016 pass without making the effort to attend an event, Sunday 24th April will be an opportunity for the people of Sligo to enjoy, celebrate and reflect.”
Donal Tinney, Sligo 2016 Commemoration Co-ordinator emphasised the family-friendly nature of the celebrations: “We are encouraging as many people from Sligo and the neighbouring counties to enjoy a feast of excellent music.
“We are very privileged in Sligo that we can organise a national scale event like Music Rising fully from our own resources. We are grateful to the Ireland 2016 Committee for their support and to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, IPB Insurance for their generous financial assistance.
“We also appreciate the support of our teams of volunteers organised through Sligo County Council and Sligo Leader. All of the musicians are locally based; as are the backroom team and volunteers running the event. It is an excellent example of how events like the Fleadh and Sligo Live build up a professional level of excellence, which has enduring benefits for the area.”
Music Rising is a 1916 Easter Rising Centenary initiative by Sligo County Council’s 2016 Steering Group and is funded through the Ireland 2016 Commemoration Fund.
Timetable for April 24
12.04pm
The day of festivities opens with a host of family activities. A procession led out by the Army and including marching bands and invited local groups will follow a route from Lower Pearse to Quay Street. Outside City Hall the tricolour will be raised, there will be a reading of the 1916 Proclamation and the unveiling of the ‘Sligo Roll of Honour.’ A Display of ‘Sligo through the decades’ banners will decorate a number of shop windows along the procession route in the lead-up to 24th April.
2.30pm
‘Music Rising’ celebration gets underway in Stephen St car-park with a reading of the 1916 Proclamation. The opening performance is by Michael Rooney and Sligo Academy of Music Folk Orchestra, followed by Sligo’s top musical acts, concluding with Dervish at 8pm.
5pm
Civic reception hosted by Sligo County Council in Sligo Park Hotel for the descendants of the Sligo families involved in the 1916 Rising.
9.30pm
Fireworks extravaganza to light up Sligo’s night sky.
