We have loads of pictures in this week’s paper from around Sligo including Sligo Championship Wrestling, The Colour Dash, Keash Tractor Run and much more.
To spot you and your friends around County Sligo, pick up a copy.
Pictures in this week’s paper
Abbott investment ‘will help create new jobs’
A combined investment of €10 million by global healthcare company Abbott and IDA Ireland will help create new jobs in Sligo, it has been claimed.
Pumps used to drain Rockfield Graveyard
IT has come to light this week that a Sligo Cemetery has had to be pumped before remains are buried in it.
Cars blocked from car park
Sligo County Council has said it is liaising with gardai after a car park at Connaughton Road in Sligo town was blocked for on two days this week.
Correction to the history of Mullaghmore
The following is a letter received from the residents of Mullaghmore in relation to a monument erected in the Sligo village:
It is regrettable that the monument erected to remember those who once lived in the townland of Mullaghmore is not inclusive of all the people who did live there. We feel it is very important at this stage to set the record straight about a lot of inaccurate and misleading information that has been circulating in the social media, press releases to various local papers and to radio stations.
While we understand the rationale behind the creativity in sensationalising the story line for the benefit of the fundraising for this project, we feel that in the interest of accurate recording of the history of the people and events of this era, we should take pen to paper to correct the mythical stories that are in circulation at present.
Thomas McHugh known as Freddy lived all his life in the North Lodge on the Classiebawn estate and not in the Gate Lodge, which is at the main entrance of the castle. Freddy’s parents Thomas and Anne McHugh and his siblings lived there also.
During his lifetime Freddy had access to firewood from the Classiebawn woods and as he advanced in years, the firewood was delivered to him. In fact, every local in the area had access to firewood from the estate. Freddy had no need to burn the furniture for warmth.
His death certificate states that he died in St. John’s hospital in Sligo from natural causes and not on the side of the road from hunger, malnutrition and hypothermia. Freddy visited many of his neighbours where he enjoyed their hospitality. It is an insult to the people of Mullaghmore to state that he died on the side of the road from hunger and hypothermia.
In 1960 Mullaghmore was a very close knit community and in no way would any of his neighbours have ever allowed this to happen and neither would the owners of the Classiebawn Estate.
There are people living who happened to be in Freddy’s house after his death and they found it to be fully furnished with iron beds and a dresser of fine crockery.
During Freddy’s lifetime, Jules Bracken was the manager was the manager to the Classiebawn Estate. His obituary states that “he was noted for his straightforwardness in all his dealings with the public and his generosity in contributing to any charitable purpose. His home was a model of good husbandry.”
He was succeeded by Mr. Patrick O’Grady who was also held in very high esteem. Gabrielle and Aideen Gore-Booth of Lissadell succeeded Patrick O’Grady – all of who never failed or wavered in their duty to look after the welfare of the occupants of the various houses on the estate.
Lord Louis Mountbatten was very kind and generous to all of his staff and to the local community in Mullaghmore. The local community thought very highly of him and his family. His wife Edwina Mountbatten visited Classiebawn Castle during the second world war where she thoughtfully visited every house in Mullaghmore and delivered blankets and tea during this period of ration.
The Griffith valuation of 1858 states that there is a townland called Mullaghmore which has 10 houses and each house has a holding of land. This is no village or town as it is set in a rural setting with no shop, church or school consequently there is no record on any official maps of a village called Mullachgearr.
When Classiebawn Castle was completed in 1874 some of these households were re-housed in the townland of Kilkilloge and the surrounding areas.
Each holding was doubled in size to compensate for moving these people out from the townland of Mullaghmore.
Kind regards,
On behalf of the historically concerned Mullaghmore residents
Sligo doctor involved in Mediterranean refugee rescue
A Sligo doctor was involved in the rescue of 6,000 migrants in the Mediterranean sea over the weekend.
Conor Kenny, originally from Ballincar in Sligo, is a doctor with Médecins San Frontiéres (Doctors Without Borders) and was involved in the rescue of close to 700 people on Friday last while on board the MV Aquarius.
Doctor Kenny spoke to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland this week about the rescue.
“On Friday morning at around 6am we were directed to a boat in distress by the Italian Search and Rescue Committee in Rome. When we began the rescue of that boat, we could then see another eight boats.
“Over the course of the day we were working with other rescuers and we managed to rescue a total of 25 boats. In all that was about 2,000 people which is an incredible amount of rescuing to be doing in one day,” he said.
The nature of the rescues are described as “difficult” by Doctor Kenny. Many of the vessels that migrants are travelling on from Libya and other Mediterranean countries are poorly equipped for the open sea.
Additionally, there were other complications such as a fuel spillage.
“We were dealing with a fuel spillage so when some of the people made their way on to our boat, we had to treat them for fuel burns. Some of them were very severe. For us in the doctors without borders clinic, it will be hard to forget the screams of the many women inside who we were treating,” he said.
More from Conor Kenny’s interview can be found in this week’s Sligo Weekender.
Doctor proposes allowance cut for ‘anti-vaxxers’
A doctor who is a native of Sligo has hit out strongly at those who oppose vaccinations and has proposed a controversial way to ensure parents vaccinate their children.
Sligo Special Olympics looking for collectors to help on Friday
Special Olympics Ireland are issuing a call for their annual Collection Day in Sligo tomorrow, Friday May 5 to help transform lives through sport.
This year’s theme is ‘Currently Seeking Superheroes’ with the goal of recruiting volunteers to help on the day and inspiring the wider community to give what they can.
Special Olympics has a long history in Yeats country. Regional Advancement events are taking place throughout Connaught and the county is well represented across 13 sports including bocce. Francis Kenny and Geraldine Marren from Tubbercurry competed at the Special Olympics Connaught Region Bocce Advancement Event at NUI Galway. They train with Cara Bocce Special Olympics Club.
Connaught Regional Director Myra Merrick explained the importance of sport in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities like Francis and Geraldine.
“Special Olympics Ireland is first and foremost a sports organisation for people with an intellectual disability, but it provides athletes with far more than the physical benefits of sport. Every day we see athletes demonstrate courage, experience joy and
share long lasting friendships.”
Athletes from as young as six can train in a chosen sport and ultimately improve their quality of life. Athletes’ families build an invaluable network of friendship and support, but money raised through the annual Collection Day is critical to the future of the programme. This year’s goal is to raise €650,000 on May 5.
“We need 150 people to help in Sligo alone,” said Merrick.
“If that many volunteers can spare a couple of hours to rattle a bucket, we’ll be a long way to meeting our target. Collection Day is the only day in the year where a call is issued for every community to support Special Olympics Ireland at the same time. There will be lots of coffee mornings, bag packs and fun events to get involved in too.”
People looking to volunteer can register their interest at www.specialolympics.ie/collectionday. Anyone who is unable to volunteer is asked to give what they can on the day or make a donation online.
Bishop embroiled in Maternity row on governance
The Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran has become embroiled in the row over the governance of the planned new National Maternity Hospital in Dublin.
New boss has ambitions
Gerard Lyttle says Rovers can do much better with the squad they possess
By Alan Finn
THE new Sligo Rovers first team manager Gerard Lyttle may be new to the League of Ireland, but his interest in the club extends back to the 1990s.
Dog rescue service closes its doors after online abuse
By Alan Finn
Rescue Dogs Sligo, the only service of it’s kind in the county, announced its closure last weekend.
