A Dail debate this week has called for an independent judicial review of a bombing which killed a Sligo woman.
Pictures from Sligo Weekender now available!
See a picture in the Sligo Weekender you really like? Wanna get it on your Facebook page, or maybe Instagram, or what about Linkedin? Digital copies of all our photographs, from the events we attend, are now available through our website. Simply go to the gallery, then click and buy the images you like for only €5. We send to your e-mail address, it’s yours to show or share, simple. Enjoy!
Sligo Retail Park Make One Man’s Perfect Christmas
Jude Nugent of Ballyshannon Co. Donegal was the lucky winner of over 1500 in vouchers and prizes from Sligo Retail Parks “Win Your Perfect Christmas Promotion”
Jude’s mother Joan said “I couldn’t believe it when you called I thought it was a wind up, Jude is delighted with all the vouchers”
Jude & Joan picked up their lucky entry form by spending over 10 in PC World’s Sligo store and won 1500 in vouchers from Castledavitt Furniture, Currys P.C World, Homebase, Homestore & More, Smyths Toys, McDonalds, Harry Corry and EZ Living Furniture.
Jude seen here collecting his prize from Philip O’Brien of Creation Media is going to put some of the vouchers towards a video camera for Christmas and use the rest in the sales.
Joan says “We travel nearly every week from Ballyshannon and they know us in most of the stores, we love the brands and the service not to mention the free parking. I think at this stage we’ll hold on to the New Year as there will be great value in the sales”
Christmas certainly came early for one lucky family!
Sligo Walking Festival to take place in January
These are exciting times for Sligo and Northwest of Ireland, with adventure sports and wellness events bubbling up across the county.
The latest addition is the first county-wide walking festival on Friday 27, Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 of January 2017.
Local award winning adventure providers Northwest Adventure Tours are behind this new festival.
Collaborating with the Riverside Hotel, they have put together an enticing package that is attractive for both visitors coming to Sligo for the first time and for locals looking for a new perspective of their home town, i.e. an elevated one.
The Walking Festival aims bring visitors to Sligo and showcase the stunning natural beauty of the area.
The team at Northwest Adventure Tours is looking forward to meeting walkers old and new out on the hills. They have included a wide variety of walks so there is sure to be a walk to suit to your individual level of fitness.
The full story can be found in this week’s Sligo Weekender.
Pick up a digital copy here at sligoweekender.ie or get a copy in shops.
Mrs Brown’s star gives €30k to little Rory
ONE of the stars of Mrs Brown’s Boys donated €30,000 towards the medical care of a Sligo boy with cerebral palsy.
Rory Gallagher (4) was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at eight months old and his family were told he’d never walk, talk or see properly.
Rory’s parents Shauna and Gerry are selling their family home in order to fund surgeries and ensure their youngest child has every available opportunity in life.
In recent days, Rory’s mother had a phone call from Danny O’Carroll, son of comedian
Brendan O’Carroll, who told her his family had been following Rory’s story for quite a while.
“He asked me how would €30,000 go for us and I just burst out crying. It’s been a rough year, so for this to happen now, it means so much. He’s taken away all that stress. The O’Carroll family made our Christmas. I feel like they’ve given Rory the chance to have the chances he deserves,” Shauna said.
The donation comes from Brendan, Fiona and Danny O’Carroll. Danny explained that he had been following Rory’s progress on social media.
“I knew the operation was coming up soon. I saw at one point they were €30,000 short. I called my dad and my sister [Fiona]. We all agreed to donate €10,000 each. It’s always nice to make the phone call, but I wasn’t expecting that reaction from Shauna. She was bowled over. I had a little cry too,” he said.
The Gallagher family are currently in St Louis, where little Rory has just had eye surgery, which now gives him perfect vision, something Shauna and Gerry thought might never happen.
“Words can’t describe how we feel. Rory is in great form and has been telling everyone that his eyes are now fixed. Lots of happy tears have been shed.
“When he was 10 months old we were told that our baby was blind in his right eye and that the vision in his left was very poor. We were told that there was nothing that could be done. It’s amazing to be here today and know that he now has equal vision,” Shauna said.
Despite the uphill battle Rory has faced since his birth, his parents say he is an incredibly happy boy and always has a smile on his face.
“He’s recently learned he has cerebral palsy after asking why he isn’t able to walk. After we explained it all to him, he just took it all in his stride,” Shauna commented.
If you would like to donate to Rory’s fund, you can make a donation at www.gofundme.com/roryswishtowalk
Sligo drivers urged to take caution
People in Sligo have been urged to take extra caution on the roads this winter.
Highlighting Sligo County Council plans for dealing with severe weather conditions, Council Cathaoirleach Councillor Hubert Keaney said: “Difficult road conditions are a regular hazard at this time of year, whether through frost and snow, heavy rain or strong winds.
“While the Council roads crews will be deployed to treat our county’s main routes, we are asking motorists to think about every trip and take extra care every time they take a journey this winter.”
Cllr Keaney pointed out that last year there were 166 fatalities on Irish roads, and this tragic figure includes drivers, passengers, pedestrians, motor cyclists and pedal cyclists.
“The highest number of fatalities on our roads are young people (between the ages of 16 and 25). The figures produced by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) also show a high incident of ‘no seatbelt’ as a factor in fatal collisions, amounting to 29% of the total figure.
“As well as urging drivers to take extra caution, I would also encourage vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists to always wear a high vis jacket when going on the road”, he said.
He said that information on road safety can be obtained on the Road Safety Authority website, www.rsa.ie and information and advice on being “Winter Ready” in the home, on the farm, in schools and on the road can be found on our website www.sligococo.ie or by contacting our Customer Service staff at 071 9111111.
