Local actor Bob Kelly will present his final work-in-progress reading at the Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo on Thursday, October 20.

Bob has been the Theatre Artist in Residence for 2016 where he has worked on developing the theatre’s training programme through workshops, rehearsed readings and discussions including hosting a ‘chat show’ after selected theatrical performances as well as being given time to work creatively on projects.

He will perform a reading of ‘Tintown’, a one-man piece which explores the internment of republican prisoners in the Curragh Camp, drawing on the experience of his grandfather who was once held there.

“It is primarily the story of my grandad who was in there for a few years back in the 40s during World War II and and he left the IRA while he was there. I thought his was interesting story because he was so young and because he dedicated several years to the Republican cause but didn’t actually hurt anybody.

I figured looking at it through his eyes might be a good idea and let the audience get in there without feeling that they are trying to identify with somebody who committed an act of terrorism.”

The piece also draws a picture based on stories told in official documents and books.

For more on this story, see this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper – in shops now!

If you were one of the many of disappointed people who couldn’t get into the Sligo Masonic Hall on Culture Night last month, don’t worry, as due to the immense interest shown, there will be a second Open Night on Saturday, October 22.

Tours of the Hall will commence at 3pm and run every 30mins with the last tour at 8pm.

Come along and have a look around one of the Sligo’s hidden treasures and find out what happens within this fine building and discover if what you know, or think you know, about Freemasonry is accurate.

On each tour you will be shown around the building, including the Lodge Room, with plenty of time at the end to ask all the questions you ever wanted about Freemasonry to members of the Order.

Each tour last for approximately 45 minutes and is limited in numbers, so places must be reserved. This can be done via Eventbrite.com Just search for Sligo Masonic Hall Tour, and chose a time. Please be aware that admission for a tour will only be gained with a valid reservation.

Unfortunately, the building is not wheelchair friendly, as there are steps from the street to the front door and then stairs to the first floor, both of which are used throughout the tour.

The Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government informed Sligo County Council on 3^rd October that it is ‘prepared to sanction in full for the recruitment of all six staff requested.’ The sanction is for four permanent staff and two contract staff for a period of six months.

A public notice concerning the recruitment of the additional Library staff will be placed shortly.

As the recruitment process will take some time, a series of temporary ‘rolling closures’ affecting Sligo’s Branch Libraries in Sligo, Ballymote and Tubbercurry will continue pending the appointment of the additional staff.

Sligo County Council regrets the ongoing disruption to the service, but can reassure Library Members and the general public that full services will resume once the staff have been recruited.

In light of rolling closures, revised opening hours for Branch Libraries until mid December 2016 are listed below, for review at that time.

Please note that the Mobile Library and Enniscrone Library services will operate as normal.

Corporate Services

Sligo County Council

5^th October 2016

Details of revised library opening hours October 11^th – December 17^th 2016

A restaurant opened earlier this year in Collooney has won one of the most prestigious dining awards in Ireland.

Nook Café and Restaurant, run by Ethna Reynolds, was chosen as the Newcomer of the Year, 2017. Ethna was presented with her award by Georgina herself at an awards ceremony earlier this month.

Commenting on this award in her citation, Georgina said “Recent openings have mainly been in cities, especially Dublin, so it is particularly pleasing to give recognition to an excellent new small restaurant, opened in a village setting by a young and very dedicated owner chef.

“Small but with a perfectly formed culinary ethos, this little gem of a café only opened in May but it soon earned a following for its seriously impressive menu and good cooking.

“Oilcloth-lined tables, jugs of fresh flowers and a large kitchen dresser filled with cookbooks and mismatched teacups give it a homey feel, almost like being in a friend’s kitchen, but don’t be fooled by the relaxed ambience as the owner-chef has an impressive culinary pedigree and an exceptional commitment to quality.

“The first thing you’ll notice about the menu – besides how tempting every dish sounds – is the focus on fresh, local artisan ingredients, from the meat to the cheese and right down to the beautiful salad leaves.

“Dishes that could be ordinary in lesser hands, take on special character here: a burger served on a brioche bun with Gubbeen cheese and the house burger sauce, for example, or Jordan’s Atlantic Seaweed sea salt and herb crusted fish of the day with house fries, slaw and chunky Markree herb tartar sauce.

“A delightful addition to the area, this charming spot is already becoming a destination in its own right.”

Ireland’s longest-running hospitality accolades, the Georgina Campbell Awards are completely independent. Unlike most other award schemes, they are not commercially driven and in no way affiliated with trade associations or marketing groups.

Sligo county councillors were not persuaded to entertain an increase in the property tax as part of a deal being offered to ease their present financial situation, it emerged at a special meeting of the council on Monday.

The deal would have involved the council agreeing to a 15% increase in the Local Property Tax in Sligo, in return for having access to an extra just under €1 million to spend on local projects and services including providing extra money to keep all three branch libraries in the county open.

What was described by Cathaoirleach, Councillor Hubert Keaney, as a “good deal for Sligo” came out of a meeting last week between Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Simon Coveney, the council cathaoirleach, council CEO Ciaran Hayes and Fine Gael TD Tony McLoughlin.

That meeting, to discuss the financial plan imposed on the council by the department, was organised following the outcry over the temporary closing of the central library in Sligo and the threat that either it or one of libraries in Ballymote or Tubbercurry could be closed more long-term.

Monday’s meeting of the council had been scheduled before the present library situation emerged.

It is a meeting that must be held every year to discuss “a local adjustment factor” to the Local Property Tax. Each local authority can decide to increase or decrease the national property tax rates by up to 15% in their own area.

Independent Socialist councillor Declan Bree, seconded by Cllr Gino O’Boyle of People Before Profit, proposed a 15% reduction in the tax.

Cllr Bree said the tax “has been used by central government to pay off the debts of the speculators, developers and the bankers. These taxes are unfair, these taxes are unjust, these taxes are immoral”.

He and Cllr O’Boyle were supported by Sinn Fein councillor Thomas Healy.

For more on this story see this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper, in shops now!

City Hall in Sligo was packed with guests, many in Spanish Navy uniform, for a Gala Reception on Saturday evening last.