236 new jobs have been announced for Sligo.

U.S. Plastics manufacturer GW Plastics are setting up in the North West as part of a global expansion.

The company will be based in Finisklin Industrial Estate and will provide employment in areas such as engineering and production. They are expected to set up on the premises of Avenue Mould Solutions, whom they purchased two years ago.

GW were founded in Vermont in 1955 and focus on surgical components, diagnostic devices and drug delivery systems.

The project is supported by the Irish Governnment through IDA Ireland.

Fine Gael TD Tony McLoughlin welcomed the latest jobs boost for Sligo.

“This is yet another positive day for Sligo on the jobs front and it comes on the back of the 1,200 new jobs that had been announced by other IDA and Enterprise Ireland supported companies in 2018.

“These new jobs announced for Sligo today by ‘GW Plastics’ are greatly welcomed and will help to drive Sligo on to becoming the powerhouse of the growing North West Region as intended within the Government’s ‘Ireland 2040’ Plan.

“With regards to this announcement by ‘GW Plastics’ today, I want to wish the company well at its new IDA Advanced Technology Building in Finisklin, Sligo and I want to congratulate the local IDA team for their hard work and efforts in delivering these jobs to Sligo.”

Calls have been made for Sligo County Council to consider the re-introduction of a directly-elected mayor.

A motion was put forward by Cllr Tom MacSharry at the Municipal District meeting who questioned why Sligo was not selected with Waterford, Cork and Limerick as part of a plebiscite due to take place in May.

Cllr MacSharry cited a petition of 1,100 sigantures carried out by
Martin Forde, who attended the meeting, a number of years ago in support of a directly elected mayor for Sligo.

“I would like to welcome Martin Forde and his brother Eric to the Council Chamber. Martin is no stranger to the body of politics here in Sligo and I can, without any contradiction, say you are a friend to all parties and none and you have the respect of every member here.”

“History will judge whether a directly elected mayor is a good thing or not but it is good thing that it is being considered at the moment,” he continued.

“Given the fact that Martin went out on his own initiative and got 1,100 signatures requesting that Sligo have a directly elected mayor.

“It is with regret that Sligo hasn’t been included in the plebiscite, we lost our borough council like Waterford and I don’t see any reason why we weren’t included.”

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

Alternatively, you can purchase an online edition here.

Sligo County Council have been asked to respect burial traditions when opening the new extension of Sligo Cemetery.

A number of concerns were raised at the Munipal District meeting of the council on Monday that the Christian tradition of burying the deceased facing east must
not be overlooked with the current layout suggesting that people will be buried facing north.

Cllr Declan Bree said: “I note that according to the schedule of works the planned works in the new extension to the cemetery in Sligo are expected to commence next month with a completion date by the end of June. I understand that concern has been expressed regarding the plans for the new extension.”

“It is a Christian tradition that people are buried facing East,” he continued.

“Others religions practise this also. However I understand that the plans for the new extension to the cemetery propose that people will be buried facing North.”

Cllr Tom MacSharry also warned that breaking this tradition could lead to unnecessary complications.

“I believe this has happened elsewhere in Ireland where there was a compliance issue, so I hope it didn’t result in legal action against the local authority in that case, so I would ask that you would take the concerns of the church on board to the best of your ability and avoid any unnecessary situation.”

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

Alternatively, you can purchase an online edition here

GARDAI in Sligo are investigating an incident where diesel was siphoned from lorries.
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It is understood that diesel was siphoned from trucks at Cawley Commercials in Sligo, who released still shots taken from CCTV footage.
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From the pictures, a group of men can be seen applying an apparatus to a parked lorry to extract the fuel.
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Also, a white Ford Transit van can been seen parked some distance away from the lorry as the incident unfolded.
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Cawley Commercials issued a statement via their Facebook page which detailed the incident.
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“Last Saturday morning [January 19] at 4.30am we had diesel stolen from a number of trucks at our workshop,” they said.
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They go on to explain that three men were at the scene with the white Transit van.
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Meanwhile, gardai in Sligo have appealed to business owners to be vigilant.
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“We are asking business owners to be vigilant following an increase in thefts involving ‘siphoning of fuel’ from HGVs and trucks,” they said this week.
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They have urged anyone with information regarding the taking of fuel to contact them at Sligo Garda Station on 071 91 57 000.

Gardai are carrying out enquiries following two car fires which occurred in Sligo town this morning.

The first incident happened in the Connaughton Road car park when a vehicle was broken into and set alight. Gardai attended the scene at approximately 6.30am and the fire was extinguished by the Sligo Fire Services at 6.50am.

The second incident occurred in the car park of Sligo Cathedral a short time later when a vehicle was set alight. Gardai attended the scene at 7am and the fire was brought under control by the Sligo Fire Services at 7.41am.

No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.

The coldest temperature in the country last year was recorded in Sligo but the county also experienced heat, storm and a bit of snow in what was a year of extremes weather-wise in Ireland.

The year began with Storm Eleanor bringing strong winds on January 2 and after a cold and dry February Storm Emma at the beginning of March gave widespread snow in a cold and changeable month.

The Government’s emergency taskforce issued warning of “serious and life-threatening” blizzard conditions which did cause widespread disruption in many parts of the south and east but thankfully not as badly in Sligo.

Things were radically different in the summer with heatwave and drought conditions in many places towards the end of June continued into early July in several places lasting longest in the South and East.

This prompted warnings in relation to health, fires and possible water shortages as temperatures soared.

Changeable weather returned towards the end of July and continued in the North and West for much of August.

For more on this story, pick up this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper. In shops now.