Nestled in the cosy south Sligo village of Banada lies a tranquil park built as a symbol of cross-border reconciliation.
The Banada peace gardens, opened in 1997 by Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume, has continued to grow and develop over the last 19 years as it became the centrepiece which encapsulates the scenic beauty of the area.
PEACEFUL: A section of the peace garden where many visitors enjoy walks and picnics.
The project was the brainchild of the Banada Development Association, of which Sean Owens was a member. He spoke to the Sligo Weekender this week about the gardens.
“The history of the garden goes back to 1996 when Austin Tuffy from Enniscrone took on the job. He did a lot of the preliminary work and then turned it over to us and a development agency and since then we have made a lot of changes there. In 1997 we dedicated part of it as a peace garden and it was the first of it’s kind in the country and it has been developing for nearly 20 years ever since.”
When your journey through this region of the county takes you into the village, it is impossible to miss the impressive park which has attracted locals and visitors alike who wish to take in the rich beauty and history, which features many interesting fixtures including a authentic 18th century famine pot.
“It is the biggest and the best of the gardens in Co. Sligo, with eight acres it is doing very well for itself and there are people there every day of the year, they come for walks in the summer and the winter and there is a great variation of wildlife within the park itself also. There is a lot of history there also, there is the fenian stone where they stood and swore the oath the keep the movement going and then across the bridge is the old graveyard and friary which has a lot of history and folklore attached to it.”
While the park is always developing, Sean admits that it is difficult to envisage what will happen next, but this community has proven with their mammoth efforts that they are not lacking in ideas.
“We never know what will be next. People ask us, but I honestly say that I don’t know. We were approached by Donal Tinney, who is in charge of the 1916 celebrations in Sligo, about doing something in that line and we said we would by building a garden of rememberance for those who died. It has taken four months to do, it was a fairly long haul but the work is done now and we are ready to have it opened.”
Despite now supplying more than 50 different markets around the world Aurivo Co-operative Society remains “very committed to being rooted here in the north west”, its CEO Aaron Forde has said.
In the course of an interview this week with the Sligo Weekender, Mr Forde spoke about:
• The tough times being experienced by dairy farmers, with the “real pain maybe yet to come” this year.
• The decision to move the production of Connacht Gold butter from Achonry to Cork.
• His hopes to sustain the co-op’s network of stores in the region.
• And the future for the family farm.
FINANCES: Aurivo CEO Aaron Forde (right) with the co-op’s Chief Financial Officer Donal Tierney (left) and chairman Tom Cunniffe at the announcement of the co-op’s financial results for last year.
Mr Forde was speaking following the release of the financial results for last year for the co-op which employs around 150 people in Sligo and around 700 overall.
Total operating profit of just over €3m, was down on the €6.73m in 2014, largely due to the co-op supporting milk prices to the tune of around €8m.
He acknowledged it wasn’t one of their better years but said it was still a “good year”.
“We managed to produce a profit, which is important so that we can invest and develop the business for the long term, and it showed the strength of the business that we could support our members and end up with a strong balance sheet.”
He said it was also good year as they won 44 new business and milk quality awards.
Mr Forde said that in a difficult dairying year they ran the second year of the farm profitably programme with about 16 events involving around 800 farmers.
“That’s important in helping people through these difficult times”, he said.
On milk prices he said that Aurivo paid an average of just over 30 cent in 2015, but “unfortunately the journey has been sharply downward since then”.
“The outlook now, being honest with people, is that there will be very little recovery in prices until very late 2016 or very early 2017, with markets as they are and milk supply as it is and a stock overhang and product in public storage in intervention.”
And he warned: “The real pain may be ahead as we head into peak milk at these low prices. We will do everything we can to support members as best we can but we also have to keep a strong business here for them in the medium and long term as well.”
But he is optimistic about the future for dairying. “In dairy we think we have a strong, sustainable supply basis of just over 1,000 farmers from the top of Donegal down into Galway and into Offaly and Westmeath, etc. We are working hard with those on the farm profitability programme and the best of them can produce milk as sustainably as anywhere in the world.”
He admits that things are more “challenging” in the beef sector.
“On the beef side we are probably going through more of an evolution in terms of how many times an animal gets traded in its lifetime and the changes in farm structure and operation that brings. There will be more changes in terms of numbers and farm structure.”
But he feels that over time grass fed beef will attract a premium and “we are well placed to play in that market place”.
Asked about the decision to move the production of Connacht Gold butter from Achonry to Mitchelstown, he said the move is about “sustainablility and building a sustainable consumer packing operation for the future”.
“A number of options were looked at and clearly the most sustainable one was to partner with Ornua plant in Mitchellstown which will have throughput of approximately 10 times the Achonry site.
“We couldn’t hope to invest more money in Achonry and produce maybe five to six times less volume and hope to have a sustainable operation. The most viable option was the one we took.”
Mr Forde said they were currently working with the “most impacted people, the employees”, to help people “transition from their role in Achonry” and if they’re not going to take one of seven jobs advertised to find other roles for those that want to.
He said if there was a viable case for keeping production in Achonry “by all means that would have been our first choice” but he said that “in a world in which we don’t have unlimited capital at our disposal it entails making choices and making the best use of that capital as we see it”.
Although Aurivo describes itself as “globally focused”, Aaron Forde doesn’t see it as having outgrown the region.
“Our reach is much bigger than the region in that we are in about 50 markets throughout the world but we are certainly rooted and very committed to being rooted here in the north west and being part of the communities that we are operating in.”
Asked about keeping the co-op’s present network of stores, Mr Forde said that if they weren’t a member owned business “the store footprint would be dramatically different”.
He pointed out that up until fairly recently their “store footprint” was unchanged from the early 70s despite dramatic changes in farming.
“We have made some modest changes but we are aiming to keep a service to members even where that may be at a cost to the society.”
But encouraging people to support the store network, he said that was the best way to sustain it.
In 2015 Aurvivo made an operating profit of €3.03m on revenues of €420m but profits were down from €6.73m in 2014 and revenues were also down from €447m in what the co-op describe as a “volatile” year for dairying.
Aurivo say that while supporting its milk suppliers through a milk stability fund and through co-op reserves did impact the financial performance of the organisation, the impact was significantly lessened due to a good performance across the Consumer Foods business, Agribusiness, Livestock Marts and their investment portfolio.
In all the co-op paid out €112m in milk cheques to around 1,000 dairy farmers in 13 counties.
The co-op also processed record volumes of milk at 411m litres, with milk supply up 12% in the post quota era from April to December.
Aurivo’s Consumer Foods business performed strongly with sales increasing by €5.1m to €80.4m.
Agri-business also performed strongly, albeit turnover declined marginally by €1.4m to €101.4m.
Marts business had a good return with year-on-year turnover increasing by 6.8% in 2015 to €86.5m.
2015 financial summary (with 2014 results in brackets)
Group revenues €420m (€447m)
Group operating profit €3.03m (€6.73m)
Consumer Foods revenues €80.4m (€75.3m)
Dairy Ingredients revenues €99.5m (€135.8m)
Agribusiness revenues €101.4m (€102.8m)
Marts revenues €86.5m (€81.0m)
Other activities’ revenues €52.1m (€52.1m)
Total equity/ Net assets €56.8m (€56.9m)
X-Men leader Professor X and Guardians of the Galaxy’s Starlord were at Strandhill’s Culleenamore Beach last Saturday, 23 April.
They weren’t there to battle supervillains, but to return to their natural habitat. Starlord and Professor X – two baby grey seals – were rescued by locals and nursed back to health by Seal Rescue Ireland. On Saturday they were released back into the wild on the Sligo beach in front of a small group of onlookers.
FREE: Professor X and Starlord are released at Culleenamore strand.
The two seals were found on the West coast, severely emaciated and with respiratory infections back in November 2015 and have been recovering at the Wexford based sanctuary since, looked after by a dedicated team of volunteers to ensure that they have the best chance of survival back in their natural habitat.
It was there they were also given their superhero monickers by the Seal Rescue Ireland staff.
“It was estimated that they were around eight weeks of age [when found] and were only weighing in at 14-15kg, which is incredibly underweight for a grey seal pup which should be 45-50kg at only three weeks old,” Amy Carter, Seal Rescue Ireland volunteer co-ordinator, told the Sligo Weekender.
The pups are now 6 and a half months old, and with Starlord now at 50kg, and Professor X weighing 61kg, the pups were ready to go back into the ocean.
One of three sites around the globe where grey seals are found, the Eastern Atlantic population includes those found around the coast of Ireland and Britain and is estimated to contain around 125,000 grey seals.
Amy continued: “We try to always release seals back into the wild in pairs, so that they’ve got each other to swim out with and follow.
“We had a great set of volunteers helping with the release, led by Mel Robinson. We’re the only place in Ireland that rehabilitates and releases seals, so we were really excited to get them back where they belong.”
Two more songs, one more vote. That is what stands between Kelesa Mulcahy and winning The Voice of Ireland.
SINGER: Kelesa Mulcahy during the Semi Final of The Voice Of Ireland in The Helix.
From the blind auditions through the song battles and two live heats in which she won the support of the Irish public, Kelesa now has just two songs to earn those votes again, and lift the Voice of Ireland crown.
And we now know what those songs will be.
Hoping to blow the roof off the Helix, Kelesa will be performing her favourite song of the competition “Sax” by Fleur East and then “Downtown” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis as her second track.
Speaking to the Sligo Weekender from the rehearsal room in Dublin, the Cartron native admitted her success to date has still not sunk in.
“I am still in shock. It has just been snowballing over the last few weeks. After the quarter finals I had two weeks so you could take a breath but since then it has been every week. I have been in Dublin for the last three weeks doing things for the Voice,” she said.
“I am kind of in my own bubble up here [in Dublin]. It is still hard to gauge it and get it to fully sink in.”
For more from Kelesa ahead of her appearance if in the final of The Voice of Ireland, see this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper – in shops now, or get your digital edition here on www.sligoweekender.ie.
The current crop of local youngsters may find it hard to believe that Bill Haley rocked around the clock and pretty women walked down the street to see Roy Orbison in Sligo, but for a certain generation, seeing a major international act in Strandhill was a regular occurrence.
A large crowd made their way to the Sligo Bay Lifeboat Station for the naming of the new lifeboat.
AT THE READY: Sligo Bay Lifeboat Station crew get ready to launch the newly named Sheila & Denis Tongue Atlantic 85 lifeboat.
The vessel, a state of the art Atlantic 85, was given to Sligo Bay Lifeboat as a legacy left to the RNLI by the late couple Shelia and Dennis Tongue, whose name the boat bears.
Speaking at the naming ceremony, Martin Reilly, chair of the Sligo Bay Lifeboat Management Group, paid tribute to the ongoing work of volunteers in Sligo’s branch of the RNLI.
In particular, he praised Wille Murphy, the current Lifeboat Operations Manager who follows in the footsteps of the late Harry Ewing and the late Stuart Hunter who both held the position in the past.
“In total we have 70 plus volunteers as part of our team. There is a wonderful sense of community and friendship. We have a man who works tirelessly to put it all together, which is the wonderful Willie Murphy.”
“I would like to thank him (Willie) personally, for all of his hard work. One thing about Willie is there is never a problem, but always a solution,” he said.
Mr Reilly also paid tribute to the two aforementioned station managers for their contributions to Sligo Bay Lifeboat Station.
“We must remember the legacy of the late Harry Ewing and Stuart Hunter who both served as Lifeboat Operations Managers for many years. Since we have had our first call out in 1998, we have had many call outs and saved many people. Our last boat, the Elsinore, had 189 call outs bringing 159 people to safety. In the last year alone, we have saved four lives,” he said.
Martin Reilly added that he could not say enough to “express my gratitude to those who help to keep us safe at sea.”
Raymond Tongue, who was joined by his brother Philip and their wives Andrea and Susan, spoke of the honour it was to pass on the Atlantic 85 to Sligo Bay Lifeboat Station.
“It give me great pleasure to be here. My aunt and uncle were both born and lived, grew up and worked in Birmingham. Further from a lifeboat they could not have been. When they retired they moved to the south coast of England in the community of Exmouth.”
“It was there they learned of the work, and began to admire the work of the RNLI. I think it is true to say that because of the public standing, work of the crews and volunteers of the RNLI that the two became active supporters of that community. I think it is because of that that we are here today,” he said.
Raymond also spoke of the community spirit which surrounds the RNLI in Sligo.
“You should be proud, and justifiably proud, of the people who work and serve this community as part of the RNLI. I feel honoured that I am able, on behalf of my aunt and uncle, to hand over to the RNLI of Sligo this lifeboat. May it serve you well,” he added.
For more coverage from the launch, see this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper – in shops now, or get your digital edition here on www.sligoweekender.ie.
The diversity and range of career possibilities in engineering will be showcased at a special interactive event for students and jobseekers at IT Sligo on Thursday May 5.
TECHNOLOGY: Fergal Broder of LotusWorks and Vincent Cunnane, President of IT Sligo.
The Engineering Expo is a free public event, bringing together leading national and international engineering practitioners along with training expertise in the sector, and schools from across the North West region.
The Expo will be held in IT Sligo’s Knocknarea Arena and is open to students, parents and jobseekers who are interested in finding out more about the vast array of jobs available in engineering, and the skills needed to get them.
“The purpose of the event is to highlight the vast range of career paths open to students and jobseekers,” explains Mary Nolan, the Engineering Expo Coordinator.
“There is a wonderful diversity within engineering – and this event will strive to illustrate that. Engineers are problem solvers, organisers, communicators, calculators and designers. They make a difference to people’s lives every day.”
For more on this story see this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper – in shops now, or get your digital edition here on www.sligoweekender.ie.
The go-ahead has been given for a factory building which has in the past manufactured nylon yarn and video tapes to now produce whiskey.
Planning permission has been granted by Sligo County Council this week for the ambitious plans to restore the 18th century Hazelwood House and to turn the massive adjoining factory building into a distillery and visitor centre.
The present owners of the historic estate, Dublin-based couple David and Sue Raethorne, hope to turn Hazelwood House into a major national tourist attraction, which will attract thousands of visitors a year.
The planning permission is for alterations and change of use of the former 20,000 sq metre Saehan Media factory, in which a South Korean company manufactured VHS video tapes from 1987 to 2005. The factory, which covers five acres, was built in 1969 by Italian company Snia to manufacture nylon yarn but it closed in 1983.
The building will undergo a major facelift to give it a more attractive appearance.
Hazelwood House itself is to undergo an extensive restoration to become a visitor centre. It is proposed to have tours of the house and to have museum/exhibition areas, together with whiskey history information and tasting areas integrated in a distillery tour.
It is also planned to have a restaurant/tea rooms, two executive residential suites and to convert the styables to craft workshops/trade displays.
The property was bought by David and Sue Raethorne in December 2014.
Previously, the estate was bought in 2006 by Foresthaze Developments, a consortium of mostly local businessmen for €10m. In 2007 they applied for permission to build 158 detached houses and 54 apartments in four blocks but their planning application was refused.
The property was put up for sale in 2013, with a guide price of €2.5m, that was reduced to €550,000 and the estate was sold in December 2014 for an undisclosed sum.
A Gala Concert will be held in IT Sligo on Saturday April 23 at 8pm to raise funds for NW MS Therapy Centre, Ballytivnan and Sligo Grammar School Music Department.
STAR: Sinead Conway
Building on the huge success of the fundraising concert held 2 years ago, it was decided to hold another concert this year, this time to help out the NW MS Therapy Centre.
The evening will be made up of a number of pieces performed by both the Past Pupils Choir and the current school choir, and this time Carbury National School Choir, made up of children from 3rd to 6th class, will perform for the first time on a public stage. The performances will be interspersed by a selection of vocal and instrumental pieces performed by special guests.
These will include, Sinead Conway Kohlmann, who has entertained audiences both locally and internationally, Kieran Quinn, who has run a series of hugely popular, sell out theme nights recently and Jonathan Carter, a classically trained baritone who has performed in Riverdance and internationally as guest soloist for many choirs and musical groups.
The evening will be hosted by RTE’s Tommie Gorman, who himself holds a keen interest in choral events and has been executive producer of RTE’s hugely popular programme The All Ireland Schools Choir Competition. He believes that schools choirs demonstrate superbly, ‘the ethos of teamwork and group activity’.
The concert promises to be a superb evening of entertainment, music and song.
Tickets are available from Sligo Grammar School, Carbury National School, the North West MS Therapy Centre, Ballytivnan and the MS Therapy Charity shop in the Wine Street Car Park.
The evening starts at 8pm on Saturday 23 April and will be a fully seated concert.
Vehicles big and small, from classic Honda 50s to brand new tractors took to the roads around Gurteen on Sunday, April 17 to raise funds for the Gurteen Playground & Recreation Group.
Tommie Nolan and his 1980 Porsche 924 are ready for the VIntage car run in Gurteen.
O’Dowd’s Warehouse provided enough space for the tractors, classic cars and motorbikes to assemble ahead of the run, which started at 12 noon. Entry was €20. After the run was over, the participants were invited to The Cross Bar in Gurteen for a monster auction at 4pm.
Kelesa Mulcahy has made it to the semi-final of The Voice of Ireland after she gained the largest share of the public vote for Team Kian.
STAR POWER: Kelesa Mulcahy during the fourth live show of The Voice Of Ireland.
The Sligo native is through to the penultimate round of the competition this week and is delighted with her success so far.
“I am buzzing. Totally buzzing. I couldn’t hear I was through at first because the atmosphere was just electric. I heard Kathryn [Thomas] say my name, but I had to ask Jasmine beside me ‘am I through or am I going home?’” Kelesa said.
Kelesa won the public’s vote to be put into the semi-final this weekend after wowing the audience and the nation with her rendition of the Fleur East song ‘Sax’.
Each week, the Cartron native has looked to vary her song choice and keep viewers guessing as to what song she will sing.
“You have to up your game every week to stay in. I love doing the big performance songs. I love singing and dancing and I just want to give it my all,” Kelesa commented.
Kelesa’s mentor is fellow Sligo native Kian Egan.
For more on this story see this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper – in shops now, or get your digital edition here on www.sligoweekender.ie.
