The sudden death on Tuesday of Councillor Seamus (Seamie) O’Boyle has stunned and saddened the community in Sligo.
The late Councillor Seamus O’Boyle
The popular politician, community activist and soccer enthusiast, who just turned 58 last month, apparently took ill while driving at Temple Street around 5pm and his van crashed into a house.
As the shocking news of the popular politician, community activist and soccer enthusiast’s death spread, tributes began to appear on social media and tributes continued to pour in as the Sligo Weekender went to press yesterday, Wednesday, afternoon.
They have come from all quarters, indicating the widespread affection for him locally and his work for the community not just in the Northside, where he lived, but in many areas, and for his beloved Glenview Stars soccer club.
It was that popularity and his work over many years as a community activist which saw him elected as a county councillor last year, as a candidate for People Before Profit. He had unsuccessfully contested a Borough Council election as an independent in 2009.
For more tributes to the late Seamus O’Boyle, see today’s Sligo Weekender newspaper.
The 2015 Fleadh Cheoil officially kicked off last Sunday, with President Michael D Higgins getting festivities under way.
We have to pages of photos from the opening night of the world’s biggest trad music festival. Pick up a copy of this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper for more, in shops now.
A new purpose built mental health unit to replace St Columba’s in Sligo is to be built on the grounds of Sligo Regional Hospital and is due to be opened in two years time.
NEW BUILDING: A computer generated image of what the new mental health unit at Sligo Regional Hospital will look like, with the main hospital building in the background.
Planning permission for the new building, which will have 25 bedrooms, was granted last week and the HSE said this week that it is anticipated that work on site will commence in the second quarter of next year and it is planned to open the unit in the third quarter of 2017.
Joy Synnott, Business Manager, Sligo Leitrim Mental Health Services, told the Sligo Weekender that this was a “good news story” for their clients, as it will provide inpatients with a modern facility on the grounds of the regional hospital.
“Clients will now be guaranteed privacy in single en-suite bedrooms within a purpose built unit designed to meet their needs.
“The ongoing stigma of having a mental illness/condition is also addressed because the unit will be on the Sligo Regional Hospital campus as an additional department and not a separate entity altogether.”
She acknowledged that the existing facility at St Columba’s has been strongly criticised in reports of inspections by the Mental Health Commission Inspectorate.
Ms Synott noted that Sligo Leitrim Mental Health Services were advised that “Plans to relocate to a new modern facility in Sligo General Hospital should be put into effect as soon as possible” and comments that the Ballytivnan building was “outdated and institutional in appearance”.
She said the current unit in Ballytivnan was one of the last “unmodernised” Acute Inpatient Units nationally.
“Cork has just opened a new facility, Louth/Meath are about to open their new unit which leaves St Loman’s in the Midlands and St Columba’s in Sligo as the final “old” units in the country”, she said.
Ms Synott pointed out that Vision For Change (the national strategy policy for mental health services) states that Acute Inpatient Units should “be located in major general hospitals”.
It also recommends there should be 30 inpatient beds per 300,000 population. The population (catchment area) covered by Sligo Leitrim Mental Health Services is 109,000 people and there will be 25 beds in the new unit.
The new unit will be located on the site currently occupied by the prefabricated buildings to the back of the Orthopaedic department and used by Sligo Regional Hospital as the Education Centre.
The Labour Party is expected to formally select Sligo Senator Susan O’Keeffe as the party’s candidate in Sligo-Leitrim for the next general election at a convention in Sligo next week.
CANDIDATE: Susan O’Keeffe
And government coalition partners Fine Gael will be hold their constituency convention next month.
Local Labour members will meet next Tuesday, August 18, at 7.30pm in the Sligo Southern Hotel and it is expected that Senator O’Keeffe will be only name before the convention.
Senator O’Keeffe was unsuccessful but put in a good showing in the 2011 general election in Sligo-North Leitrim polling over 4,500 first preferences votes. She was subsequently elected to the Seanad on the Agricultural panel. She had previously stood as a candidate for the European elections in 2009.
Fine Gael will decide on who and how many candidates will represent the party at a convention to be held in the Mayflower ballroom, Drumshanbo, on September 18.
So far only outgoing TDs Tony McLoughlin and John Perry from Sligo along with Leitrim Senator Michael Comiskey have announced they are seeking a nomination but others may yet emerge. The number of candidates to be run will be made known at the convention.
They say of the best dancers that they were dancing almost as soon as they could walk, but in the case of 27-year-old Edwina Guckian, that is no exaggeration or cliche.
STEP UP: You can catch Edwina Guckian Sean Nos dancing on the Gig Rig stage on Saturday or in the Riverside Hotel. Photo by Sean Carleton
The talented Sean Nos dancer – and former Leitrim Rose of Tralee – was leaping about the kitchen floor, following in her mother’s footsteps, since the age of two. She quickly picked up the moves and a lifelong passion for movement.
And it is a passion she was eager to instill in others. A primary school teacher by profession, Edwina has been teaching dance for much longer, 14 years in fact. She is the founder and head teacher of the dance school Sean Nos ar an tSionann which originated in Carrick-on-Shannon (Sionann is the Irish name for this river).
Now, that school has classes in six different counties. She works with 11 different teachers. And the whole lot start up again next month.
With her dancing and teaching keeping her busy, Edwina has put the other day job on hold, which she needed to do to complete a pet project she’d been nurturing for seven years, the release of a DVD.
“About a year ago I said ‘Right, I’m going to take some time off school now and I’m going to focus on dance’,” Edwina told the Sligo Weekender.
“It was my family and my friends dancer Liam Scanlon and musician Stephen Doherty that really pushed me into it [making the DVD] and said ‘Would you just make it!’.”
For the full interview with Edwina, pick up a copy of this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper. In shops now.
National Heritage Week will be celebrated in novel fashion at Sligo Abbey on Sunday, August 23 with a free concert not to be missed, from local band Rackhouse Pilfer.
MUSIC: Rackhouse Pilfer to play a free gig in Sligo Abbey on Sunday, August 23.
A fiery exciting six-piece Sligo band who have been getting rave reviews with their rootsy blend of Americana, Irish and country, Rackhouse Pilfer racked up the miles and the acolades in 2014 and so far this year.
They were named Live Band of the Year by Hot Press and Jagermeister. They also recorded in Nashville and took on their first headlining nationwide tour of Ireland, where they even got to perform for President Michael D. Higgins in the gardens of Aras An Uachtarain.
One of the many highlights of the last 18 months is playing two of the biggest Bluegrass festivals in Europe, including the La Roche Bluegrass Festival in France, where they performed just last week.
Formed in 2012 by the fireside of McGarrigle’s bar, they initially performed a largely acoustic set of bluegrass and folk hits from their favourite Americana artists. It wasn’t long before they had to be plugged in to be heard, due to their growing popularity and swelling crowds.
Don’t miss this band’s fantastic harmonies and amazing musicality in the hallowed surroundings of Sligo Abbey on Sunday , August 23 at 3pm. Best of all the concert is free, but get there early to get a good vantage point.
Classical harpist Ramona Sakalauskaite will perform two concerts during the Fleadh, which draw parallels between traditional Irish music and the world of classical compositions.
Ramona, a harpist of international renown, will perform in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Sligo this evening, Thursday, August 13 at 7.30pm. She will also perform in St John’s Cathedral, John Street, on Saturday, August 15, also at 7.30pm. There is no set ticket prices, but contributions are accepted. Half of the contributions will go towards the two respective churches.
Ramona is set to deliver an eclectic programme for both concerts. She will be performing the tunes of O’Carolan and showing the similarities between his great compositions and that of Shostakovich, Bach, Mozart and more. She will be joined by guest singer Mabel Chah and together they will perform their own interpretation of traditional Irish ballads, contemporary Irish songs and more.
These concerts will be as informative as it is entertaining and, in these two majestic venues, they will capture the spirit of Irish music as clearly as any event in the Sligo Fleadh Cheoil.
The organisers of this year’s Fleadh in Sligo, which will get underway this Sunday, believe that the numbers attending will be even bigger than last year.
ALL SYSTEMS GO: Sligo Fleadh Cheoil chairman Bartley Gavin
It was estimated that over 350,000 people visited the town over the week of Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in 2014, generating around €40m for the local economy, but Fleadh chairman Bartley Gavin is expecting even more next week.
“We would expect, given the positive reaction to last year’s Fleadh, that there would be even bigger numbers this year.
“We got a lot of very positive press and there were a lot of people saying it was a great Fleadh. One man, who is in his 60s and has been to a lot of Fleadhs, said it was the best he has been at.”
Mr Gavin also said there was a “huge demand” for accommodation.
For the full story, see the Sligo Weekender newspaper. In shops now.
An enjoyable night was had by a lovely group of local women in Ciúnas Spa, Cromleach lodge, on Thursday last, July 30th.
The therapists at Ciunas Spa at Cromleach Lodge (l-r): Aishling Ryan, Natasha Quinn, Eimear McDermott of Voya, Bernadette McPadden and Niamh Kerins.
The evening began with a welcome cuppa, some Cromleach cookies and a catch-up on all the local news as neighbours met.
Ciúnas Spa is very proud to carry the Voya range of products and treatments. Not only is it probably the foremost organic spa product in the world, but it is created locally in Strandhill. Eimear McDermott, representing Voya, gave a very informative facial demonstration to the attentive gathering.
Afterwards, all converged on the thermal area to enjoy the outdoor hot tub, the steam room and the sauna. The hot tub in particular was in high demand on one of the few summery evening we’ve had in 2015.
Each guest was treated to a mini facial during this time, accompanied by expert advice on skincare.
Afterwards, reluctant to part, most of the group headed to the bar for a much-needed bite and sup after all the activity.
The evening was very well subscribed and I understand that Ciúnas Spa is planning more of these in the future. All details of same will be available on www.cromleach.com/ciúnas.
Sligo Summer Festival is upon us again and this year will be the first time there will be two International headliners for this community event in Stephen St Car Park.
STAGE: Wheatus headline Saturday night.
Boney M headline the Friday with support from Attention Bebe, Indian, The Quakers and Peter Mooney. Saturday sees “Teenage Dirtbag” stars, Wheatus, headline and they will be joined by Interskalactic, This Side Up, Charlie Foxtrot plus there will be a slot for acts representing the Crib Youth Club.
Gates open each day at 5pm. Music will start at 6pm and run until 11pm. There is a voluntary donation on the gate of €3 for over 14’s each night.
Be sure to get in early as the car park fills early each year and when it is full, it is full!
There are two fringe events on the Saturday as part of the festival this year with the “No Limits, Get Active” Family Sports day on O’Connell St on Saturday from 12-4.
Then head up to the Mall at 4pm for the annual Soap Box Race.
The best news is that dry weather has been forecast on Friday evening and all day Saturday so the crowds are expected to be huge!
See “Sligo Summer Festival” on Facebook for running times and updates.
The achievement of the two Sligo members of Team Ireland in winning gold and silver medals at last week’s Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles has been described as “extraordinary”.
SPORTING HEROES: World Games medal winners Margaret Carr and Thomas Connolly, displaying their medals.
Margaret Carr from Calry won a gold medal in 18 hole individual golf tournament on Thursday last, while the previous day Thomas Connolly from Coolaney took silver in equestrian events.
Margaret (54), is a member of the Fairways club at County Sligo Golf Club Ladies branch. She has been playing golf for over 15 years now. Thomas Connolly (38) is a member of the Night Riders Special Olympics Club.
Sligo County Council cathaoirleach Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady said: “They have done their county, their country, themselves and their families proud. Their achievements are extraordinary,” she said.
She said that a civic reception in their honour would be held in the council chamber in the near future.
Margaret and Thomas were part of the very successful 88-strong Team Ireland, which in all brought home 82 medals, amassing 26 gold, 28 silver and 28 bronze medals. The team also received 41 placement ribbons and secured 31 personal bests.
The team arrived into Dublin airport to a rapturous welcome on Tuesday morning.
Then that afternoon Margaret and Thomas were given a garda escort as they arrived back in County Sligo to a reception at the Connaught Special Olympics office in Collooney.
There were joyous scenes as they were welcomed home and congratulated by their families, friends and supporters.
And that night there were futher welcome home gatherings for both in their home areas.
