An Indian government minister and the Indian ambassador in Ireland were in Sligo on Tuesday night for the unveiling of a monument to an internationally renowned poet from their country.
Major tourism plans outlined for Hazelwood Estate
The Hazelwood Estate is set to become a major tourist attraction following the announcement of ambitious plans for the historic site by it’s new owners.
Retail park to be sold in €162m package
SLIGO Retail Park along with four other retail parks are set to be sold as part of a package with an asking price of €162 million.
On Baile’s Strand performed on the beach
Blue Raincoat Theatre Company perform On Baile’s Strand WB Yeats on Streedagh Beach in Co. Sligo on Midsummers Day, 21 June. The production kicks off a summer-long Festival, A Country Under Wave which will see Blue Raincoat perform all 26 of WB Yeats’ plays in Sligo, within the dramatic geographical features which inspired the poet and playwright.
Blue Raincoat Theatre Company performed On Baile’s Strand WB Yeats on Streedagh Beach on Midsummer’s Day.
The production kicked off a summer-long festival, A Country Under Wave, which will see Blue Raincoat perform all 26 of WB Yeats’ plays in Sligo, within the dramatic geographical features which inspired the poet and playwright.
Rock school for young musicians
The Glens Rock School, a non-profit community Rock School for young musicians, will be held again this summer, with some of Sligo and Leitrim’s top musicians tutoring and performing with the participants.
Art exhibition to launch famous estate re-opening
A new chapter of reclamation will unfold for Hazelwood Estate this Sunday with the launch of a large-scale visual art exhibition in the old Saehan factory.
Berkeley: Frantic calls and tense time for Sligo parents
A Sligo mother whose daughter is in Berkeley and knew some of those killed in Tuesday’s balcony collapse tragedy has said her “heart was nearly stopped” until she realised that her daughter was safe.
A Sligo student currently living in the area on a J1 visa also gives his account of waking up to frantic calls from Sligo as the tragic events reached the media in Ireland.
See this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper for the full story. In shops now.
Armada cannons recovered from Streedagh
A local group has “welcomed with delight” the announcement yesterday, Wednesday, of funding for the preservation of the Spanish Armada wrecks site at Streedagh.
Photo by James Connolly
“This development is something that we have being working towards for the past five years,” said Eddie O’Gorman, Chairman of Grange and Armada Development Association (GADA).
He was speaking in the wake of the recovery from the sea near Streedagh beach of cannons from the wreck of one of three Armada ships, which foundered off there in 1588.
Yesterday morning Minister for Arts Heritage and The Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys visited the dive site where members of her Department’s Underwater Archaeology Unit are securing and recovering material from the remains of a ship called La Juliana.
It is believed the material became exposed as a result of storms over the last two years.
The items found include a number of cannons, which are described as being in excellent condition. One cannon bears the date 1570, the year La Juliana was constructed.
The recovery operation is expected to last a number of weeks.
Minister Humphreys announced that recovered material will be conserved by the National Museum of Ireland.
“My Department first became aware that some new material from the Armada wrecks may have been uncovered in April of this year, following reports from the local community and the Grange Armada Development Association that large numbers of ships timbers were being washed ashore. Since April, my Department has put an action plan in place to carry out dive surveys and safeguard the site”, the minister said.
“We have uncovered a wealth of fascinating and highly significant material, which is more than 425 years old.” She said that on current evidence, the other two wreck sites (of the La Lavia and Santa Maria de Vision) remain buried beneath a protective layer of sand.
Meanwhile, Eddie Gorman said recent survey findings have revealed the vulnerability of the Armada wrecks at Streedagh and GADA is determined to assist and support the State authorities in the recovery and preservation of precious artefacts contained in the endangered wrecks.
“We are appealing for funding for a number of developments which will enhance this unique tourist resource and attract international visitors to the north Sligo region.
“The first step is the urgent upgrade of the old courthouse at Grange to provide a state of the art Armada Interpretive and Visitor Centre which will act as a focal point for the work on the Streedagh Wreck site,” said Mr O’Gorman.
The group also feels the development of a secure holding facility in Grange to house the necessary ancillary vessels and equipment is of vital importance.
Situation ‘changed utterly’ says new Cathaoirleach
The new cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Rosaleen O’Grady spoke of how they needed to adapt to a situation that had “changed utterly” in Sligo in recent years, in her acceptance speech at Monday’s council AGM.
The Fianna Fail councillor was joined by one of the largest ever groups of family and and friends (including her baby grandson Harry) seen in the council chamber for the election of a cathaoirleach.
It is the first time that Cllr O’Grady, who was first elected to the county council in 2009, has held the post.
She was however Mayor of Sligo on three occasions. Remarkably she was first elected as Mayor at her very first meeting of the Borough Council in 1999.
Describing it as an “honour and privilege” to be elected to the chair, Cllr O’Grady said that the issues and economic landscape of the county had changed in recent years.
“To quote WB Yeats, all is changed, changed utterly”, she said.
And she said: “We must all change to adapt to the situation that we now find ourselves in.”
She said that their economic situation presented a difficult challenge but she believed that they had “the capacity, ambition and will to meet the challenge”.
Apart from that, Cllr O’Grady listed the development of a coach park in Sligo town, the securing of funding for a cardiac catherisation laboratory at Sligo Regional Hospital, more housing and the affect of the recruitment embargo on the provision of services as major issues to be tackled.
She spoke of the success of the Fleadh and the visit of Prince Charles as two occasions in the past year when Sligo had “shown what it can do” and she said it was important that they would do all in their power to portray a “positive and vibrant” view of Sligo.
Cllr O’Grady, who succeeded party colleague Cllr Joe Queenan in the chair, was proposed and seconded by Fianna Fail colleagues Cllrs Tom MacSharry and Seamus Kilgannon.
Independent councillor Margaret Gormley was proposed by Cllr Declan Bree, seconded by Cllr Sean MacManus seconded.
On a vote Cllr O’Grady was elected by 10 votes to 7.
She was supported by Cllrs Baker, Kilgannon, MacSharry, Mulvey, Queenan, Scanlon and Taylor of Fianna Fail and Cllrs Keaney, Maguire and Mulvey (Fine Gael).
Voting for Cllr Gormley were Sinn Fein councillors MacManus and Healy, Independents Casserly and Clarke, Bree (Ind Socialist) and O’Boyle (People Before Profit).
Cllr Paul Taylor was proposed as Leas Cathaoirleach by Cllr Eamon Scanlon, seconded by Cllr Martin Baker.
Cllr Sean MacManus was proposed for the post by Cllr Bree, second by Clr Healy.
Cllr Taylor was elected by 10 votes to 6, with a similar voting pattern, other than that Cllr Clarke abstained.
Pepper Alley closes it’s doors
A well known Sligo business has closed its doors this week.
Pepper Alley Cafe closed down this week following 17 years of business at its location on Rockwood Parade. Its sister cafe, Park Alley which is in the Cleveragh business part also closed its doors.
Yesterday, Wednesday, a sign was in the window of the long established cafe in Sligo which thanked customers and staff and explained that the closure was beyond the control of Janette Lindsay, the owner of Pepper Alley.
Sligo designer in driving seat to become ambassador
An award-winning fashion designer is on course to become a Nissan Generation Next ambassador.
Rebecca Marsden, from Tully, Clogherevagh, Co. Sligo, is just one step away from receiving keys to a brand new, taxed and insured Nissan to drive for a year.
Rebecca’s dedication to her blossoming career in the fashion industry has greatly impressed the car company, who developed the programme which supports ambitious people who have what it takes to become leaders of tomorrow.
Rebbeca, 26, qualified from a group of hundreds of applicants and she is now through to the public voting phase with 20 other candidates, of which ten will become ambassadors.
“I absolutely love Sligo but it is impossible to get around without a car and I share my mum’s car during the week,” explained Rebecca.
“Having a Nissan would without a doubt help me further my business and to achieve my goals in a stress free and stylish way. We fashion ladies do like a bit of style,” she added.
You can vote for Rebecca online by visiting www.nissangenerationnext.ie Votes must be cast by Monday, July 6.
Sea Shanty to find voice this weekend
One of Sligo’s most unique festivals of the summer returns this weekend.
Rosses Point will play host to the sixth annual Sea Shanty festival where people can go and enjoy the songs of the sea from June 19 to 21.
The Shanty Festival brings together groups from different countries who all share a love for the sea and it’s inspired songs.
Proceeds from both concerts held on the weekend, the Gala Duck Race and Harry’s BBQ go to Sligo Bay Lifeboat Station.
The festival kicks off on Friday night with the “Songs for the Lifeboat” concert in the Church of Ireland.
On Saturday afternoon festivities include poetry reading and local sea tales at Yeats Country Hotel, a session workshop linking shanties and American music titled “From Bluegrass to Bluewater” in Harry’s and the Traditional Cake Dance at Austies, followed by the annual Go As You Please Race and the Fundraising Concert in Sligo Yacht Club at 8pm.
Sunday morning starts with a remembrance ceremony at Waiting on the Shore statue followed by the Blessing of the Boats at the pier.
Sligo Bay Lifeboat station are also hosting an Open Day and the rest of the day is packed with events starting with the Family Treasure Hunt at 2.30pm and on the water events include rowing races, the Maugherow Cup and the much anticipate Gala RNLI Duck Race.
The festival will then draw to a close at 7.30pm with prize giving and the final sing along of shanties with all the groups.
Festival Chairman Willie Murphy said “we are looking forward to welcoming all the groups from overseas, Ireland and, of course, our own local shanty groups.
It’s great to keep the shanty tradition alive, promote the RNLI and, of course, this great village Rosses Point. It’s a fun, easy going weekend. Do come out and join us.”
Full details are at www.rossespointshanty.com
