On a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon hundreds gathered in Strandhill to participate in the launch of Sligo’s newest walking route – the Queen Maeve Trail.

The trail, constructed by Sligo County Council, was officially launched by Cathaoirleach Cllr Joe Queenan and received a blessing from Rev Arfon Williams and Fr Niall Ahern PP on the day.

Particular thanks was extended to the landowners who generously granted access to their land in the development of the route. Appreciation was also expressed to the designers and workmen for their diligence and skilfulness in creating a walkway along this challenging upland terrain.

“For many years, locals and visitors alike have enjoyed the walk up Knocknarea from the southern Glen side carpark. This new route compliments and expands on this route by providing access to the summit directly from Strandhill.” said Michael Carty of Sligo County Council.

The walk takes approximately 90 minutes and walkers are reminded that this walk is suitable for anyone with a moderate level of fitness, though parents are reminded that, as with all walks, it is important to provide a level of supervision of children.

The new 2.4km trail starts at Dolly’s cottage on the R292 near Strandhill, taking walkers up the Northern slopes of Knocknarea, past Megalithic and Bronze Age remains, on through Coillte forests along a raised boardwalk or ‘bog bridge’ to the summit.

“This will be the first of many new trail developments planned for the Summer” adds Carty. “Anyone, anytime, can take in the scenery of Sligo through a number of recently added walks.

“There is something special about Knocknarea, and with so many visitors expected in Sligo this Summer ahead of Yeats 150 and the Fleadh Cheoil, we want to get the word out to everyone, locals and visitors, that these walks are there for people to come and enjoy.”

The Queen Maeve Trail has been developed by Sligo County Council as part of the Border Uplands Project which is a joint venture between ICBAN, Fermanagh District Council and the County Councils of Sligo, Leitrim and Cavan.

The Project is funded under the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Cross-Border programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The support from landowners, Coillte and supporting agencies making the project possible. For more, visit www.sligowalks.ie

There is just over one week to go to the first Mayor’s Ball of the post-Borough Council era.

With the abolition of Sligo Borough Council last May, there had been concerns that the position of Mayor would not be retained, but it was and Cllr Tom MacSharry took the chain of office as chair of the Sligo Municipal District and Mayor of Sligo.

Mayor MacSharry will host the Mayor’s Charity Ball in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ballincar on Sunday, May 3 (May Bank Holiday Weekend). This is a black-tie event and tickets are €60.

As is traditional a number of charities will benefit from the proceeds of the ball. This year five worthy causes were chosen. They are:
– Friends of Sligo Regional Hospital
– Sligo Lions Club
– North West Hospice
– The Adam Kennedy Trust
– The Marcus Moore Trust

The Mayor’s Ball remains one of the top three social events in the Sligo calendar and as well as great food there will be ample entertainment into the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday.

To purchase tickets, you can call Tom MacSharry directly on 087-4163730, call Louise on 087-7595720 or 071-9149473 or call in to Tom MacSharry Solicitors on Teeling Street, Sligo.

As expected two Sligo nominees, Senator Marc Mac Sharry and Cllr. Eamon Scanlon, were selected to represent Fianna Fail at the next general election in the Sligo-Leitrim constituency, at a convention held in the Bee Park Community Centre in Manorhamilton last Friday evening.

But it has been suggested that Leitrim councillor Sinead Guckian could yet be added to the ticket to have a Leitrim candidate and it would also help the party’s gender quota requirement.

More than 600 members attended the convention which was chaired by Fianna Fáil Vice President and Spokesperson on Transport, Tourism & Sport Timmy Dooley TD.

Although eight people had been nominated, four of them, Senator Paschal Moone, Cllr Paddy O’Rourke and John Ellis from Leitrim and and Brid Ni Dholain from Killeshandra withdrew their names. Senator MacSharry was selected first, exceeding the quota of 200 by 75 votes. The other votes were Eamon Scanlon 157, Sinead Guckian 94 and John Paul Feeley 72.

Of MacSharry’s surplus Eamon Scanlon got 30, Sinead Guckian 40 and John Paul Feeley 5.

Eamon Scalon was selected on the third count on the elimination of Feeley.

IT Sligo hosted Ireland’s first ever ‘ROAR’ on Tuesday afternoon.

The event, held in conjunction with a #BreakTheSilence campaign took place in the canteen where a group of students gathered to shout simultaneously for the cause of raising awareness about mental health.

Leanne McCafferty, a student at IT Sligo and one of the event organisers, explained why the event was held.

“We wanted to create awareness about mental health in the college as well as helping to break the stigma attached to it because we found that students were aware of services for mental health but there was a fear of seeking help because you feel you are going to be judged. Considering the name of our campaign is #BreakTheSilence we decided it would be fitting to have an event called ‘ROAR’ which of course is literally breaking the silence,” she said.

“Due to time constraints for students we held it in the canteen at lunch time because everyone would be here. It was something that worked in two ways, one being that it relieved stress and it is good for their own mental health and secondly it creates awareness throughout the college and there is no fear or shame in being associated with mental health because it something that affects us every day.”

Following Tuesday’s inaugural ‘ROAR’ event, Leanne is confident that it can become a a national, annual staple of mental health campaigns on campuses across the country and a simple means for students to release stress at a hectic time of year.

“The organisation for the prevention of mental health stigma in Ireland have said that they are willing to facilitate the event in other colleges because it so unique and it also fun and in no way time consuming.”