The large-scale public-sector industrial dispute has affected some shows at Sligo Live Festival due to nationwide work-to-rule action centred on public-sector pay deals.
The dispute affects public venues, schools, colleges and other areas. One such public sector concert venue is Knocknarea Arena as it is part of ATU Sligo College.
In a statement issued today by event organisers, they said steps are being made to limit the impact on audiences with some events set to be postponed to later dates, rather than being cancelled.
They said: “To avoid disappointing audiences, Sligo Live has decided to move the sold-out Stephen Wilson Jr. Concert on Saturday, October 17 from Knocknarea Arena to the TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar.”
The change is necessary because the original venue, Knocknarea Arena on the ATU Sligo campus, will not be available due to restrictions resulting from a nationwide work-to-rule action by public sector unions that began last week. This action means that core venue staff, whose presence is required for legal and safety reasons, are not available outside normal hours or for functions outside the core activities of their employment.
Arrangements are being made for three other events scheduled for the Knocknarea venue during Sligo Live, starting with Kyla Cobbler’s sold-out show scheduled for October 18. This show will be postponed to a date later in the year or early 2027. As the Dara O’Briain and Rosanne Cash shows are due to take place a week later, we will await possible developments on this industrial action next week before making any further decisions. An alternative staging date is, however, currently being considered for both shows, if necessary.
Sligo Live Festival celebrates its 21st Anniversary this year, and it is the biggest, longest-running and most successful indie Festival in the West of Ireland. Sligo Live runs from October 17 to November 1. See the full list on www.sligolive.ie.
