There were calls for more resources from central government for Sligo’s library services at a Sligo Municipal District meeting on Monday.
Donald Trump’s running mate has Sligo roots
By Alan Finn
SLIGO could have it’s very own man in the White House in the next year depending on the outcome of November’s presidential election in the United States.
Donald Trump, who secured the Republic candidacy on Tuesday night, announced last weekend that Mike Pence, the Governor of Indiana, would be his running mate.
The 57-year-old is an Irish-American representative whose roots can be traced back to south Sligo.
It is understood that his grandfather, Richard Michael Cawley – after whom the vice president hopeful is named – emigrated to the United States from Tubbercurry in 1923 where he went on to work as a bus driver in Chicago.
In a 2006 interview with The New York Times, he stated that he and his grandfather were “especially close,” and that he sees his “thrift and hard work in today’s immigrant generation.”
For more on this story, be sure to pick up a copy of this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper – in shops now!
‘Ulysses’ sold for €9,500
A limited-edition copy of James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’, owned by a Sligo doctor, sold for €9,500 after less than a minute of bidding at an auction in Dublin on Tuesday of this week.
Fairgreen work begins at last
It has been the subject of plans and proposals for several decades, but work finally commenced this week on the recreational park at Fairgreen, off Temple Street in Sligo Town.
Peers Testimonial is a six-goal thriller
The long-awaited testimonial of Sligo Rovers legend Gavin Peers took place yesterday (Wednesday) and certainly didn’t disappoint as they held Portsmouth to a 3-3 draw.
The first half saw Paul Cook’s men take a 3-0 lead in to half-time against a Rovers team consisting of many fan favourites of the past including Joseph Ndo, Danny Ventre and Keith Foy, but a reshuffled second-half team bounced back in style through a Kieran Sadlier brace and a Peers penalty.
Portsmouth took the lead after just nine minutes as Conor Chaplin broke down the right before teeing up Gary Roberts for a simple finish from point-black range.
It was soon a case of role reversal as Roberts saw his route to goal blocked by Ciaran Kelly, but Chaplin was on hand to pounce on a loose ball score into an empty net.
Former Pompey man Kieran Djilali had Rovers best chance of the first-half after 20 minutes, but his effort on goal was deflected away for a corner by Christian Burgess.
With five minutes remaining until the break, Portsmouth struck again through Chaplin as he found himself one-on-one with Kelly and made no mistake again as he fired past the FAI Cup hero.
There was wholesale changes for The Bit O’Red going into the second-half, as the current flock of Rovers players were given 45 minutes, including new signing Daniel Kearns.
Rovers showed their intent with just a couple of minutes on the clock when Phil Roberts saw a shot go narrowly over the bar.
Kieran Sadlier done well to fashion a clear-cut chance when he got in behind the defence, but Eric Grimes was equal to his effort. The ball came straight back to the ex-Peterborough winger who could only hit the side netting on this occasion.
Rovers were awarded a penalty as the game entered its final 20 minutes after Roberts was pushed in the box. Being a testimonial, it is an unwritten rule that the man of the night steps up to take a penalty, and Gavin Peers duly delivered with his final kick of the night as he slotted the ball low into the bottom right corner.
One soon became two when Cretaro took the ball around Grimes and chased down what looked to be a hopeless ball, but the forward kept it alive to square the ball to Sadlier who bundled it home from a yard out.
Rovers completed their comeback with two minutes remaining. Mikey Place saw a shot parried by Grimes, but he could only turn it as far as Sadlier who was never going to miss with the goal at his mercy.
Sligo Rovers first-half: Ciaran Kelly; Alan Keane, Gavin Peers (c), Liam Burns (Michael McNamara, 24), Keith Foy (Jason McCartney, 24); Kieran Djilali (Paul McTiernan, 24), Conor O’Grady (Matthew Judge, 31), Danny Ventre, John Dillon (Darren Mansaram, 31), Joseph Ndo (Colin Feehily, 33); Anthony Elding (Sean Flannery, 24)
Sligo Rovers second-half: Michael Schlingermann; Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Gavin Peers (c) (Trialist, 70), Gary Boylan, Jimmy Keohane; Craig Roddan, John Russell (Chris Lyons, 79) Daniel Kearns, Kieran Sadlier; Raffaele Cretaro (Mikey Place, 86), Phil Roberts.
Portsmouth: Michael Crowe (Eric Grimes, 46); Drew Talbot (Chris Sessegnon, 46), Jack Whatmough (Ben Davies, 46), Christian Burgess (Adam Barton, 46), Brandon Haunstrup (Enda Stevens, 46); Adam May (Ben Close, 46), Michael Doyle (Danny Rose, 46); Ben Tollitt (Carl Baker, 46), Gary Roberts (Elyse Boris Konsiembo, 62), Milan Lalkovic (Kyle Bennett, 46); Conor Chaplin (Ben Tollitt, 79).
Sligo son who has sung with Adele and talked to Ellen
If you enjoy your viral videos then you have probably seen the two Irish lads who were invited to perform on stage with Adele.
Sligo doctor selling rare collection of 2,200 books
A well known retired doctor in Sligo is selling his rare collection of 2,200 modern first editions at an auction in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin, on Tuesday next, July 12.
Cairde to close with party
Sligo has been transformed into a kaleidoscope of colourful cultural happenings this week as visual artists, performers, musicians, comedians and writers continue to descend on Sligo town for Cairde Sligo Arts Festival.
The festival’s third annual open submission exhibition, Cairde Visual, opened on Tuesday evening at the Hyde Bridge Gallery and continues Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm until Friday July 22. This year’s show boasts up to 60 artworks from local, regional, national and international artists and features a great diversity of media.
More free cultural happenings tonight Thursday July 7 with Naomi Draper and Mark Garry’s “A Seed’s A Star” exhibition opening at The Hamilton Gallery at 6pm and then Illuminations, a literary wunderkammer of poetry, spoken word, music and performance taking place at The Book Mart at 8pm.
Illuminations will be a very special evening featuring the talents of internationally renowned writer Kevin Barry and award winning poet Paul McMahon is in-store but capacity is limited so come early.
If you missed the Lords of Strut earlier in the week, fear not as the comedy duo bring another fantastical hour of slapstick mayhem to Sligo tonight, Thursday, July 7, this time in the guise of a T.V talk show.
Join Seamus and Sean upstairs in McGarrigles at 10pm for “Tonight We Strut”, the action packed talk show that’s all talk and no action. Through the disaster and tornado of laughs watch a thrilling soap opera into the absurd, talking rocks, stupid gags, audience participation and dance routines so flash it could be the 80’s.
And all the way from Lithuania on Friday, July 8 is Dance Theatre Dansema for two interactive dance and circus performance for children aged 0–3 years.
Taking place at The Factory Performance Space at 12pm and 3pm, Colourful Games is beautifully crafted and exquisitely delivered, full of unexpected and colourful wonders, that invites children to explore, interact and discover new things both on and off the stage. Crawl, jump, grasp, drop. Smile, frown, share and make friends. All the playful games of babies and small children as they explore the world in their first few years of life.
On Sunday July 10, Park Fest marks the final day celebrations of Cairde Sligo Arts Festival and is a day-long event featuring music, theatre, storytelling, circus and art workshops with a range of food & craft stalls serving delicious goods in the beautiful ‘Peace Park’ – a secret gem in the centre of Sligo town.
The annual Park Fest, is without a doubt the highlight of the Cairde Sligo Arts Festival. Park Fest is one massive FREE celebration suitable for all ages and everyone is invited. Last year the event brought in crowds of over 3,000 people throughout the day which has become renowned for a great range of entertainment.
This year’s Park Fest line up includes music performances by Erdini, The Wranglers, The Mass Band with street theatre performances by The Raven Sisters and Caolan McBride. Bring your picnic blanket to Sligo’s Peace Park on Sunday July 10th and prepare for a feast of good food and entertainment from 12noon to 7pm.
For full information and booking log onto www.cairdefestival.com
Two-week festival promises the best of Sligo
A two weeks long festival, celebrating the best of Sligo, aims not only to bring in visitors but to encourage Sligo people to get out and enjoy themselves.
Inspired by the hugely successful Galway Arts Festival, The Sligo Festival will celebrate Sligo’s unique art and culture with a series of events running from Sunday, July 24 to Saturday, August 6.
The festival will provide a broad spectrum of theatrical and musical performances and other activities, both indoors and outdoors, and is a collaboration from many groups in Sligo including, Tread Softly, The Summer Festival, Sligo Races, amongst others.
But it is about “celebration, fun, craic and enjoying yourself”, according to the organisers.
It also seen as filling the gap left by the absence of the Fleadh this year.
Among the confirmed events are three days of concerts in the Stephen’s Street car park, including one of Kieran Quinn’s hugely popular theme nights, gigs from seasoned Galway group The Stunning and the fast rising Cavan rock band, The Strypes.
There will also be a series of outdoor performances from the Blue Raincoat Theatre Company and Speakers Corners to name just a few.
For more on this story, see this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper – in shops now or subscribe to our digital edition. More information on our homepage, www.sligoweekender.ie.
