IN recent years, it is nigh on impossible to speak of fiction in Ireland without mentioning Kevin Barry.
Family ‘cannot believe support’ for sisters’ dream of independence
September 2017 seems like a very distant memory for the Mitchell family, and in particular sisters Mairead and Aoibheann. That was the beginning of a mammoth fundraising effort to raise the necessary capital – €242,500 – to build a facility where they could live independently.
Both women, from Coolera in Sligo, suffer from a rare generic disease known as Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP).
Mairead and Aoibheann began to show symptoms in their late teens. At first they noticed themselves dragging their legs and then they became more prone to falls.
In September of this year, the Mitchell family launched a campaign to raise funds to build two purpose built housing units on a site adjacent to the family home.
The Sligo Weekender first reported on the story in September and now the Mitchell family are able to reap the rewards of a huge and innovative fundraising effort.
“At the time [in September] we were so vulnerable. Everything was alien to us and within a a few weeks of going public [the fundraising campaign] took legs,”
Kathleen Mitchell, Aoibheann and Mairead’s mother told the Sligo Weekender.
Kathleen said that the family “cannot believe the support we got from Coolera, Sligo and the whole country.”
Back in September, she concedes that the family felt they had a “huge mountain to climb” to raise the funds needed but through different events organised here in Sligo and in Kathleen’s home of Westport, the project has gotten over the line.
“We are in a good place now. There was so much good will for us and people were so generous and kind,” Kathleen said.
The two purpose build units have, according to Kathleen been “future proofed” for Mairead and Aoibheann’s needs.
“It is probably as good an example of disabled housing to be found in Ireland,” she said.
Kathleen paid tribute to Ciaran Hayes, CEO of Sligo County Council, for his help as well as Galway Independent TD Noel Grealish who were both present for the opening
of the Mitchell Sister’s new homes at the weekend. She also thanked Kilcawley Construction and occupational therapist Sinead Duffy.
“It goes without saying that we want to thank the communities of Sligo, Westport and beyond. Without their help, we would not be where we are now,” she added.
Scottish winger looks back on a memorable stint at The Showgrounds with fondness
By Alan Finn
When you think of Scotland and Sligo Rovers, there isn’t a generation of supporters who couldn’t name a couple of players from the land of lochs and legends – beginning with the arrival of Bob Preston in 1934, the earliest Rovers manager on record who holds the distinction of also being the first of many player-coaches at the club.
For those of a certain vintage, there was goal-scoring dynamo Johnny Armstrong whose club record of 138 goals remains intact and looks less and less likely to be matched as time goes on.
Fast forward to the 1970s and you have sensational Celtic loanee Pat McCluskey lighting up The Showgrounds and Mick Leonard forming part of a formidable front three that landed the 1977 League of Ireland title.
In 1994 Willie McStay etched his name in Rovers folklore forever as the player-manager who guided the club to an historic treble. Mark Hutchison would become a regular in the red and white during the mid to late 90s and again in the new century, while in 2010, veteran centre-back Jim Lauchlan brought his vast experience to help solidify a team who would win a League Cup and FAI Cup double.
Even in today’s squad, the ranks boast a quartet of Rhys McCabe, Lewis Morrison, Alistair Roy and Calum Waters.
In amongst this myriad of great Scots is a man who dazzled supporters in the early 90s, topping the goalscoring charts in two of his three seasons at The Showgrounds.
Eddie Annand joined The Bit O’Red as a 19-year-old loanee from Partick Thistle in 1992.
While many will remember Annand for his contributions in the 1993-94 season, it is easy to forget that the club started that First Division campaign in abysmal fashion.
It would have been easy for heads to drop, but Eddie knew he and his teammates were still destined to have a good season. For him the belief that was instilled in them to ultimately win the title could not have been achieved without the management style of Willie McStay.
“We didn’t get off to a great start as I recall. I don’t think we won any of our first six games, but the belief was still there, it was all in the way he [McStay] approached training, approached the players but it was his attitude as well, he was still playing with the club that season but he was our manager first and foremost and I think the boys really respected that. He had a great knowledge of teams before we played them too, he knew how they were going to set up, he knew where the danger was going to come from and he knew how to play to our strengths. He was a great manager and a great guy to play under and it speaks volumes of the impact he had at the club in just a couple of years.”
For the full interview with Eddie, see this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper – in shops now!
Alternatively, you can purchase an online edition here
The High Kings return to Sligo
Following the worldwide success of their “Best of” collection entitled “Decade” The High Kings are currently on an 18 month World Tour and they make a welcome return to Sligo with a concert at Sligo Park hotel on Saturday April 21. Tickets are currently on sale from Sligo Park Hotel, Ticketmaster.ie and Liber Bookshop, O’Connell Street, Sligo.
Almost ten years ago, four Irish singers, performers and songwriters decided to take a calculated risk. The constituent parts of The High Kings – Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey and Darren Holden – each had a wealth of history in the music business behind them, but knew that in order to maintain any level of creative interest they would have to boldly go where no other Irish ballad group had gone before.
In truth, back in the mid-late Noughties, Ireland needed a group like The High Kings.
The heyday of ballad groups such as The Clancy Brothers and The Dubliners was a distant memory for generations of music fans, and to have another bunch of Irish lads taking up the baton and continuing the tradition was great news to thousands of fans worldwide.
“We could sing well, play our instruments well and harmonise well,” says Darren Holden, humbly underselling somewhat the numerous skill sets of the individual members. “People were looking for guys with character, presence – not just cardboard cut-outs – so the respective experience we all had wasn’t just helpful but essential.
The four members immediately knew that something special was taking place (“we knew within the space of a few songs that there was magic”), and within months had clicked as a creative unit as well as friends. The self-titled debut album, released in 2008, reached a highly impressive number two on Billboard Magazine’s World Music chart.
It was during The High Kings second tour of the US in 2011, however – having graduated from playing small venues to larger halls as they promoted their follow-up album, Memory Lane, which also crashed into Billboard’s World Music chart – that everyone involved realised the fanbase was growing into something that no one had predicted.
Subsequently, the group’s tour of Ireland sold out within hours. “We didn’t expect that,” admits Darren, “and then about three gigs into that tour we realised we had touched not only a nerve but also a memory. People loved what we were doing, and they would tell us after the shows that what we did and how we were doing it meant so much to them – they had waited years for a group like us.”
More was to come in 2013 with the group’s third studio album, Friends For Life, which featured original songs among the traditional fare. According to Darren, The High Kings stepped out of the shadows by taking the original song writing route. “We were delighted! We felt the songs were really good, and we sensed it was the next step. We finally sensed we were about to embark on a new chapter for The High Kings, rather than repeat the approach we took on the first two albums.”
To say that The High Kings are charting a new course for Irish ballad music – equal parts rousing and reflective, energetic and insightful – is an understatement. They are, essentially, marking out a new and bright era for Irish folk music, and aiming to bring a broad demographic along for the journey. The High Kings have vowed to continue for another decade following the departure of Martin Furey in August 2017, and their first ‘Best Of’ collection ‘DECADE’ had a global released in November 2017.
The High Kings World Tour visits Sligo on Saturday April 21st. Tickets are currently on sale from Sligo Park Hotel, Ticketmaster.ie and Liber bookshop o’Connell Street Sligo.
This is Sligo’s time to seize the day and silverware
SLIGO RFC’s talented first XV have a wonderful chance to reach the Promised Land. Their task is very straightforward – win or draw against Thomond this Saturday and they are promoted as well as being crowned Ulster Bank League Division 2C champions.
For head coach Ross Mannion, the cushion of a draw is a not something he is looking at. He would prefer to end the season on a high by claiming victory over Thomond at Strandhill’s Hamilton Park (kick-off 2.30pm).
Mannion said: “My own ethos is to go out and win every game. You are in it to win it. We want to play rugby as well and that means not going into the game and changing everything by going defensive.”
“We want to attack them [Thomond]. It is huge for us and we want to be up for the game and not dwell on last week even though it was a fantastic result [against Malahide],” he said.
Sligo, who have won 10 of their 17 games so far, have led from the front for the majority of this potentially epic season, but a mid-season blip saw them fall from top spot and they looked to be out of the title reckoning.
Despite that mini-slump, Mannion and his players are where they want to be now through quality as well as luck.
“From the coaching point of view and for the players themselves, we did set high standards and goals. We all bought into that but there probably was that bit of doubt in relation to some poor performances and poor results.”
“We were out of the running a bit and looked out of contention. We had a slice of luck after the Bruff game. We won at home with a bonus point and both Thomand and Malahide lost that day so it was back in our hands if we wanted it.”
The task of overcoming Limerick side Thomond this weekend is far more clear-cut then the final round robin fixture of last season where Sligo had to gain a bonus point win away to Navan and also beat them by eight points to squeeze through on score difference.
“The fact we are playing at home this weekend is huge. It is not a scenario like last year where we had to go to Navan and win by a certain amount of points. It is very straightforward, win or draw and the title is ours,” Mannion commented.
For the full match preview, see this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper – in shops now!
Seamus reflects on 40 years of service as a firefighter
By John Bromley
Enniscrone man Seamus Egan has retired from Sligo Fire Service after serving for almost 40 years as a firefighter, 26 of those years as station officer in the west Sligo resort.
Aged 65, he officially retired at 12 midnight on Wednesday of last week and he was on the job almost right up to the last minute. Well, five minutes to be exact.
Speaking to the Sligo Weekender on Thursday last, he said: “Last night we had two calls and we were coming back from the second one at five minutes to 12.”
Interestingly, his last call was in Ballina, a town where his first call had been back all those years ago.
“When we were in Ballina I showed the lads the house where my first call was back 40 years ago.”
And how did he decide to become a fireman.
“I was living almost next door to the old fire station in Enniscrone, just about a 100 yards down the road. The station officer told me they were looking for people to join and asked me if I would be interested and I said I would.”
Seamus said that at that time he was involved in fishing and he thought becoming a fireman was a way of helping people and “it was different”.
The fire service that Seamus joined in 1978 was very different to what it is today.
In Enniscrone the brigade had stepped up from operating with a Land Rover to having a fire engine.
But as Seamus says, “We had an appliance but it was a very old model and our equipment was basic.”
Training at the time was also very basic compared to now.
Now recruits have a three weeks intensive course, followed later by a two weeks course in breathing apparatus and further courses.
“When I started we went into Sligo fire station, which at that time was in a building like a hay shed in the Market Yard, every Saturday for 10 weeks.”
But he says they still managed to do the job.
“We went out to every fire and extinguished them and we dealt with car accidents.”
Another thing that has changed is that counselling is now available to firefighters in Sligo if they feel they need it at any stage.
Asked about dealing with tragic events, as firefighters often have to do, Seamus said: “Every year you will have at least one bad event. It is part of the job. People will say you get hard to it but you don’t. But now you have the back-up and there is counselling.”
For the full interview with Seamus, see this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper – in shops now!
Alternatively, you can purchase an online edition here
Rescue team ‘overwhelmed’ by offers of help following break-in
By John Bromley
Sligo Leitrim Mountain Rescue Team have been “overwhelmed” by offers of help to replace €4,000 worth of equipment stolen in a break-in at their premises in Sligo on Friday night last.
The door to their storeroom in what was part of the old Sligo Gaol was broken in and their base was ransacked.
The thieves made off with around €4,000 worth of equipment including jackets, backpacks, buoyancy aids and torches.
The door of the Civil Defence store, which is next door, was also broken in but nothing was taken.
Mountain Rescue Team spokesperson Alan Sayers said team had been “shocked and saddned” by the break-in and described the loss of the torches as the most “devastating” because these are high grade and expensive.
“Needless to say this impacts directly on our ability to carry out searches effectively and safely, 28% of our call outs are in the dark and bank holiday weekends are our busiest periods”, he said.
But since the news emerged of the break-in there has been a fantistic response, with offers of support from both locally and nationally.
“We have received donations and offers worth around €3,000 from companies to give us items or to give equipment at cost price”, Alan Sayers said.
For more on this story, see this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper – in shops now!
Alternatively, you can purchase an online edition here
Macbeth: A new adaptation with an LGBT twist
Taking on any production is daunting.
In the case of a Shakespeare adaptation, there is perhaps no production as daunting as “Macbeth”.
For Killian Glynn, the man responsible for the adaptation and producing of the forthcoming ‘Scottish play’ for Where We Are Now festival in May, the story he wanted to tell would not leave him.
His Macbeth takes a unique twist on the classic tale. Gone are the Highlands of Scotland, swapped for New York City in 1996 and court of Macbeth is exchanged for the New York party scene.
“I adapted the script for the play and brought it to Declan Drohan who I have worked with a lot and who will direct the piece. I just saw this [story] in my head. Our story is based on the Club Kids from the 1990s and the adaptation tells the story of the manslaughter of Angel Melendez by Robert Riggs and Michael Alig,” Killian explains.
Kids Club would be known to fans with RuPaul’s Drag Race and would have been a popular drag movement in the early 1990s.
One of central plot points of Macbeth is the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. For Killian’s adaptation, it was important to look at both characters relationship and focus on that.
“I think we just look at them as characters. We don’t see them as this is a man or that is a woman. They both have traits and characteristics. It has been a interesting rehearsal process because the actors come to me and ask ‘am I playing a man or a woman because I want to know how to act’ and I always direct them to Declan but I think that it does visually change. To watch two men play Lady Macbeth and Macbeth is interesting. It makes an interesting conversation,” Killian commented.
For more on this story, see this week’s Sligo Weekender for our two page feature on the festival – in shops now!
Alternatively, you can purchase an online edition here
Loftus praises team’s character following Oscar Traynor Cup victory
SLIGO-Leitrim manager John Loftus admitted that he had begun preparing for extra-time – and possibly penalties – before his charges grabbed a late result in added time.
Last Friday’s FAI Oscar Traynor Cup quarter-final between Sligo-Leitrim and Kerry looked destined to go the distance as matters were deadlocked, 1-1, with 90 minutes played.
The hosts, dominant throughout, cancelled out Kerry’s opener – Killian Sweeney’s unfortunate own goal after 53 minutes – with a header of their own, Conor Griffin’s 80th minute bullet.
But attacker Mark McGoldrick spared Sligo-Leitrim the rollercoaster of extra-time when he calmly slotted home the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
“I was getting myself set up for extra-time,” said Loftus after a dramatic night at The Showgrounds.
“We deserved the win over the 90 minutes, I think we were the better side – I don’t think that they [Kerry] could argue with it – it was a great way to win it, a goal in the last minute.”
He continued: “ I thought we deserved it. But I didn’t think it was going to go for us because of the [own] goal we conceded, which was unfortunate. But, in fairness to the lads, they just kept at it, kept slogging away.”
For more reaction and round-up of the game, see this week’s Sligo Weekender newspaper – in shops now!
Alternatively, you can purchase an online edition here
Strictly Sligo Rugby hailed as a “magic night” of fun
By Alan Finn
The ‘Strictly Sligo Rugby’ event held in the Radisson Blu Hotel has been described as a “magic night” by one of the organisers.
28 participants put on their dancing shoes to raise funds for Sligo Rugby Club, but it was Eamon Cunningham and Monica McEhinney who emerged as the winning couple after impressing a capacity audience.
John Keegan, a part of a 12 person organising committee in charge of the event, spoke about the success of the night.
“We are delighted with how it went, it was a magic night really. There was an audience of about 800 in the room and we had sold it out about four of five days beforehand.
Everybody was there willing the contestants on, the buzz in the place was electric.”
14 couples participated, many taking part in a fundraiser like this for the very first time, but they danced the night away as though it were second nature to them.
“They had a ball and it takes a lot of bottle to do this. They had seven weeks of training and they worked their socks off, we had two choreographers with them and they produced the goods on the night, they were all absolutely brilliant.”
As the funds raised continues to be counted, John is confident that their target has not only been reached, but the night has also boosted the status of the club across the county.
For more on this story, see this week’s Sligo Weekender for our two page feature – in shops now!
Alternatively, you can purchase an online edition here
Garda backed initiative to try to prevent knife crime
A local initiative has been launched to try to prevent young people becoming involved in knife crime.
It is a response to a “high referral” to the Garda Youth Diversion Project of young people carrying knives.
“It is based on the evidence that young people do carry knives in Sligo-Leitrim”, Pat Forde, Regional Director of Youth Work Ireland – North Connaught, told the launch of a leaflet entitled, “Get the facts about knives”, aimed at separating fact from fiction for young people on the subject.
The information leaflet a joint initiative by YAPS (Youth Action Programme Sligo) Garda Youth Diversion Project and the Sligo-Leitrim Garda Juvenile Liaison Office. It was developed by Caroline Costello, Project Co-ordinator and Elayne O’Hara, Project Worker with YAPS, with Garda Noel Lee, Juveline Liaison Officer for Sligo-Leitrim.
It was launched by Chief Superintendent for the Sligo-Leitrim division, Aidan Glackin, who said it was in response to referrals coming into the youth diversion project, which was about helping young people who had “strayed off the straight line”.
For more on this story, see this week’s Sligo Weekender for our two page feature – in shops now!
Alternatively, you can purchase an online edition here
The joy of hosting the west
THIS weekend yet another West of Ireland Amateur Open Golf Championship is hosted by County Sligo Golf Club at their world-famous Rosses Point course.
Ballincar’s Barry Anderson will be aiming to retain the title he superbly won last year – not since Rory McIlroy’s double in 2005 and 2006 has a West winner won back-to-back titles.
The 2017 winner, who had his uncle, Aidan, as caddy, is one of 20 golfers taking to the course who are either from Sligo or have strong Sligo links.
The men’s captain at County Sligo Golf Club, Joe Keyes, outlined why the ‘West’ is a special competition for him personally and also for Rosses Point village.
“I have grown up with it [the West of Ireland] since I was a kid. I would say that about 1969 or 1970 would be my first memory of it. John O’Leary was in the [1970] final where he was beaten by a Scottish guy called John McTear.”
“I think I may have missed one year since, but I always went even when it was in Enniscrone for three years I still went and, of course, I was a caddy in it as a boy.”
Yesterday (Wednesday) the pre-qualifier for the West of Ireland took place and the main competition gets underway tomorrow (Good Friday) with the first round of stroke play qualifying.
For more the full preview of the 2018 West of Ireland Golf Championship, see this week’s Sligo Weekender for our two page feature – in shops now!
Alternatively, you can purchase an online edition here
