Sligo County Development Board Launches New Website

Councillor Tony McLoughlin, Chairperson of Sligo County Development Board, recently launched the Board’s ‘Priorities and Action Plan 2009 – 2012’ and their newly designed website.

The Board, which is convened by the Community & Enterprise Section of Sligo County Council, draws its membership from a wide range of public bodies and the Social Partners in Sligo which makes the Board particularly well-positioned to work in the current challenging economic climate.

Left to right - Shaun Purcell, Chairperson of the Economic Development Sub-Committee, Rita McNulty, Director of Services, Community, Enterprise, the Arts & Environmental Services, Councillor Tony McLoughlin, Chairperson of the County Development Board attend the ‘Priorities and Action Plan 2009- 2012’

This co-operative model of working has been cited as best practice by international and national bodies alike, including the OECD who, in their 2008 review of the public sector in Ireland encouraged greater use of the County Development Board structure.

In launching the plan Councillor McLoughlin revisited the vision for Sligo which the Board agreed in 2002 to develop “Sligo as a place with vibrant cultural and commercial activity, a thriving urban centre, dynamic and safe urban and rural communities, a strong sense of civic pride and a superior quality of life”.

Since its establishment in 2000 Sligo County Development Board has played an extremely important role in bringing together public bodies, local development organisations, social partners and community interests to tackle in an integrated and holistic way issues such as Social Inclusion, Youth Affairs, Active Citizenship, Childcare, Play and Recreation and the Economic Development of the county. These are the types of cross-cutting issues which can often be beyond the scope of any one organisation to address in a comprehensive way.

The County Development Board will work to deliver its key priorities. These include broadband, supports to enterprises, training and up-skilling, tourism, youth participation, inclusion of travellers and new communities, culture and creativity as well as promoting Sligo as the place of choice for investment, culture and arts, tourism and quality of life.

Some highlights in the new plan include supporting volunteerism in the county through the work of the Volunteer Centre and the Community Forum, responding to the education and training needs of the newly unemployed and other vulnerable groups; promoting business and enterprise supports.

In addition Cllr McLoughlin launched the CDB website www.sligocdb.ie which profiles the work of the board and its sub committee.

Copies of the latest Action Plan can be downloaded on the website or sent via post by contacting the Community & Enterprise office on 071 9111800.

Members of the Sligo County Development Board at the launch of the ‘Priorities and Action Plan 2009 – 2012’ & also the newly revamped CDB website was unveiled.

New ‘Writer in Residence’ for Sligo Libraries

Sligo Libraries second Writer-In-Residence, Mr Brian Leyden, was appointed in December 2009, vacating the post left by Mr Niall Williams.

Brian was born in Roscommon in 1960. He has published a book of short stories, Departures (1992); and a novel, Death and Plenty (1996).

He has devised and performed a one-man stage show on W.B. Yeats called Experiments in Magic, and his RTÉ documentary, No Meadows in Manhattan, won a Jacobs Award in 1991. His short stories won the RTÉ Francis McManus Short Story Award in 1988. He has also published a memoir, The Home Place (2002).

Brian will be conducting a series of writing workshops and literary appreciation courses with writers, overseeing volume two of the electronic journal ‘The Catach’ and running a writing competition for Secondary School Students.

The aim is to try and encourage students in all manner of creative writing, from poetry and fiction to short film scripts and song lyrics. The goal will be to help students find their voice in whatever form.

Ask About Ireland

‘Ask About Ireland’ and the ‘Cultural Heritage Project’ is an initiative of public libraries together with local museums and archives in the digitisation and online publication of the original, the unusual and the unique material from their local studies' collections to create a national Internet resource for culture.

The participating organisations have selected material of particular public interest from their holdings within a variety of common topics ranging from sport, transport and architecture to flora and fauna and Irish writers. The material is then digitised (scanned, digitally photographed, recorded etc.) and set in a narrative context. To find out more follow this link: http://www.askaboutireland.ie

Engineers Ireland

Lecture/Talk for Engineers Ireland - North West Region - 22nd March 2010.

8pm, Sligo Park Hotel, Pearse Road, Sligo.

‘BRIDGES OF SLIGO - SOME OLD AND SOME NEW’

by
Gary J Salter, Senior Executive Engineer.
Structures and Marine Section, Directorate of Infrastructural Services, Sligo County Council.

Sligo County Council is responsible for maintaining a stock of over 350 bridges (the vast majority over 130 years old) as well as planning and providing new infrastructure.

This talk will include a look at, the history of arch bridge theory, bridges of the county and case studies of a number of repair and conservation projects carried out by Sligo County Council Additionally newer structures, some not yet built, will be included.

Gary has many years experience and a particular interest in old bridges. He has previously given talks to the IEI, NRA and for Heritage week on a number of occasions.

Pride of Place Competition

Communities throughout Sligo have ensured that Sligo has featured in the results of the Co-operation Ireland Pride of Place Competition since 2004. Each year communities have been nominated by Sligo County Council and Sligo Borough Council to take part in the competition and show the Co-operation Ireland judges what is good about their local area.

Anne Marie Kelly, CRIB/Foróige speaking about the experience of the youth organisation in the Youth Category in 2009 says "Being involved in Pride of Place gave us, the staff, volunteers and young people of the C.R.I.B. the opportunity to really stop and reflect on all that we do here. It made us recognise how much each individual project does, but when interconnected creates something even greater than any one by itself. We had to profile all aspects of our work and did this through words and pictures.

Having to detail all aspects made us realise how much actually happens here! We were well supported and encouraged by staff in the Council and developed new relationships which opened new opportunities of working together.

All in all, Pride of Place was a positive experience and we were very privileged to represent Sligo nationally and take home a runners up prize in the Youth Section!"

Foróige collecting their Runner-up prize at the Pride of Place All-Island Competition in November 2009

The Pride of Place competition is an all-island competition which recognises and celebrates the vital contributions that community partnerships make to society.

It encourages people to come together to enjoy all that is good about their area as well as change or improve certain aspects of their community.

The competition, which receives over 90 entries each year, is hosted by Co-operation Ireland under its Local Authority Programme in conjunction with the all-island Local Authority Steering Forum comprising officials from authorities in both parts of the island of Ireland. Further information is available from www.prideofplace.cooperationireland.org

Cranmore Community Co-operative Society collecting their Runner-up prize at the Pride of Place All-Island Competition in November 2009

Peter Sheridan, Chief Executive of Co-operation Ireland, said:
“The unique all-island Pride of Place competition has a positive effect on communities throughout the island of Ireland. It highlights local authorities’ commitment to supporting groups who undertake initiatives to improve their communities.”

Although there can only be one winner in each category, the awards ceremony is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the efforts of all groups who do so much but who rarely get the recognition they deserve.

The concept behind the competition is very simple - to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that community groups make to society. This basic element of community recognition makes the competition unique. Past entrants in Pride of Place have included groups involved in a wide variety of activities across the social spectrum. The common thread is the impact and difference these activities have made in peoples' lives.

If you are interested in entering the competition please note the following:

• Closing date for the Sligo Pride of Place Competition is 23rd March, 2010
• Judging Season - Mid June 2010 to end July 2010
• Awards Ceremony, Trim, Co. Meath will be held in November 2010
• Pride of Place is a unique opportunity for community groups to be officially recognised on an all-island basis for the valuable work undertaken in their local areas.
• Entry is by way of County Council nomination only.
• Entrants are notified in advance of the judging day.
• Each entrant will have a maximum of two and a half hours to impress the judges. During the visit, the judges will be introduced to the community representatives and visit the showcase locations. The actual structure is up to the entrant. The only mandatory component is a formal presentation (up to 30 minutes) at the beginning of the visit, which should allow for a ten minute question and answer session with the judges.

According to Brian Cahill “Entry and participation in the 2009 Pride of Place Competition for Belt Torc Company, Moylough was a very positive and enriching experience. We endeavoured to detail some of our achievements, and realised in the process how much we had achieved in recent years.

Making our presentation to the judges at local level was an interesting and enjoyable experience. Even though we did not in the end win a National Award, we learned a lot from attending the Awards Ceremony in Newcastle, County Down. The sheer breadth and scope of voluntary achievement in Ireland is amazing, and gives encouragement to us all to continue with our efforts.”

Representatives from Belt Torc Co. Ltd pictured at the Pride of Place judging day

“Ballintogher Community Enterprises took part in the Pride of Place Competition in 2009. It provided us with an opportunity to showcase many of the positive developments in our community over recent years. A significant number of people were involved in the review we conducted and this review has prompted the development of plans for the coming years. We were delighted to have been runners up among the prizewinners at national level”, said Seamus McCormack.

Teresa McCormack, Ballintogher Community Enterprises, collecting the Runner-up prize at the Pride of Place All-Island Competition in November 2009

Speaking about the on-going involvement of the county in the competition, Rita McNulty, Director of Services said “Sligo County Council is delighted to be involved with this competition, as it is a good way to highlight the variety of work that is being carried out by community groups and volunteers throughout the county. Pride of Place is a great source of motivation for many communities and can give encouragement and inspiration to others who wish to achieve something similar. I am looking forward to the entries for the 2010 competition as they will undoubtedly be as impressive as those which have gone before.”

Entry forms are now available from the Community & Enterprise Office, Sligo County Council or can be downloaded from www.sligococo.ie/Services/CommunityandEnterprise/PrideofPlace/. Closing date for receipt of entries is 23rd March, 2010.

Further information is available from the Community & Enterprise Office, Sligo County Council on Telephone 071 9111800.

National Spring Clean Campaign

It’s that time of year again and An Taisce will be running their National Spring Clean Campaign in April for the 12th consecutive year.

Communities all over Ireland have recently been hit hard by the damaging effects of winter flooding, snow and ice as well as the negativities of the current economic climate. The National  Spring Clean, Ireland’s largest anti-litter initiative, is urging people to help to revive their community spirit this spring by volunteering some time.

The campaign, which runs throughout the month of April, is fully reliant on volunteers and free clean-up kits will be issued to those registering a clean-up.

The National Spring Clean campaign is organised by An Taisce and funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has also committed to supporting this year’s campaign by organising a number of clean-ups in communities around Ireland. In 2009, more than 505,000 people volunteered to join with other members of their community to organise National Spring Clean events around the country where an estimated 1,596 tonnes of litter was collected and 35% of that waste was recycled.

All those registering for the National Spring Clean campaign are issued with a FREE clean up kit which contains information, posters, colour coded refuse sacks for segregation of waste materials, protective gloves and tabards to keep participants clean.

Take action against the litter that spoils our environment and REGISTER NOW by post, phone or online at www.nationalspringclean.org contact: National Spring Clean Manager, An Taisce, Unit 5a, Swifts Alley, Dublin 8. Telephone: 01 4002220 for your FREE CLEAN-UP KIT.

Music in Drumcliffe 2010 With Vogler Quartet and Guests

St Columba’s Church, Drumcliffe, Co. Sligo
May Bank Holiday Weekend
May 1st - May 3rd, 2010

Sligo Arts Service is delighted to announce their artists and concert programme for Music in Drumcliffe (previously the Vogler Spring Festival 2000 – 2009) which will take place from 1st May to 3rd May 2010.

For 2010, Sligo’s Chamber Music Festival has been anchored in Sligo by renaming it Music in Drumcliffe and the use of the image Shoreline Bog by the distinguished artist Seán McSweeney, who lives in the area.

As Festival Ensemble-in-Residence, ‘The Vogler Quartet’ will  perform alongside Julian Arp, cello (Germany), Cliona Doris, harp (Ireland), Eugene Mursky, piano (Uzbekistan), David Orlowsky, clarinet (Germany), Patricia Rozario, soprano (UK). Repertoire will include works by Schumann, Chopin, Golijov, Beethoven, Ravel, Schubert, de Falla, Menotti, Dvořák, Saint-Saëns, Mozart, Tavener, Gubaidulina and Neil Martin.

The Vogler Quartet, who will be taking part in the ‘Music in Drumcliffe’ Chamber Music Festival

Recognising the festival name change and Drumcliffe’s long association with WB Yeats who is buried there, Saturday and Sunday’s late night concerts take on a Yeatsian theme. Saturday’s 10pm concert by ‘The West Ocean String Quartet’ includes ‘Some Vague Utopia’ - a suite composed by Neil Martin on WB Yeats. Sunday’s 10pm concert by ‘The Oriel Trio’ and Patricia Rozario includes Tavener’s Yeats Songs - ‘To a Child Dancing in the Wind’.

A new departure for this year’s festival is a lecture by Dr. Martin Adams entitled ‘Traditions remembered and traditions colliding: the music of Osvaldo Golijov’ which will be delivered alongside The Vogler Quartet.

“In the current climate”, says Mary McAuliffe, Arts Officer “the goal of Sligo Arts Service is to ensure the survival of the festival and to anchor it in Sligo. New steps will be taken, with old friends, to keep pace with change, to redevelop the festival over the coming years, and to ensure it retains its place as one of Ireland’s most distinguished chamber music festivals.”

Booking information:-

Tickets for Music in Drumcliffe range from €10 to €25.  Season tickets are €110, concessions €85 (OAPs, students and the unwaged).

For information/credit card bookings, please contact Artscope + 353 (0)1 505 9582 or email info@artscope.ie Bookings can be made by post, telephone or email. Tickets can also be purchased from Drumcliffe Tea House and Crafts Shop + 353 (0)71-914 4956.

Music in Drumcliffe Festival 2010 is produced by Sligo Arts Service, Sligo County Council; Managed by Caroline Wynne,  Artscope Ltd.; Festival Ensemble-in-Residence, Vogler Quartet; Funded by Sligo County Council, Sligo Borough Council and The Arts Council of Ireland.

Launch of An Post Tour of Sligo 2010

The launch of the An Post Tour of Sligo 2010 took place at the Glasshouse Hotel recently with a large crowd in attendance from the cycling and voluntary community.

The event is scheduled for Sunday 9th May and it is hoped that participation numbers will surpass the highly impressive entry of 723 cyclists last year. The event is coordinated by SSRP with support from Sligo County Council.

The event has received a huge boost this year with confirmation that cycling legend Sean Kelly will be cycling on the day. Already, the participation of Sean Kelly in the event has generated great interest locally, nationally and from oversees with everybody looking forward to having the chance to meet and cycle alongside such a great cycling legend.

Cyclists taking part in last year’s An Post Tour of Sligo

The event is part of An Post Cycle Series 2010 which comprises of five recreational cycling events across the country between May and September with other venues including Clare, Meath, Waterford and Cork. The series is supported by An Post in a joint venture with the Irish Sports Council while locally the event is being co-ordinated by Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership.

John Treacy, Chief Executive of the Irish Sports Council was in Sligo to formally launch the An Post Tour of Sligo 2010. In particular he complemented Sligo on the great sense of partnership, community spirit and organisational support generated for the event. He also spoke of the very positive feedback he had received on the 2009 event in Sligo and he encouraged people of all ages to have a go and be part of the event in 2010.

Mayor Cllr. Jim Mc Garry extended a warm welcome to the large attendance at the launch and wished the event every success. Speaking on behalf of An Post was Regional Manager West, Aidan O Donnell who spoke of the commitment of An Post to the promotion of community cycling and he stated that the An Post Cycle Series 2009 was hugely successful in increasing participation in cycling and he wished the Sligo event every success for 2010.

On behalf of the local cycling clubs both Tony Mooney and John Greene addressed the launch and encouraged participation in the upcoming event while also expressing the delight of the cycling community in having the commitment of Sean Kelly to cycle on the day. They gave details of the three routes which will include the 10k Hazelwood Spin for All, 60k Lough Gill Circuit and the 160k Ox Mountain Challenge.

The potential of the An Post Tour of Sligo 2010 from a tourism perspective and the opportunity to market the county as a cycling destination was acknowledged by Bernie Butler, Acting Chairperson Failte Ireland North West.

SSRP Board Members & Partner Agencies attending the launch included John McGetrick, Tom Gilligan, Noelle Cawley (Failte Ireland), Aiden O’Donnell (An Post), Mayor Councillor Jim McGarry, John Tracey (ISC), Bernie Butler (Failte Ireland), Jack Lynch (County Sligo VEC), Deirdre Lavin SSRP and Gerry O’Connor

In drawing the launch to a close Deirdre Lavin, Sports Coordiantor SSRP thanked both An Post and the Irish Sports Council for their commitment to the event. In addition, she acknowledged the immense support and goodwill the event is receiving from all sectors of the community particularly Eire Og and Innisfree Wheelers Cycling Clubs who have a wealth of knowledge and technical expertise in hosting such events.

dding to this Deirdre noted the strong commitment for the An Post Tour of Sligo has been offered by Sligo County Council,  County Sligo VEC, Sligo Borough Council and Failte Ireland. She noted that safety is of utmost importance in hosting the event and in addressing this she acknowledged the support of An Garda Siochana, Sligo Leitrim Civil Defence, the Red Cross and Sligo Leitrim Mountain Rescue. Community support for food/ water stops and marshalling is emerging from many sectors including Super Valu, Connacht Gold. County Sligo GAA Board and associated clubs, Coolaney Development Company, Sligo Rugby Club, Eamon Burkes Skreen and St. Michaels GAA Club, Ballintogher and Easkey Family Resource Centre.

Similar to last year St. Johns Hospital Garden Room Committee has been identified as the nominated charity for the event and all participants are encouraged to raise sponsorship for this worthy cause. St. John’s Hospital play a major role in overseeing the food stops, and in 2009 the quality of refreshments on offer was widely remarked upon  by the cyclists.

At the national launch of An Post Cycle Series, cycling legend Sean Kelly pledges his commitment to cycle at the An Post Tour of Sligo 2010 on Sunday 9th May and is joined by John Green Innisfree Wheelers, Donal Connell Chief Executive An Post, Turlough Mooney, Eire Og, Deirdre Lavin SSRP and John Delorey Innisfree Wheelers.

At the national launch of the An Post Cycle Series 2010 Sean Kelly had words of encouragement for all who may be thinking of getting active “I can’t stress enough how important is to keep active and healthy and there is no better way in doing so than going for a cycle. Last year’s events inspired thousands of people to get back in the saddle and this year we want even more people to come and enjoy the events.”

Further details on the An Post Tour of Sligo, and how to enter or become involved as a volunteer, is available on www.sligosportandrecreation.ie or by contacting the SSRP office at 071 9161511.

Sligo Peace and Reconciliation Partnership Committee

Projects supported by PEACE III Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by Sligo County Council on behalf of Sligo Peace and Reconciliation Partnership Committee

The Sligo peace plan is based on the outcome of public consultation which identified a number of issues specific to Sligo. These issues transferred in a number of strategic priorities to be addressed through a series of project actions. Through a process of public procurement contracts were awarded to for delivery on these actions. 

Summary of project actions:-

Arts Office Sligo County Council - Political / Historical Perspectives - The Legacy of Belief

An interactive project looking at the history of Sligo as a Garrison Town and to raise awareness of shared local heritage and its impact across communities and cultures.

Contact - Mary McDonagh - 071 91 11822 - mmcdonag@sligococo.ie

MH Consultancy - Women and Peace Women Co-Authoring Sligo Peace-Building Project

The programme develops previous women’s work of building cross-border/cross-community relationships by deepening their understanding of peace building within communities that have a diverse population, including ethnic minorities/different religious practices.

Contact - Marie Hainsworth - 086 2313964 - mhconsultant@eircom.net

Junior Achievement - Youth Education Sharing Our Community

The County Sligo “Sharing Our Community” project will target 200 secondary school students from four local schools in Sligo. On completion of the project, students will have a better understanding of difference and diversity and will have learned to challenge attitudes to sectarianism and racism.

Contact, Siobhan Kelly - 086 7707177 – skelly@jai.ie

Sligo Rapid Programme - Urban Peace Building Rapid Urban Collective

This project action is being delivered through a partnership of Sligo based community, voluntary and statutory groups/agencies. This project will focus on community dialogue and exchange through shared interests and common concerns with a number of the most disadvantaged urban areas in Sligo.

Contact - Helen O’Hara - 071 91 11832 - hohara@sligococo.ie

Sligo Community Forum and Claire Galligan - Diversity Training

Sligo County Community Forum will be hosting a range of diversity training events to promote greater understanding between different groups and to challenge discrimination, sectarianism and racism.

Contact - Claire Galligan - 071 91 11814 - galliganclaire@eircom.net

Riverstown Enterprise Development (Sligo) – Interfaith Programme Moving Beyond Sectarianism

The project action aims to provide an opportunity to explore, through facilitated discussion, the legacy of the conflict and the challenge of reconciliation and dealing with our past as members of Churches and Faith Groups.

Contact - Mary Daly - 087 7932784 - mary.daly@care4free.net

Peace by Peace Training - Conflict Resolution and Mediation Training

Peace by Peace Training (Sligo), in partnership with the Peace and Reconciliation Group (Derry/Londonderry), will deliver a broad range of conflict resolution and mediation training. It is proposed that there be four levels of training from basic raising awareness to accredited courses.

Contact - Noreen Callaghan - 087 2266844 - noreen@indigo.ie

Foróige - Youth Education Comhairle na nÓg Sligo

The central theme to the work of this Youth Education Project will be developing a positive attitude to diversity amongst young people with a view to creating a culture that young people from all walks can contribute to society, in particular Comhairle as the established and recognised structure for participation in County Sligo.

Contact - Anne Marie Regan - 071 91 46596 - annmarie.kelly@foroige.ie

Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership - Sport and Peace Sporting Peace

It is a cross-border club/community sports project involving strategic collaboration between community and public sectors in the Sligo, Omagh and Fermanagh regions. The project will include implementation of strategic models of collaboration between the public and community sectors that focus on reconciliation, cultural diversity and equality.

Contact - Diane Middleton - 071 91 61511 - diane@sligosportandrecreation.ie

Traveller Support Group - Travellers and Peace

To provide opportunities for open meaningful dialogue/communication aimed at building trust and tolerance between Traveller and Settled communities in Sligo and across the border.

Contact - Bernadette Maughan - 071 91 45780 - stsg@eircom.net

Arts Office Sligo County Council - Culture / Arts / Heritage The Yeatsian Legacy

This project action aims to promote an understanding of cultural heritage and the sharing experiences and expressions of different cultures by exploring the Yeatsian legacy and its impact on the identity of the county and region.

Contact - Mary McDonagh - 071 91 11822 - mmcdonag@sligococo.ie

Sligo Leader Partnership Company Ltd - Rural Peace Building

The Rural Peace Building Action will facilitate the Rural community in County Sligo to come together on a crosscommunity basis and to engage with Rural Communities in NI through a series of cross-community and cross-border events, workshops, residentials, study visits and social activities.

Contact - Camilla Smyth - 071 91 41138 - csmyth@sligoleader.com

Union Bridge Restoration - Collooney

Conserving the Built Heritage of Sligo.

This very unusual multi-span corbelled arched structure is located on Local Road L 7608-0. The bridge spans the Unshin River in Collooney close to confluence of the Owenmore and Unshin Rivers.

This bridge type is unique in the County and is included in the Record of Protected Structures list and the NIAH database. The bridge was suffering from a number of defects including dilapidated stone slabs at three of the spans, longitudinal cracks to the one of the wing walls, damage to the parapet walls, tree growth in the SW wing wall causing abutment failure and excessive vegetation growth on the up-stream side of the bridge.

The entire south west wing wall had to be removed and reconstructed using stone of similar characteristics in order to maintain the integrity of the structure. The total area of the wall replaced was 50m2. The wing wall was rebuilt using limestone masonry and natural hydraulic lime mortar.

All vegetation was removed and pointing was carried out throughout the structure and all absent masonry were replaced. A number of masonry deck slabs were replaced using precast reinforced concrete slabs which were manufactured on site, as using limestone was not a realistic option for a number of reasons.

The bridge was closed to vehicles during this period following consultation with the local users. All the work was carried out by Sligo County Council Outdoor staff, namely Jimmy Conlon and Padraic Noone., under the direction of Dessie Sloyan Executive Engineer and Gary Salter Senior Executive Engineer. Works carried out on this structure lasted approximately three months and cost €58,000, funded by a Department of Transport/Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government Specific Improvement Grant.