Minutes 2026
Minutes of the Meeting of the Borough District of Sligo Held on Monday 18th May 2026 at 10am in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Quay Street, Sligo
COUNCILLORS PRESENT:
Councillor Declan Bree
Councillor Arthur Gibbons
Councillor Ann Higgins
Councillor Seamus Kilgannon
Councillor Fergal Nealon
Councillor Gino O’Boyle
OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:
Mr Brían Flynn, Director of Services, Live Invest Visit & Borough of Sligo MD
Mr Thomas Kerins, A/Senior Executive Engineer, Roads
Mr Adrian Grandison, Executive Engineer, Planning Enforcement
Ms Nola Gibbons, Meeting Administrator
APOLOGIES:
None
MAYOR:
Councillor O’Boyle presided
The Mayor opened the meeting and welcomed Councillor Seamus Kilgannon back to the Municipal District.
ITEM 1: CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES:
Proposed: Councillor Nealon
Seconded: Councillor Higgins
AND AGREED
“To confirm minutes of Borough District of Sligo Ordinary meeting held on 23rd March 2026”
ITEM 2: DECLARATION OF INTERESTS/CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None
At the request of Councillor Bree and with agreement of the Members, Items 4.2, 4.10 & 4.13 were considered at this point.
ITEM 4: NOTICES OF MOTION
Development of Play Area in Fair Green
Proposed: Councillor Bree
Seconded: Councillor Gibbons
AND AGREED
4.2 "To ask what proposals there are to develop a dedicated play area for younger children in the Fairgreen Park."
Councillor Bree spoke of the need for a dedicated play area for young children within the Fair Green area and called on the Executive to give consideration to applying for funding to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality under the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation.
Councillor Higgins and Councillor O’Boyle fully supported the Motion.
Councillor Bree thanked Micheal Condren and the staff of the Parks Department for their work in the park to date.
As items 4.9 and 4.14 also called on the Roads Department to carry out a speed survey in Sráid na Mara, the Mayor, with agreement of the members, proceeded to take these items at this point in the meeting along with 4.10
Speed Survey in Sráid na Mara
Proposed: Councillor Bree
Seconded: Councillor O’Boyle
AND AGREED
4.10 "That the Roads Department carry out a speed survey assessment in the Sráid na Mara estate, should a request be submitted by the residents of the estate seeking the installation of a speed ramp"
Speed Survey in Sráid na Mara
Proposed: Councillor O’Boyle
Seconded: Councillor Gibbons
AND AGREED
4.9 "That Sligo County Council carry out a traffic safety assessment at Sraid Na Mara, First Sea Road, Sligo, with a view to installing appropriate traffic calming measures, including speed ramps, due to ongoing concerns from residents regarding vehicle speeds and increased traffic volumes within the estate, and that the Council clarify the current taking in charge status of the estate.
Speed Survey in Sráid na Mara
Proposed: Councillor Nealon
Seconded: Councillor Gibbons
AND AGREED
4.14 “That this Council conducts a speed survey on Sraid Na Mara, 1st Sea Road due to concerns expressed by residents regarding the speed of vehicles travelling through the estate.”
Councillor Bree noted the Roads Department’s report which confirmed that a speed survey would be carried out and the necessary traffic calming measures put in place should that be deemed necessary following the survey and subject to budget availability.
Councillor O’Boyle and Nealon welcomed the response from the Roads Department.
Support for annual “Make Way Day”
Proposed: Councillor Bree
Seconded: Councillor Gibbons
AND AGREED
4.13 "Recognising that people with disabilities have the same right to use and enjoy public spaces that we all share; Acknowledging the obstacles which people with disabilities face in their daily lives, including badly parked vehicles and bicycles, billboards, over-grown hedges and other ill-placed hazards; Understanding that most obstacles are caused by thoughtlessness and genuine lack of awareness; this Borough District meeting reiterates its support for Ireland’s Annual “Make Way Day” which takes place this year on Friday 29th of May."
Councillor Gibbons fully supported the Motion.
Votes of Congratulations
Councillor Bree extended his congratulations to The Mayor, Councillor O’Boyle, on the ongoing success of Glenview Stars ladies football team and their recent victory in winning the Sligo Bay Lobsters Women's Amateur League for a third consecutive year.
B. Flynn, on behalf of the Executive, wished to be associated with the vote of congratulations.
Councillor Bree left the meeting at 10.12 am
ITEM 3: HEADED ITEMS
3.1 Croi Conaithe Towns Fund & Derelict Sites Register
A. Grandison took the members through the updated figures as contained in the Croi Conaithe and Derelict Sites Register reports which had been circulated to members in advance of the meeting.
A Grandison left the meeting at 10.19 am
ITEM 4: NOTICES OF MOTION
Deferred:
To consider the following Motion as submitted by Councillor MacSharry.
"That Sligo MD engineering staff would provide members with an update on the traffic calming measures to be provided at the back avenue, Cleveragh as requested by the residents in the area."
Due to the absence of the former elected member, Councillor Tom MacSharry, the Motion fell in accordance with agreed procedures.
As items 4.7 also referred to footpath repairs in Heather View, the Mayor, with agreement of the members, proceeded to take this item along with 4.1
Prioritise Road & Pavement Works at Heatherview & The Paddocks
Proposed: Councillor Nealon
Seconded: Councillor Higgins
AND AGREED
4.1 "That this Council prioritises road and pavement works at Upper Heather View and The Paddocks.”
Proposed: Councillor Higgins
Seconded: Councillor Nealon
AND AGREED
4.7 “To request that the planned footpath repairs in Heather View is progressed as soon as possible.”
Both Councillor Nealon and Councillor Higgins welcomed the response from the Roads Department confirming that Heather View was included in this year’s Footpath Enhancement Programme.
Traffic Safety Measures at Doorly Park
Proposed: Councillor O’Boyle
Seconded: Councillor Gibbons
AND AGREED
4.3 "I call on Sligo County Council to urgently assess and address traffic speed, volume, and parking issues on Doorly Road (Doorly Park/Gate Lodge area), and to introduce appropriate safety and interim measures pending the new bridge."
Councillor O’Boyle thanked the Roads Department for their response which confirmed that a speed survey would be carried out.
Review of Council Owned Playgrounds
Proposed: Councillor O’Boyle
Seconded: Councillor Gibbons
AND AGREED
4.4 "I call on Sligo County Council to carry out a review of all Council owned playgrounds within the Sligo Borough District to assess their accessibility and suitability for children with disabilities, and to identify what improvements are required and further ask the Council to outline any available funding streams to support the delivery of inclusive and accessible play facilities."
Councillor O’Boyle thanked the Parks Department for their response. While noting the funding secured in the previous 6 years for the development of playgrounds in the Borough, he urged for a further review to be carried out.
Councillor Gibbons and Higgins fully supported the Motion.
Traffic Assessment Lower Abbey Street
Proposed: Councillor Higgins Seconded: Councillor Gibbons AND AGREED
4.5 "That this Council will conduct a traffic assessment on Lower Abbey Street, and install appropriate traffic calming measures to alleviate the concerns of the local residents and improve road safety."
Councillor Higgins, while welcoming the response from the Roads Department confirming that a speed survey would be carried out, requested that a consultation be held with the residents thereafter.
One-way Traffic Flow Dominic Street
Proposed: Councillor Higgins
Seconded: Councillor Gibbons
AND AGREED
4.6 "That this Council will explore measures to improve and enforce the one-way traffic flow along Dominic Street."
Councillor Higgins thanked the Roads Department for their response and while she acknowledged the work already undertaken to enforce the one-way traffic flow, asked that the matter continue to be investigated to explore further measures to improve the situation.
Traffic Management Survey at St Brendan’s National School
Proposed: Councillor Gibbons
Seconded: Councillor O’Boyle
AND AGREED
4.8 "This Borough Council request the Roads Department of this local authority carry out a traffic management survey at St Brendan's National School to try and resolve the ongoing problem with traffic and children safety from Mondays to Fridays"
Councillor Gibbons thanked the Roads Department for their response which confirmed that the matter would be investigated to consider what measures could be implemented to improve the situation.
Councillor O’Boyle supported the Motion.
Survey of Back Gardens in Seaville Housing Estate
Proposed: Councillor Gibbons
Seconded: Councillor O’Boyle
AND AGREED
4.11 “That this Borough Council call on the Housing Department to have a survey carried out of the back gardens of the Seaville housing estate Finisklin, to ascertain why so many gardens are waterlogged, and what can be done to resolve the problem.”
Councillor Gibbons welcomed the report from the Housing Department.
Councillor O’Boyle and Councillor Higgins supported the Motion.
Feasibility Study of Scotsman’s Walk
Proposed: Councillor Gibbons
Seconded: Councillor O’Boyle
AND AGREED
4.12 “This Borough District Council calls on the Roads Department to carry out a feasibility study on the L-90102-0, locally known as Scotsman’s Walk, which links the R291 and the N15, with a view to upgrading it to the same standard as the R291 at Ballincar, with the intention of establishing it as the main route to Rosses Point.”
Councillor Gibbons noted the report from the Roads Department.
Councillor Higgins and Councillor Kilgannon supported the Motion.
Pedestrian Crossing Top Road Strandhill
Proposed: Councillor Nealon
Seconded: Councillor Gibbons
AND AGREED
4.15 “Noting the response to Councillor Gibbons motion in November 2025, that the total monies collected by Finance dept to date is €140,690 in Special Development Contribution monies for the Top Road in Strandhill.
In a response from the Executive, it was noted that a review of the project will be undertaken and a status report would be provided at the next meeting- January 2026. Members await this update / report.
There is an essential need for a pedestrian crossing and general pavement infrastructural works at The Dunes pub/entrance to Cnoc na Ri estate and also pavement works at a very bad corner entering Top Road from Culleenamore direction. This Council commits to using the fund this year to design and build these necessary road safety improvements.”
Councillor Nealon thanked Councillor Gibbons for the original Motion and welcomed the report from the Roads Department confirming that survey and design works will commence in Q4 2026.
Councillor Gibbons also welcomed the report.
ITEM 5: Votes of Sympathy
None
ITEM 6: Votes of Congratulations
Votes of congratulations were extended by the Members to both Margaret McConnell and Cyril McNamara on their recent retirements from Sligo County Council.
Councillor Higgins extended thanks and good luck to Marcella McGarry in her new her new role.
B. Flynn, on behalf of the Executive wished to be associated with the sentiments.
ITEM 7: Correspondence
None
ITEM 8: MATTERS ARISING
None
ITEM 9: ANY OTHER BUSINESS
None
ITEM 10: Date and Venue for next meeting
It was agreed that the AGM of the Borough District of Sligo would be held at 10 am on Friday 17th July 2026 and the next Ordinary Meeting held at 10 am on 20th July 2026, both in City Hall.
The business of the meeting concluded at 11.02 am.
Meeting Date 18/05/2026