Calendar of Events

Simone Hickey, in advance of her new publication Bringing Them Home; Sligo’s Great War Dead, will join Sligo Central for a The Word on Wednesday 30th of October

Simone will be in conversation with Ronan McGreevy. Music with Steve Wickham

Audience Q&A | Open Mic

Sligo Central Library will be hosting The Word on Wednesday 30th of October in Sligo Central Library, Stephen Street from 6:30pm.

Simone Hickey holds a Diploma in Folklore & History and an MA in Historical & Heritage Studies. Her research area of interest is early twentieth-century Irish history, in particular, the Great War 1914-18. She lectured on Myths & Legends and Famine & Pre-Famine Times for the Diploma in Folklore & History programs at St Angela’s College, Sligo where she was a module leader.

Ronan McGreevy is an Irish Times journalist and videographer. He is the author of Wherever the Firing Line Extends: Ireland and the Western Front (2016). His book Great Hatred: The Assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP (Faber & Faber) was chosen as the Sunday Business Post history book of the year and one of the Daily Telegraph’s history books of the year in 2022.

He was the editor of Centenary, the official State book on the Easter Rising commemoration. He was also the editor of Was it for This: Reflections on the Easter Rising, an anthology of commentary on the Easter Rising from the pages of The Irish Times.

He is the presenter of the full-length documentary United Ireland: How Nationalists and Unionists Fought Together in Flanders which was shortlisted in the Imperial War Museums short film awards in 2018. He runs tours to the Western Front with GTI Travel twice a year in autumn and spring.

The Kidnapping (A hostage, a desperate manhunt and a bloody rescue that shocked Ireland), co-written with Tommy Conlon about the kidnapping of Don Tidey in 1983 (Penguin Random House) was published in October 2023. It was an Irish bestseller and a No.1 Kindle bestseller in true crime.

Steve Wickham is recognised as Ireland’s premier rock fiddler since the mid-1980s. His distinctive playing has been a major contribution to the Waterboys groundbreaking records over the years. Steve Wickham became a member of The Waterboys in 1985 shortly after playing on their seminal album “This is The Sea”. Steve Wickham has recorded and performed with U2, Elvis Costello, Sinead O’Connor, Bob Dylan, Sharon Shannon and many other artists in the worlds of rock and traditional folk music.

Steve also writes and records with world music group NoCrows. The ‘Crows’ have released six albums to date and continue to tour extensively. Steve composed the score for Tom Mc Intyre’s plays ‘The Midnight Court’ and ‘Caoineadh Airt O’ Laoghaire’, both performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. He also collaborated with Michael Harding on his plays ‘Bog Dances’ and ‘Sleeping a Lovesong’.

Audience Q&A

Sligo County Council’s Commemoration Programme 2024 supported by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

The event is free and unticketed with limited seating. The doors will close at 6:30pm.

The event will also be streamed on Facebook on the night: //www.facebook.com/SligoCountyLibrary/

The Word is a collaborative event between Sligo Central Library and the BA in Writing & Literature course at Sligo ATU.

There is no charge for this event.

sligolib@sligococo.ie

Tel: 0719111675