Decade of Centenaries : Martin Savage : The Story of a Young Man

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Join us in The Oratory in Ballisodare as we commemorate Martin Savage on the centenary of his passing. The event will take place on Thursday, 5th of December at 6pm.

This commemoration evening will feature music and spoken word of the some of the best local artists and voices.

With special contributions from those who have been inspired by his legacy.

Admission is FREE with light refreshments on the evening.

The Word at Sligo Central Library: Wednesday 27th of November

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‘More of a bonfire than a beacon’: women writing for change at this month’s Word

The Word returns to Sligo Central Library on Wednesday 27th.  Writer Jessamine O’Connor from the BA Writing and Literature will host guests Sarah Clancy and Bairbre Flood. Sarah Clancy is a poet from Galway City although she now lives in Clare. She is the author of three collections of poetry, most recently The Truth and Other Stories (Salmon Poetry). The poet Martin Dyar describes her “rich, rhythmically insistent and often thrillingly confrontational poetry” and Rita Ann Higgins applauds the refreshing style and humanity of Clancy’s poems that ‘act as more of a bonfire than a beacon in these dark times.” She has won the Cuirt International Festival of Literature Grand Slam Championship and was runner up in the All- Ireland Grand Slam Championships. Her new collection will be published by Salmon Poetry.

Reading with Sarah is Bairbre Flood, a writer and journalist living in West Cork. Her story Fejira // to cross won first prize in the Fish Memoir Competition 2019, with publication in the Fish Anthology 2019. The judge Chrissie Gittins described it as ‘a vivid, clear-eyed account which witnesses the facts of these precarious ‘blow-apart lives struggling to start again’ and makes them plain to see.’ Her video-poem, Illegal was runner-up at the Doolin Writers’ Weekend 2019 inaugural video-poem competition; a lament connecting our coffin ship history with modern-day experiences of exile. She has written two books of poetry, and her most recent poems explore migration, loss and identity.

Local writers are welcome to read at the open-mic which operates on a first come, first served basis. The Word is a collaboration between Sligo Central Library and the BA in Writing & Literature at IT Sligo. There is no charge for this event. 27th November, 6.30 pm, Sligo Central Library.

Official Launch: Commemorating the Centenary of the Connaught Rangers Mutiny in India 28th June 1920

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An official launch for this memorial project will take place in Tubbercurry Community Library on Saturday 9th of November at 1pm.
 
The memorial project involves the erecting of an inscribed monument in Wolfe Tone Square, Tubbercurry, dedicated to the memory of the three Sligo men who took part in the mutiny: James Gorman Tubbercurry, Martin Boy Conlon Sligo town and Jack Scanlon Sligo town.
 
The project is designed to tell the story and to honour the memory of the courageous men who while far from home stood in solidarity with their native country men fighting for our Independence.
 
The proposed dedication date is June 28th, 2020 on the centenary anniversary of the mutiny.
 
In advance of the memorial, an official launch will take place in Tubbercurry Community Library.
 
Key aspects of the launch will be a series of short talks over the afternoon, by three historians on the history of the mutiny, followed by a light refreshment.
 
They include:
 
  • Dr. Eunan O’Halpin, Professor of Contemporary Irish History, Trinity College (Grandnephew of Kevin Barry).
  • Dr. Mario Draper, Professor of Modern History, Kent University.
  • Danny Tiernan, Connaught Rangers, Historian, Boyle, Co. Rosommon.
 
Each talk will be followed by a brief Q&A.
 
The memorial launch is a chance to remind ourselves of the significance of Ireland and Sligo’s forgotten heroes.
 
This is a FREE event.
 
The memorial project is part of Sligo Co Council’s Decade of Centenaries, the State Commemoration of significant historical events that took place between 1918-1923.
 
In association with the Connaught Rangers Memorial group and Creative Ireland.

                                     The Connaught Rangers Mutiny in India 1920

The Connaught Rangers were a regiment in the British army and were based in Wellington barracks Jalandhar in the Punjab India

When the news of martial law in Ireland and the reprisals by the Black and Tans reached them they protested by refusing to obey orders.

The protest spread to Solan, a military outpost near the Tibetan border, and the Rangers there led by Private James Daly, protested by grounding arms and refusing to obey orders

In August 88 mutineers were court- martialled at army headquarters at Simla seventy seven were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, 10 were acquitted, 14 were sentenced to death, 13 had had their sentences commuted to life in prison and some were given up to 20 years penal servitude.

Private James Daly, spokesperson for the Rangers in Salon, was executed by firing squad on November 2nd. 1920 and was the last member of the British forces to be executed for mutiny.

The Rangers were returned to England to serve the remainder of their sentences

After a number of weeks they were removed to prisons around England.

The Connaught Ranger mutineers were released on January 2nd. 1923 following an amnesty as part of the signing of the Anglo Irish Treaty.

They returned to Ireland and became Ireland’s forgotten hero’s with families and communities seldom knowing all of the hardship they endured

In 1970 the remains of James Daly Peter Sears and Patrick Smyth were repatriated to Ireland

James Daly was buried in Tyrrellspass Co Westmeath. Patrick Symth and Peter Sears are buried in Glasnevin cemetery Dublin.

Sligo Central Library Event_Dacre Stoker reads Dracul

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Wednesday  |  October 23  |  6.30PM

Sligo Central Library

In association with the Sligo Stoker Society

Dacre Stoker is the great grand nephew of Dracula author Bram Stoker, and a best selling novelist in his own right. Sligo Stoker Society is welcoming Dacre to Sligo town on Wednesday 23rd October, 2019.

Dacre’s great great grandmother Charlotte Thornley Stoker lived in Sligo during the cholera epidemic of 1832 and was the mother of Bram Stoker. Her tales of Sligo’s epidemic are said to have influenced the novel Dracula. Therefore it will be a spiritual homecoming of sorts for Dacre, and his first time to visit Sligo. He is based in the U.S. and has a large international following.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/230960/dacre-stoker

Sligo Stoker Society, a voluntary society with a focus on historical research, are helping to organise the events and aim to launch signage (outlining the Sligo/Dracula historical connection) to coincide with Dacre’s visit. The signage was funded by Sligo County Council C&V Heritage grants scheme and Sligo LEADER partnership.

 

PUBLIC EVENT (FREE) 6.30pm – Sligo Central Library in association with the Sligo Stoker Society will host Dacre Stoker, great grandnephew of Bram Stoker. Dacre will read selected passages from Dracul which he co-authored with JD Barker, the origin story of Bram Stoker writing Dracula.

Q&A with Dr. Fiona Gallagher (Author of Streets of Sligo).

Music with Niamh Crowley and Anna Houston

Contact: 0719111675 or sligolibrary@sligococo.ie

Sligo EDIC Soapbox: Thursday 17th of October

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Sligo EDIC is hosting a Soapbox event on Thursday 17th October at 6:30pm in Sligo Central Library.

This year the topic is “CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT MY PROBLEM”.

There is an under 18 and over 18 competition and Sligo EDIC covers the counties of Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim.

The winners of both age groups receive an IPad and go forward to the national finals where the overall winners receive a weekend trip away to Brussels to visit the European Parliament along with some spending money.

The Under 18 Competition is run through the Secondary Schools so please contact the TY Form Teacher or an English teacher at your school.

The Over 18 Competition is run with the co-operation of the Toastmaster organisation so please contact your local Toastmaster group.

If you have any queries please contact europedirect@sligococo.ie

Soapbox Rules for Applicants 2019

Sligo Central Library: The Word with ITSligo

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The Word returns to Sligo Central Library after the Summer break on Wednesday 25th of September at 6.30pm.

Louise Kennedy, just back from attending Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award ceremony in London for which she was shortlisted, will be reading her story, Silhouette.

 

Louise Kennedy grew up in Holywood, Co. Down. Her work has been published in journals including The Stinging Fly, The Tangerine and Banshee. She has won several short story prizes and was shortlisted for the 2019 Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award.

Michael Nolan, writer and editor of The Tangerine, which first published Louise’s story, will also be reading.

Michael Nolan is from Belfast. His work has appeared and is upcoming in The Stinging Fly, Winter Papers and The Lifeboat. His story, Cenacle, was produced by BBC Radio 4. He is the fiction editor of The Tangerine. 

The writers will read from their work followed by a Q& A and an open-mic session. Local writers are welcome to read at the open-mic which operates on a first come, first served basis. The Word is a collaboration between Sligo Central Library and the BA in Writing & Literature at IT Sligo. There is no charge for this event.

PAULINE BRENNAN TO TAKE UP POST OF COUNTY LIBRARIAN WITH LEITRIM COUNTY COUNCIL

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Pauline Brennan recently left her job of Senior Executive Librarian to take a post of County Librarian with Leitrim County Council. She is pictured receiving a presentation from the Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Councillor Tom MacSharry.

Sligo Central Library Age action computer classes

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Age Action Computer Classes for older people will resume in Sligo Central Library on Wednesday, 4th of September, 2019, 10.30am-12.30pm.

The aim of “Getting Started” programme is to make older people comfortable using computers/tablets/smartphones and the internet. Tutoring is usually 1:1 basis. Classes run once a week for 2 hours.

For more information email Age Action gettingstartedgalway@ageaction.ie or contact Sligo Central Library to go on a waiting list

“Sligo County Council Arts Plan 2020-2025 – Have your say – Complete the Survey”

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Sligo County Council Arts Plan 2020-2025

Click here to download and complete survey: Sligo Arts Plan Survey

Introduction

Sligo is home to many thriving and connected communities of artists, creative people and organisations, working in a diverse range of forms and genre. They are visible and recognised for the quality of their thinking, work and contribution to society. The social and economic benefits they bring to our communities are understood and valued. People of all ages and from different types of communities from all parts of the county can have deep and meaningful engagement with arts and creativity.

Now and in the future, this arts plan will underpin the work of artists and creative people through both  financial and empathetic support, so that they have time and space to develop their practice and produce thoughtful, inspiring, high quality work.  The Arts Office of Sligo County Council will be central to this and is referred to as Sligo Arts Office in this survey.

We are surveying the Sligo community, arts and culture providers and supporters as a first step toward identifying arts community need, goals and priorities for the ultimate development of a comprehensive county arts and culture plan.

So far, our conversations with stakeholders have resulted in a number of identifiable priorities for the forthcoming arts plan:

  1. The need to appoint an arts officer to lead out and represent the arts at local and national levels. This is seen as essential in terms of driving the development of the arts over the next 5 years.
  2. Artist’s workspaces – artists need spaces in which to work and provision of studios would address this need. Security of tenure and fair rents should feature in any plan to develop artists’ workspaces.
  3. Direct project, awards, bursaries to artists – these are essential to enabling artists to create work and to make a living in Sligo. Artists work is being considered in context i.e. artist as citizen, creator, economic and social stakeholder, entrepreneur. Openness to working with Enterprise Boards and to harness other funding streams and opportunities has been a feature of artists work and will be strengthened in this arts plan.
  4. Public art – new possibilities in public art/ art in the public realm will be explored across disciplines and public services to build on Sligo’s considerable reputation in inventive and creative use of public art resources
  5. New ways of working – Sligo is home to a range of high quality arts organisations, venues and festivals e.g. Chamber Music Festival with the Vogler Quartet, Cairde, Yeats Summer School, Blue Raincoat, Model Niland etc. The former arts plan sought ways of working with and through these partners and in the new arts plan these relationships will be strengthened and enhanced with additional resources and innovations.

The survey will help us to build a comprehensive picture of the arts in the county and we would, very much, appreciate your participation.

Above all, we look to forward to sharing the results from these surveys and the outcome of our deliberations in Sligo’s new arts plan which will be published in the autumn.

Please forward this survey via email to artsforsligo@gmail.com by 10th July 2019.

Sligo Library: Summer Stars Reading Challenge 2019

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Sligo Central Library: Summer Stars 2019 Award ceremony, taking place on Monday, 19th of August.

Details are here: https://sligolibrary.ie/event/sligo-central-library-summer-stars-2019-award-ceremony/

 

Summer Stars starts Tuesday 18th June

Visit your library and take out books that you will enjoy reading. This will develop your reading abilities and by continuing to read during your school holidays, you’ll be ready for the next class you go into in September.

Best of all, you’ll get prizes and rewards for taking part in the Summer Stars:

You’ll get a ‘Reading Card’ to record your progress and write down your favourite books.

Each time you visit the library you will get Free Rewards (Show children the rewards)

  • Visit 1: Reading Card & Drawstring Bag
  • Visit 2: Pencil Case
  • Visit 3: Bookmark & Pencil
  • Visit 4: Wristband           
  • Awards Presentation: Medals & Certificates

For more details, contact your local library branch:

Ballymote Community Library: 0719111669

Enniscrone Branch Library: 0719111653

Sligo Central Library: 0719111675

Tubbercurry Community Library: 0719111705