This local history project was carried out by Transition Year students under the tuition of Yeats Library staff in the Institute of Technology, Sligo.

1. Transition Year 1916 Centenary Project

2. Sligo Through The Decades
1916 – 1925
Joseph McDonagh
Aoibhin Buckley
Silvio Conte

3. Significant Events In Sligo
• Spanish Flu 1918 - 1919
• Proportional Representation 1919
• The Noble Six 1922
• Sligo Olympians 1924

4. Spanish Flu

5. The Spanish Flu 1918-1919
These women are pictured wearing international health gauze
masks distributed to be worn in public in an attempt to prevent the
spread of the deadly influenza (www.getholistichealth.com)
• The population of Sligo was
drastically reduced between
the census of 1911 (79,045)
and 1926 (71,388)
• A main factor of this was the
Spanish Flu. This epidemic
killed more people in one year
then the Black Death over four
years
• The death rate was very high,
symptoms including; unstable
pulse, sore throat, headaches,
loss of appetite and gastro-
intestinal pains

6. The Spanish Flu 1918-1919
• The epidemic was nicknamed ‘the black flu’
because patients would often turn purple or
even black while suffering from this deadly
disease
• It spread quickly because of the masses of
soldiers travelling through multiple ports,
including Sligo port, and had soon taken over
the country.
• By the summer of 1919, the flu pandemic came
to an end, as those that were infected either
died or developed immunity.

7. Proportional Representation

8. Proportional Representation
Sligo was the first electorate in
Britain and Ireland in which
proportional representation was
used as a voting system.
It was first used in the January
1919 election of the Sligo
Corporation.
Election Count in Sligo Town Hall
Kilgannon Foley Collection.
“Proportional Representation secures that minorities shall be represented in
proportion to their strength. It is the one just system of election under
democratic government.”
- Arthur Griffith,
25th February, 1911

9. Election Statistics and
Results
8
7
5
4
S.R.A SINN FÉIN LABOUR INDEPENDENTS
Seats
Sligo Corporation 1919
Election Results
Sligo 1919 Election Results
 In 1918 the Representation of the
People Act gave the vote to all males
over the age of 21 and most women
over 30.
• A total of 48 candidates ran for 24
seats.
• 2208 people voted in the election.
80% of those who were entitled to
vote.
Proportional Representation is
used today as the national voting
system and has survived attempts
to replace it.
Ballot Counting

10. Sligo’s Nobel Six

11. • On Monday morning, 18th Sept, the
Pro-Treaty Free State Army (FSA)
troops advanced from several
directions on Rahelly House, which
had been the headquarters of the
IRA since they evacuated Sligo town
in July.
 The Anti-Treaty I.R.A forces decided
to withdraw to the area around the
North of Benbulben.It was
estimated that they were
outnumbered 10:1
• By Wednesday afternoon it began
to emerge that there were many
casualties. Later in the afternoon
the bodies of Seamus Devins, Brian
Mac Neill, Patrick Carroll and
Joseph Banks were recovered.
Sligo’s Nobel Six

12. Sligo’s Nobel Six
• On Monday morning 2nd October
the startling news reached Sligo
that the bodies of Harry Benson
and Thomas Langan had been
found near Ballinatrillick.
• The republicans claimed the six
had been shot after surrender,
though conclusive evidence is
lacking it appears the republican
account may be true.
Picture thanks to picsawebs.com

13. SLIGO OLYMPIANS

14. 1924 Olympics Paris
The 1924 Olympics was the first Olympics that Ireland (then the Irish Free
State) took part in as an independent nation.
John Joe Dykes
• Sligo’s first Olympian was footballer
John Joe Dykes.
• He was also the first Sligo man to
captain the Irish International team.
 He won the Free State Cup (now FAI
Cup) with Athlone Town in 1924,
becoming the first Sligo man to do so.
John Joe Dykes

15. Painting in the Olympics
• Painting was the first Olympic
event in which Ireland (the Irish
Free State) won an Olympic
medal.
• Won by Jack B. Yeats for oil
painting ‘The Liffey Swim’.
• He was awarded silver medal.
Jack B. Yeats. (1923). The Liffey Swim. [Painting].
Available at: http://www.nationalgallery.ie

17. References
• http://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/localnotes/sligo-
protestants-and-the-borough-election-of-january-1919-27564871.html
• http://www.sligotoday.ie/details.php?id=36451
• http://www.sligolibrary.ie/sligolibrarynew/media/SligoLibrary/Sligo400docu
ments/PR%20(19).pdf
• http://www.nationalgallery.ie/Exhibitions/Lines_of_Vision/Larger_Images/Gl
ynn_Alan.aspx
• http://www.olympic.org/content/the-ioc/commissions/culture-and-olympic-
heritage-commission/?tab=advocacy
• Independent:http://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/sport/so
ccer/sligoman-who-skippered-ireland-27586365.html
• http://www.irishtimes.com/news/proportional-representation-and-the-
single-transferable-vote-its-use-in-ireland-1.1035255
• ‘The Protestant community in Sligo, 1914–49’
• The Irish Revolution 1912-23 SLIGO

18. Transition Year 1916 Centenary Project

19. 1926-1935
Aishling O’Regan
Cormac Nugent
Pauric Maxwell

20. Contents
1927 Countess Markievicz Dies
1928 Sligo Rovers Founded
1935 Mary OHara born
1927 John Jinks absents the Dail
1932 Deferred Sligo-Leitrim
Constituency Election

21. Timeline
Ireland
• 1926 Fianna Fail founded​
• 1932 Eamonn De Valera
Taoiseach​
• 1932 Britian warned Ireland
that the Oath of Allegiance
is mandatory
• 1932 Fianna Fail won
majority
Sligo
• 1927 Countess Markievicz
dies​
• 1927 John Jinks absents
himself from the dail
• 1928 Sligo Rovers founded​
• 1935 Mary O'Hara born

22. Death of Countess Markievicz
• Lifespan: February 1868
to July 1927.​
• Countess Markievicz was
a member of the
Resistance during the
Rising.​
• She was later involved in
the Government of
Ireland, up until her death
in 1927.​
• "One thing she had in
abundance, physical
courage; With that she was
clothed as with a garment"​
- Sean O'Casey

23. Sligo Rovers
• Sligo Rovers were
founded in 1928.​
• They had early
successes in the same
year as their founding.
• Robert Preston became
their first manager, in
1934.

24. Mary O’Hara
• Mary O'Hara was born
in Sligo on May 12,
1935.​
• Some of her works
include: Songs Of Erin
(1957) and Love Songs
of Ireland (1958)

25. John Jinks Absents the Dail
"John Jinks is the Ruler of Ireland. It
is a John Jinks Government." - Sean
Lemass
• John Jinks was born in
Drumcliffe, Sligo in
1873​.
• In August 1927, he was
involved in an infamous
event, resulting in a
political mix up.
• John Jinx died on the
11th of September 1934.

26. Deferred 1932 Sligo Leitrim
Constituency Election
• Cumann nGaedheal TD
Patrick Reynolds and
Detective Patrick McGeehan
were shot dead while
canvasing in the Sligo
Leitrim constituency
• Under the Electoral
(Revision of Constituencies)
Act 1935, the Leitrim-Sligo
constituency was abolished
and replaced by two
separate 3 seat
constituencies: Sligo and
Leitrim.

28. Transition Year 1916 Centenary Project

29. Sligo,
1936 -1945
Brónagh Kennedy
Christopher O’Brien

30. Contents

31. The Truskmore Plane Crash
• On the afternoon of 9th
December 1943
Ballintrillick
• There were ten young
airmen of the United
States Army Air Forces.
• An American Bomber, a
B-17 Flying Fortress from
Goose Bay to Prestwick in
Scotland.
The Emergency in Ireland

32. Look-Out Posts
• One thing that did help the American pilots were the
coast watchers, a series of pill boxes posted around the
coasts to keep a look out for planes in distress
• Coast video on Pill Box 71

33. Sligo’s involvement in the Spanish
Civil War 1936
• A group of eleven Sligo Volunteers answered the call of Blueshirt General Eoin
O’Duffy to fight for General Franco in the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
• This group of men was formed by Sidney Gallagher.
• Bishop Edward Doorly gave a passionate sermon in the Sligo Cathedral
describing vividly how priests in Spain had been slaughtered.

34. The Moylough Belt Shrine
• This relic dates back from the 8th
Century.
• The belt was discovered in 1945 by
Mr. John Towey when he was
cutting turf on a farm in Moylough
Co. Sligo.
• It has a central placed medallion of a
Celtic cross.
• Probably associated with a local
saint and must have been an
important relic.
• This Belt can be found in the
National Museum of Ireland.

35. Inishmurray poitin trade
• Inishmurray Island was know for its role in making Whiskey. The Police
soon became aware of the illegal production and tried to stop it.
• A successful landing was achieved, on January 9th, 1936.
• The whiskey trade declined after World War II due to sugar rationing,
leading to a big drop in the income of the inhabitants of the island and the
eventual abandonment of the island in 1948.

36. Pictures we have gathered over the decade

37. Bibliography
An image taken during a visit to Duxford Imperial War Museum outside Cambridge in September
2010. This is a flying example of the B-17, ‘Sally B’, operated from the Duxford airfield. (Photo: D.
Burke 2010) See the organizations website: www.sallyb.org.uk
Ireland and the Spanish Civil War http://irelandscw.com/band-Sligo1.htm
Second World War Look-outs http://mullaghmore-active.blogspot.ie/2011/10/mullaghmore-look-out-
post.html
World War 2 today, U.S bombs fall from U.S planes http://ww2today.com/27th-january-1943-u-s-bombs-from-
u-s-airplanes-with-u-s-crews-hit-germany
The Coastguard Cutter, http://www.coastguardsofyesteryear.org/articles.php?article_id=139

38. Bibliography
An image taken during a visit to Duxford Imperial War Museum outside Cambridge in September
2010. This is a flying example of the B-17, ‘Sally B’, operated from the Duxford airfield. (Photo: D.
Burke 2010) See the organizations website: www.sallyb.org.uk
Ireland and the Spanish Civil War http://irelandscw.com/band-Sligo1.htm
Second World War Look-outs http://mullaghmore-active.blogspot.ie/2011/10/mullaghmore-look-out-
post.html
World War 2 today, U.S bombs fall from U.S planes http://ww2today.com/27th-january-1943-u-s-bombs-from-
u-s-airplanes-with-u-s-crews-hit-germany
The Coastguard Cutter, http://www.coastguardsofyesteryear.org/articles.php?article_id=139

39. Transition Year 1916 Centenary Project

40. Contents
• 1946-1955
• Martin Moffat VC
• Men of Destiny
• Yeat’s Funeral
• S.S Walnut
• Markievicz Park

41. Martin J
Moffat VC1882-1946
Martin Moffat with the Victoria cross.
• Martin J. Moffat was an Irish
recipient of the Victoria Cross.
• Moffat who was from Knappagh
Road in Sligo, first served in the
Connaught Rangers.
• Lived in Sligo until his death in 1946

42. Men of Destiny
Painted by Jack. B. Yeats
1946
• 30th Anniversary of the Easter Rising
• Fishermen in Rosses Point, who left their
daily lives to fight for freedom in the Easter
Rising
Men of Destiny, courtesy of the National Gallery
Picture courtesy of Ireland-calling.com

43. W. B. Yeats’ Funeral
17th September 1948
• Yeats died in1939 while in France but due
to the outbreak of WW2, his body was not
returned to Ireland until 1948.
• Éamon De Valera attended the state
funeral. It represents how important the
event was at the time
• Buried in the cemetery at Drumcliffe
where his great-grandfather was rector
The town hall was opened
the year of W. B. Yeats’ birth,
in 1865
De Valera on his way to the funeral.
Photograph courtesy of the Hudson Archives
Hearse outside Town Hall. Photograph courtesy of
Dublin City Council website

44. S.S. Walnut 1948 Refugee Ship
• Refugees wanted to settle in Canada to avoid Russian occupied Estonia.
• Set off November 13th from Sweden, and docked into Sligo to escape a
winter storm
• Arrived in Canada on the 13th of December 1948.
• The ship was a WW2 minesweeper, built for a crew of 18.
''We and our children will remember your people forever''

45. Passengers statistics
• There were 347 refugees on board, including 120 families. Most were Estonians
but there were also some Latvians, Danes and Poles, one Austrian and one
German
Estonians Latvians,Poles, Danes Austrian German

46. Markievicz Park 1955
• Markievicz Park is the
principal GAA stadium in
County Sligo.
• Built in 1955.
• Sean Forde was influential
in gathering funds.
• It is named after Constance
Markievicz

48. Reference List
Walnut ship 1948 available at www.walnutship1948.ca/Walnut_Ship_Estonian_Refugees_photo_album.htm
National Gallery available at
http://www.nationalgalleryimages.ie/en/page/show_home_page.html?gclid=CKv5trbyzsoCFcOw2wodq_EMEw
Ireland calling website available at http://ireland-calling.com/march28/
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/most-expensive-irish-paintings.htm
Ask about Ireland available at http://www.askaboutireland.ie/narrative-notes/de-valera-going-to-yeats-/
Yeats Funeral; town hall, (1948), image available at http://www.dublincity.ie/story/funerals-w-b-yeats-1939-
and-1948
Wikipedia Available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Moffat
http://www.oldsite.leinster-regiment-association.org.uk/ledegem/the_vc_winners.htm
Google available at
https://www.google.com/fusiontables/DataSource?docid=1VTIBOuL3pN16YB743p3wTQSlRgCDH7OC-VdHh3w
Pitch check available at
http://www.pitchcheck.ie/2009/10/22/markievicz-park-ballyfermot-road-ballyfermot-dublin-10/

49. Transition Year 1916 Centenary Project

50. 1956-1965 Sligo
The Lost Decade
Amy Feely
Eilish Gleeson
Evelyn Hamilton
Katie Cawley

51. Contents:
• Emigration
• Modern Industrial Investment
• The first female Gardaí
• Maeve de Markievicz
• Culture

52. Emigration
Irish emigrants heading to America in late 1950s.
• Emigration was
common in the
1950s.
• This was caused by
high levels of
unemployment.
• Roughly half a
million people left
Ireland in this
decade.

53. Mary Walsh was born in 1943 and was raised in Curry Co. Sligo.
She emigrated to New York in 1961.
Mary Walsh in her apartment in New York 1962Mary Walsh outside her house in Curry 1959
Emigration → Mary Walsh

54. Modern Industrial Investment → Basta
Basta is a factory in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo. It opened in 1955.
This factory not only
created employment
but also boosted local
population.
In 1958, 50 junior
infants were enrolled
in the local convent.
The year before, only 9
had been enrolled.
The staff of Basta.

55. Modern Industrial Investment →
Tool and Gauge Ltd.
Other industries sprung up as a result of Basta opening in Tubbercurry.
Tool and Gauge Ltd. was the idea of Mr. James Gallagher. It opened in
1956.
• It became the mother of
Irish tool making.
• Its reputation and highly
trained toolmakers
brought pride to
Tubbercurry, and it
boosted employment in
the area.
The staff at a Tool and Gauge dinner dance.

56. The First Female Gardaí
In 1959, the first female Gardaí were appointed. This was a
major breakthrough for women.
One of these women was from Sligo, Elizabeth Josephine Dwyer.

57. Maeve de Markievicz
Maeve de Markievicz
• Daughter of Countess
Markievicz, she was born in
Lissadell in 1901 and was
raised by her grandmother
Lady Gore-Booth.
• She moved to England at age
14. After a long illness, she
returned to Sligo in 1961 to
recuperate.
• Her visit lasted 3 months.
During this last visit in Sligo
she created many paintings,
such as ‘The Little Waves of
Breiffny’.

58. Drama → Phoenix Players
• In 1958, they won Best
Production at the Western
Drama Festival, at the
Ballyshannon festival and at
Cavan festival.
• ‘The Gaol Gate’ was
nominated to go forward to
the All Ireland Amateur Drama
Festival, where they won
second place in the One Act
Open Competition.
Cast and producer of ‘The Gaol Gate’.

59. Music → Showbands
The Clefonaires, 1962.
• ‘The Clefonaires’ were a famous showband formed in the 1950s, in
Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo.
• They played shows in local halls and ballrooms. They always
gathered a good crowd.
• They also toured in England and Denmark.

60. Music → Jim Reeves’ Visit
• In the summer of ‘63, Sligo got a
taste of a world class singer.
• Jim Reeves or “Gentleman Jim”
played in the Las Vegas Ballroom in
Strandhill as part of an Irish tour in
June 1963.
• He was an iconic musician, and
became even more iconic after he
died in a plane crash in 1964.
• Tickets to the show were seven
shillings and sixpence.
The advert for Reeves’ Sligo performance.

62. Reference List
Bell, K. (Editor) (2013) Hidden Histories: Political/Historical Perspectives of Sligo. Dublin:
W&G Baird Ltd..
Caine, A. (2005) Meeting the Scholars Coming Home, Curry National; School 188301975.
Sligo: JDK Design.
Council Honour for Sligo's UN Peace-Keeping Troops. The Irish Independent,
28th December, 2006, p.13.
Gallagher, E. (1996) The Phoenix Players, 50 Golden Years. Sligo: JKD Design.
Gallagher, F. (2008) The Streets of Sligo. Latvia: Livonia Press.
Glynn, I., Kelly, T. and MacÉinrí, P. (2013) Irish Emigration in an Age of Austerity. Cork: City Print.ie.
Mc Gowan, J. (2009) Constance Markievicz. Newtownabbey: Nicholson & Bass.
McTernan, J.C. (2000) A Sligo Miscellany. Dublin: Colour Books Ltd..
McTernan, J.C. (2000) In Sligo Long Ago. Dublin: Colour Books Ltd..
Tubbercurry Active Retirement Association (2011) The Way That it Was. Sligo: JKD Design.
Tubbercurry Active Retirement Association (2011) The Way That it Was II. Sligo: JKD Design.
Glynn, I., Kelly, T. and MacÉinrí, P. (2013) Irish Emigration in an Age of Austerity. Cork: City Print.ie.

63. Websites Accessed
Flannery, O. & Flannery, P. (2016) 1955-1965: The Phoenix Spreads its Wings.
(http://phoenixplayerstubbercurry.info/?page_id=49)(accessed: 16th January, 2016(internet).
Gallagher, I. (2000) Ian Gallagher Home Page (http://www.iangallagher.com/clefonaires.html)(accessed: 24th January,
2016)(internet).
(http://www.irish-showbands.com/images/showbands/lcxclefs62.htm)(accessed: 25th January, 2016) (internet).
(http://www.sligo-ireland.com/sligobands.htm)(accessed: 26th January, 2016)(internet).
(http://www.thejournal.ie/horsefaced-female-gardai-1701258-Oct2014/) (accessed: 27th January, 2016)(internet).
McGloin, E. (2013) Fifty years ago today, Jim Reeves hit Sligo town
(http://www.sligotoday.ie/details.php?id=26169)(accessed: 23th January, 2016)(internet).
Mc Gowan, J. (2005) Sligo Heritage (http://www.sligoheritage.com/index.htm) (accessed: 25th January, 2016)(internet).
Tubbercurry Chamber of Commerce (http://tubbercurry.ie/about-tubbercurry/) (accessed: 22th January, 2016)(internet).

64. Transition Year 1916 Centenary Project

65. Sligo Centenary Project
1966-1975
Moya Gorman, David
Watters and Rhian Sayers

66. Contents
• Sligo provincial win 1975
• Sligo Sounds festival 1971
• Ray MacSharry start of political career 1968
• Introduction of free education
• Renovation of the Holy Cross Church 1973
• World events 1966- 1975

67. Sport
• 1975:Sligo GAA beat
Mayo in the football
provincial final.
• The first match went to
a replay, with a
scoreline of Sligo 2-10
Mayo 1-13.
• The replay finished 2-
10 to 0-15 to Sligo at
McHale Park on 20
July.
• Mickey Kearins scored
and assisted both
goals, Barnes Murphy
was the captain.

68. Culture
• 1971 Sligo sounds was
the County’s first open air
music festival.
• The June back holiday
weekend brought music,
hippies and raised prices
to Sligo.
• The Showgrounds rocked
to the sounds of Horslips,
Fairport Convention, The
Chieftains and Tir na nOg.

69. Politics
• Ray MacSharry was born
in Sligo April 29th 1935.
• He entered politics in
1967, elected to Sligo
County Council and the
Borough Council.
• He was first elected to
Dáil Éireann in 1969, as a
Fianna Fáil TD.
• Became Tánaiste and
Minister for Finance in
1982 and Irelands
European Commissioner
in 1989.

70. Education
• In 1972 Donagh O’ Malley, Minister
for Education, introduced free post-
primary education in Ireland.
• During the worst years of the
Troubles in Northern Ireland,
Summerhill College welcomed
children from the North during the
summer of 1972.
• Summerhill College opened its new
school between 1968 and 1969, and
it introduced subjects such as
Woodwork and Metalwork to the
school in 1972, becoming the first
school in Sligo to have all subject
choices available for students.

71. Community
• The Holy Church Friary was
rebuilt in 1973 as the Holy
Cross Church
• The church was designed by
architect Pearse McKenna,
after the previous church was
demolished in 1970.
• His designs are reminiscent
of the German architect Hans
Schaedal.
• He finished renovating the
church in 1973.

72. World Events

73. References
www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2012/.../323844-history-of-galway-v-sligo/
Sport
Culture
Valerie Finan,The Stage at the Showgrounds 1971.
http://www.sligotoday.ie/details.php?id=21409
Johnny Stenson, 1975
Politics
Ray MacSharry

74. Thanks for
listening.

75. Sligo Through The Decades
1976-1985
Eimear Mc Hugh
Lauren Verdon
Bridie Lyons

76.  Mullaghmore and the death of Mountbatten -1979
 Excavation of the Carrowmore Tombs- 1977
 The official opening of the Hawks Well Theatre -1982
 The closure of the Snia factory -1983
contents

77. • Lord Louis Mountbatten was born on the 25 th
June 1900.
• On August 27th 1979, Mountbatten went fishing
at the harbour at Mullaghmore on his fishing
vessel ‘Shadow V’.
• Mountbatten was warned about visiting Sligo by
Gardai.
Mountbatten holding his twin
Grandson’s, Timothy and
Nicholas Knatchbull.
Classiebawn Castle, Mullaghmore,
by Gareth McCormack
Mullaghmore

78. • The bomb was detonated as Mountbatten made his way into Donegal Bay
• Also on board the boat was his eldest daughter Patricia, her husband John,
their twin sons Nicholas and Timothy Knatchbull, John’s mother Doreen (Lady
Brabourne) and Paul Maxwell, a young crew member from County
Fermanagh.
• Mountbatten survived the explosion but later died from his injuries and
Nicholas (aged 14), Paul (aged 15) and Lady Brabourne also died from the
blast. The others were seriously injured.
Mountbattens boat the ‘Shadow V’
Supreme Commander
of the Nato fleet
Mullaghmore

79. • A permit was issued in 1974 for the excavation
of the tombs at the site of Carrowmore, 3km
west of Sligo town.
• The site was not excavated until 1977 due to
lack of funding.
• Stefan Burgh was the leading archaeologist on
the excavation.
Aerial view of Tomb no. 51, Carrowmore, Co. Sligo
[Goran Burenhult]
Excavating the megalithic
cemetery at Carrowmore.
The Excavation of
Carrowmore

80. • A permit was issued in 1974 for the excavation
of the tombs at the site of Carrowmore, 3km
west of Sligo town.
• The site was not excavated until 1977 due to
lack of funding.
• Stefan Burgh was the leading archaeologist on
the excavation.
Aerial view of Tomb no. 51, Carrowmore, Co. Sligo
[Goran Burenhult]
Excavating the megalithic
cemetery at Carrowmore.
The Excavation of
Carrowmore

81. • Antler and bone pins with mushroom shaped
heads and stone or clay balls.
• The excavations also uncovered large quantities
of unopened mussels and oysters
• Quartz fragments accompanied most of the
burials
• The antler pins, shellfish, and ornaments made
from sperm whale teeth found in the graves.
What was found?
Bone slip from Cairn H, from Conwell's excavations.

82. • The history of the Hawk’s Well Theatre
began with Sligo’s long and deep
tradition of amateur dramatics.
• The dream of a Theatre for Sligo was
what the people of the County really
wanted, especially those associated with
the amateur drama movement in the
area and the members of the Sligo
Drama Circle.
The Hawk’s Well Theatre

83. The official opening on January 12th 1982
A photograph of the Hawkswell in 1982
• On January the 12th1982 the President of Ireland at
the time, Patrick Hillery opened the event.
• The opening play Much Ado About Nothing, ran for a
week in the brand new theatre and was the
beginning of a long association between the Hawk’s
Well Theatre and Druid Theatre Company.
• During it’s early years, the Hawk’s Well maintained a
varied program of local and national theatrical and
cultural events that it still maintains today

84. "It is not often in the world in which we live in that we hear
of the opening of a new theatre…You have set a worthy
headline here. May your good example be followed by other
towns and districts all over Ireland".
(Patrick Hillery, President of Ireland 1976-1990)
Patrick Hillery who opened the Hawk’s Well Theatre

85. http://www.megalithicireland.com/Carrowmore%20Complex.h
Avaliable on Daily Mail:
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/08/06/article-1300980-0AB35C0B000005DC-
757_468x286.jpg
http://www.hawkswell.com/content/files/hpqscan0035.jpg
SourcesAvailable on Megalithic Ireland:
Available on Hawkswell Theatre:
http://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/1202/750693-president-
hillerys-last-day/
Avaliable on RTE:
• The factory was built in 1969 in Hazelwood
by the Italian firm Snia to manufacture nylon
yarn.
• Used to employ up to 500 people from 1969-
1983.
• Closed down in 1983
1983 closure of Snia Factory
Snia Factory Fire in the 1970’s, by
Esther Cassidy, Corran Hearld

87. References
• http://www.garethmccormack.com/stock-photos/image/coastal-view-of-classie-
bawn-castle-mullaghmore/
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1300980/My-twin-brother-dead-family-
blown-apart-Suddenly-Queen-went-unstoppable-mothering-mode-Lord-
Mountbattens-grandson-relives-IRA-bomb-attack.html
• The archaeological excavation at Carrowmore, Co. Sligo, Ireland: excavation
seasons 1977-79 by Burenhult, Göran. Burenhults Förlag ; Institute of
Archaeology, University of Stockholm, 1980
• http://www.hawkswell.com/about/history/
• www.lookwest.ie/hawks-well-theatre-iyeats-poetry-competition-2015/
• http://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/1202/750693-president-hillerys-last-day/
• http://ballymoteheritage.com/corran-previous-issues/

88. Transition Year 1916 Centenary Project

89. Sligo through the decades
1986-1995
Luke Gallagher
Alula Keevil
Johanna Knauf

90. Contents
Hughes Bridge opens 1988
Yeats statue erected 1989
Ray MacSharry becomes EU commissioner for agriculture 1989
Fleadh Cheoil in Sligo 1989-1990-1991
Sligo rovers win FAI cup 1994

91. Hughes Bridge Opens
• Construction began July
1987
•Construction was completed
December 9th 1988
•Two thousand people turned
up to the bridge opening
•The four lane bridge cost
€2.55 million
Focal crossing point of the Garavogue River.

92. Yeats Statue Erected
Yeats Statue
• Was unveiled by Senator Michael
Yeats(Yeats’ son)
• Created by Rowan Gillespie and funded by
Ulster Bank and the local community
• This was built to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of the poet death
• Body of the statue
is engraved with
extracts of his poems

93. Ray MacSharry appointed EU commissioner
for Agriculture
• Born in Sligo in 1938
• Elected to Sligo County
Council 1967
• 1967-1989 elected as
Fianna Fail TD for Sligo-
Leitrim
• 1984/1987 member of the
European Parliament
• 1989 EU Commissioner for
Agriculture and served with
distinction

94. Fleadh Cheoil 1989-1991
• Fleadh was in Sligo for 3
years
• “ Where better to host the
Fleadh than Sligo, renowned
the world over for it’s rich and
distinctive musical heritage”-
The Sligo Champion
• Brought tourism to Sligo and
renewed Sligo’s interest in
local Trad Cheoil
• RTE Archive 1990 Fleadh
•

95. Sligo Rovers won FAI
cup• They won the 1993-1994
season FAI cup
• The manager at the time
was Willie McStay
• They won 1-0 against
Derry city, Eddie
Annandwon scored the
winning goal

98. 98

99. References
• Hughes Bridge: credit to Fiona Gallagher, ”streets of Sligo”, Hughes bridge
at night, Horizontal picture
https://www.flickr.com/photos/niallio77/8295790075/in/photostream/
• Yeats statue #1:
http://s0.geograph.org.uk/photos/82/64/826470_3ecc1b93.jpg
Yeats Statue Black and White:
http://yeats2015.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/yeats-statue-1-
710x400.jpg
• http://blogs.lt.vt.edu/bfulcer/2013/12/08/the-horrors-of-chernobyl/

100. Transition Year 1916 Centenary Project

101. Sligo Through the Decades
1996-2005
By Hugh Kisby, Sarah Walsh
and Aoife Power

102. Contents
Sale of Lissadell House – 2003
Sligo Man Dies in 9/11 Attacks – 2001
Westlife Receive Freedom of Sligo – 2000
Famine Statues Erected – 1997
Pauline McLynn - 1996

103. Lissadell House
• Lissadell house was sold in 2003 by Sir Josslyn
Gore-Booth, to the Cassidy-Walsh family.

104. • Kieran Gorman had been working near the top of the south
tower on the morning of Sept. 11.
• A relative said he was not supposed to go back to work until
later in the week but had been called in early to oblige a
friend.
• Gorman had grown up in the parish of Achonry-
Mullinabreena, about 17 miles southwest of Sligo town.
Sligo Man Dies in 9/11

105. Westlife
• Westlife were an Irish boy band, formed in
July 1998 and disbanded in June 2012.
• On 1 July 2000 Westlife were honoured as
Freemen of the Borough of Sligo.

106. Famine Statues Erected
• The memorial statues were erected in 1997 by
Sligo Famine Commemeration Committee.
• They were erected to mark the 150th
Anniversary of Black ‘47

107. Mrs Doyle

108. Pauline McLynn
• Pauline McLynn is an actor born in Sligo.
• She was most famous for playing Mrs. Doyle in
the sitcom Father Ted
• She won the 1996 British Comedy Award Top
TV Comedy Actress for her role in Father Ted.
• Her films include Far and Away, When Brendan
Met Trudy, An Everlasting Piece, Angela’s Ashes
and Heidi and Gypo

111. References
• http://www.goss.ie/2015/04/brian-mcfadden-reveals-his-biggest-
regret-about-quitting-westlife/31118/
• http://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/news/westlife-
confirm-first-sligo-concert-in-seven-years-will-go-ahead-at-lissadell-
27571052.html
• http://www.yeatscountryantiques.ie/News.php?post=4
• http://positive.ie/blog/2015/02/04/the-many-emotions-of-a-trainee-
futures-trader/
• http://shameless.wikia.com/wiki/Pauline_McLynn
• http://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/news/special-
ceremony-for-911-victims-29547326.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks
• https://irishamericancivilwar.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/img_5467.j
pg
• http://jfarmstrong.com/faoin-sceach-sligos-famine-graveyard-
memorial/

112. Transition Year 1916 Centenary Project

113. Sligo
2006-2015
Aoibhín Buckley

114. Contents
• The Sligo Dock Strike Centenary
2013
• Prince Charles and the Duchess of
Cornwall visit Sligo
• Sligo Fleadh 2014 and 2015
• 150th anniversary of the birth of WB
Yeats
• Helicopter Search and Rescue base
at Sligo Airport

115. The Sligo Dock Strike
Centenary 2013

116. The Sligo Dock Strike Centenary 2013
A poster celebrating the centenary of the
Sligo Dock Strike, 1913
• The Great Dublin Lockout has
overshadowed other industrial
disputes, but a similar battle took
place in Sligo port 6 months earlier.
• The dispute began on March 8th,
1913, when seamen on the SS
Sligo demanded extra money for
handling cattle. The employer, the
Sligo Steam Navigation Company,
rejected the claim.
• When the seamen went on strike
the dockers supported them. They
left the ship with the cattle on
board.
• Intervention by employers and
introduction of scab labourers led
to clashes on the docks and riots in
the town and one striker, Patrick
Dunbar, was killed.

117. The Sligo Dock Strike Centenary 2013
• Victory in Sligo was achieved at the same time Dublin
was fighting a bitter battle for better pay, and this
was a morale booster for Dublin dockers and carters.
• On the 6th May 1913 settlement was reached when
the employers caved in and the position of the
ITGWU at the port was secured.
• Events celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Sligo
Dock Strike of 1913 took place
on Wednesday the 1st of May.
“Things have now assumed an
aspect which grossly threatens the
commercial prosperity of the port
and the town generally”
- The Sligo Champion

118. Prince Charles and
the Duchess of
Cornwall visit Sligo

119. Prince Charles and Camilla visit Sligo 2015
• In May 2015, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall,
came over from the UK on a four-day visit to the Republic of Ireland, and most
importantly, Sligo.
• As the pair visited Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo, it was an understandably
emotional time for Prince Charles.
• It was in this picturesque Irish harbour village where his beloved great-uncle,
Lord Louis Mountbatten, died in an IRA bombing in 1979.
• The official visit to the Republic of Britain's Prince Charles and his wife, the
Duchess of Cornwall, ended with the couple spending the evening at Sligo
Races.
Charles and Camilla in
Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo,
where the princes uncle
died in an IRA bombing

120. Prince Charles and Camilla visit Sligo 2015
• In the Model, he made a touching speech about his grand-uncle
and was greeted by a special gift from Sligo, a piece of music in
three movements specially commissioned for the visit performed
by wonderful musicians.
• They toured the Model’s prized Niland collection which includes
works by John and Jack B Yeats, Paul Henry, Louis Le LeBrocquy and
Prince Charles’s close friend the late Derek Hill.
• Later in IT Sligo, Prince Charles met students and was briefed on the
Lake Isle of Innisfree project, part of the Yeats 2015 cerebrations,
which saw the poets dream of a cabin on Lough Gill realised in time
for his birthday on June 13th. Hundreds of students and staff
gathered to welcome Prince Charles during an hour-long visit which
included a visit to IT Sligo’s new €17 million MacMunn Science
Building.

121. Sligo Fleadh Cheoil
2014 and 2015

122. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
• Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the world’s largest traditional music festival,
was held in Sligo in 2014 and 2015. This event caused a 25% increase of
footfall in Sligo town, as music lovers from countries such as Ireland,
Britain, the US, Japan and Korea moved between street sessions,
competitions and over 250 official Fleadh events, which all sold out.
• Public relations officer for Fleadh Cheoil Michéal Ó Donhnaill estimated
that the event could have brought somewhere between €40 million and
€50 million into the town.
A busy street in Sligo town
during Fleadh Cheoil, with
an estimated 450,000 in
attendance

123. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
• The Fleadh relies on
volunteers to keep the
event running smoothly,
almost 2,000 dedicated
volunteers to be precise!
These volunteers acted as
‘street ambassadors’, they
picked up litter, manned
carparks, camp sites and
competition venues, and in
general helped to ensure
that visitors enjoyed their
experience of Sligo.
• The Fleadh was a massive
boost to both the economy
of Sligo and to the people of
Sligo themselves.
A poster for the 2014 Fleadh Cheoil,
Sligo

124. The Helicopter Search
and
Rescue Unit Sligo

125. The Helicopter Search and Rescue Unit Sligo
• The Helicopter Search & Rescue Base at Sligo Airport is operating since
2004. The helicopter is operated by a crew of four, maintained by a team
of engineers, and supported by a team of dedicated airport staff all year
round
• The coastguard's search and rescue helicopter based at Sligo airport had
its busiest year ever in 2013. In six months the Sligo base at strandhill
performed seven more operations than the traditionally busiest base,
Shannon.
• The Sligo Rescue Helicopter can be
seen regularly in the sky's over Donegal, Sligo,
Leitrim, Mayo and Galway when on life saving
missions ranging from Search and Rescue
missions at sea, on mountains, inland waterways,
lakes and Island emergency medical evacuations,
they also provide Helicopter Emergency Medical
Services to support the HSE Ambulance service. The helicopter performed
appromiately 320 missions in it’s
first years since formation

126. YEATS 150TH
ANNIVERSARY OF
BIRTH