HERITAGE EVENT AT GAOL IS A SUCCESS
FRIENDS of Sligo Gaol enjoyed a hugely successful day to mark Heritage Week recently with their guided tours of the jail.
Demand for tickets was so popular that, despite their best efforts, the group had to turn away some of those who turned up on the day without tickets. The high winds and rain didn’t deter the 140 people who gathered at the jail for a guided tour of its history.
Hugh Gallagher, one of those who attended the tour, said a number of aspects of the jail surprised him. These included the fact that the jail was only in use for 140 years and the size of the solitary confinement cell.
“I knew that public hangings took place there but I didn’t realise that they were still taking place in the 1800’ s,” said Hugh. He was particularly interested in the political prisoners such as Frank Carty, who escaped from the prison, and Grange man Eugene Gilbride who was held at the prison and would later become a TD for the area. Hugh also commended the work being carried out on the jail’s windows. “The restoration of windows is a dying skill and it is fortunate to have someone to do it.”
Gordon Burke said he very much enjoyed the tour. “I thought the tour was very good. There are a lot of interesting stories about the jail. It is part of Sligo’s history. It was very well organised and the tour guide had a very good knowledge of the jail’s history,” he said. He added that he looked forward to the eventual opening of the jail as a tourist attraction. “I think it will be important to open it to the public so they can learn more about an important part of Sligo’s heritage,” said Gordon. For Laura Walsh it was a special day as her three daughters, Nicola, Kate and Zoe ( pictured below) got to see the jail where there great- grandfather, Frank Moody, was the last governor before it shut its doors in 1956.
The aim of Friends of Sligo Gaol is to provide community support for the conservation of Sligo Gaol and to promote greater understanding and public awareness of its history and heritage. Its eventual aim is to see the Gaol opened to the public as a tourist attraction. The group is enjoying a high level of interest. Its movie night to celebrate Culture Night on September 16 is now fully booked. However there is a waiting list option for anyone not able to secure tickets. The night will see the screening of the 1979 classic ‘ Escape from Alcatraz’ in the atmospheric and unique setting of Sligo’s old prison. The evening will also include a viewing of some of the original cells in Sligo Gaol as well as light refreshments.
Chairperson of Friends of Sligo Gaol Tamlyn McHugh said the group was thrilled with the huge response to the Heritage Week event. “We were delighted to have so many people in attendance. Unfortunately due to insurance reasons, we were restricted with the numbers we could accommodate and had to turn away a number of people who arrived on the day without booking. However we hope to have more tours of the jail in the future.”