Trendy ‘Old Quarter’ in Holborn St

SO concerned were residents and traders of Holborn Street that in 1995 they hired an architect to draw up ambitious refurbishment plans to turn the street into a “fashionable Old Quarter of Sligo.”

Paul Deering reported on 28 th January 1994:

“Due to its long history as one of Sligo’s oldest streets while still retaining many old buildings, Holborn Street should be refurbished back to its old world charm,” said architect Robin Pettigrew in the report.

It proposes replacing the tarmacadam with natural granite or limestone pavements and old-world cast iron street furniture bearing the Sligo coat of arms.

Power and phone lines could go underground and a co-ordinated house painting shcme could be implemented along with tree planting and the introduction of flower baskets.

The report proposes that this refurbishment should continue above The Slip and include Holborn Hill and Barrack Street.

“Holborn Street with old houses will become the fashionable Old Quarter of Sligo and the benefits to the many existing residents and small businesses will quickly become apparent as new bistros, continental cafés, local craft shops, small jewellers etc open up,” says the report.

Last summer the residents and businesses of the area petitioned the Corporation to upgrade the whole area.

“The street has recently begun to enjoy a revival in popularity helped partly by the construction of the Connaughton Road car park,” it says.

Spokesperson Raymond McCullagh told The Sligo Champion that he believed the plans had a realistic chance of succeeding.

He had already received indications that there would be E.C. funding soon for such schemes.

The report had the backing of the residents and the business community and he believed there would be a positive reaction from the Corporation ,Chamber of Commerce and North West Tourism.