Collins’s grandniece to visit Sligo Gaol
TO mark 100 years since the incarceration of Michael Collins at Sligo Gaol, his grandniece Mary Claire O’Malley will visit Sligo next month. It is part of ‘Crime and Punishment in 19 th & 20 th Century Ireland, 200 years of Sligo Gaol 1818-2018’, a conference which marks 200 years since the doors of the jail were opened.
Ms O’Malley will unveil a specially commissioned portrait of the jail’s most famous prisoner, funded by Creative Ireland, by local artist Emma Stroude, artist in residence for Friends of Sligo Gaol.
There will be a lecture by Phelim Brady on Michael Collins’s Jail Journal, 2-21 April 1918. Especially themed Michael Collins tours will also be on offer.
With less than three weeks to go, a number of tickets are still available for the three-day conference. The jail, Ireland’s only surviving polygonal prison, opened its doors in 1818. Friends of Sligo Gaol have organised the three-day conference funded by The Heritage Council which is running from September 7 th-9 th.
Another highlight of the event will be a panel discus- sion on the future of Sligo Gaol. Participants include Dr Gillian O’Brien, the keynote speaker at the conference who will discuss dark tourism in Ireland, Niall Bergin, Manager of Kilmainham Jail, Patrick McHugh, Events Manager of Lifford Old Courthouse, Siobhán Ryan, Sligo Heritage Officer, Ciarán Hayes, CEO Sligo County Council, and Eva Costello, Wild Atlantic Way Team Manager at Fáilte Ireland.
The weekend will commence with the launch of the group’s first children’s book, My Tale Untold, which tells the story of a young girl who was imprisoned in the jail. Funded by Sligo Leader Partnership and Creative Ireland Programme 2018-2022 and illustrated by local artist Wayne O’Connor, the book will be launched by former Children’s Laureate Na nÓg, PJ Lynch.
The event takes place in the Clayton Hotel. Supported by Sligo BID, Sligo Credit Union and the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland, the conference will be officially launched on the evening by Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Martin Baker..
Saturday will offer a platter of speakers to please every palette. There will be many speakers on the day, again at the Clay- ton Hotel. The final day of the conference offers a treat for all Michael Collins fans. Sponsored by Sligo County Council Community and Economic Development, Remembering Michael Collins’ Imprisonment in Sligo Gaol will begin with a lecture by Phelim Brady and specially themed Michael Collins tours will be on offer that afternoon. To mark the occasion, Mary Claire O’Malley, grandniece of Michael Collins will unveil a specially commissioned portrait of Michael Collins by local artist Emma Stroude, artist in residence for Friends of Sligo Gaol.
“We are very much looking forward to the panel discussion on the future of the jail,” said Tamlyn McHugh, Chairperson of Friends of Sligo Gaol. “We are delighted to be hosting this conference and will be very interested to hear the various opinions on what path future plans for the jail should take. We were inundated with requests during Heritage Week from people wishing to see the jail,” she added.
Tickets are now available through Friends of Sligo Gaol’s website www.sligogaol. ie Eventbrite. Tickets cost €30 for the full weekend.