Loving the old pics in The Sligo Champion
I have really enjoyed the feature you are running on the photos of the old Sligo.
It recalls so many forgotten faces and happy occasions as recorded by the late, great photographer, Mr Jim Eccles (pictured).
Mr Eccles who lived with his family on Pearse Road was a great Donegal man who spent his working life capturing all happeningss in Sligo, both important and every day .
He was a tall inobtrusive man who quietly recorded in picture all the character of a busy market town from the 1950’s onwards.
At that time families lived over business premises and walked to the local schools each day.
Sligo bustled with busy general merchants and drapery shops in a town with a large walking population.
What I love about these photos is how well people looked, so well dressed and happy on social occasions
Mr. Eccles recorded in picture events on Garland Sunday at Tobernalt, local Show days, local regattas at Hazelwood and Aughamore, race meetings at Cleveragh and point to point at Cairn’s Hill.
He captured smiling faces of local children appearing in choirs and action and song at Feis Ceoil and Feis Slighigh......all captured in black and white for posterity.
We owe a great debt to Mr. Eccles for his contribution to the local history of Sligo town at a time when cameras and digital equipment was not available or affordable for the average person.
Thank you to the late Mr. Jim Eccles from a
Sligonian.
Yours faithfully,
Truda Houston Gallows Hill, Sligo
The speed limit of the N17 is reduced from 100 to 80klm.
It is possible the limit may be reduced further as a 25 klilomtre section, which has not been adequately upgraded since the foundation of the State, is still seriously unsafe for the volume and weight of traffic it supports.
Fortunately however, we have a Minister in the West to ensure our 80kl speed limit, the Primary Atlantic Corridor Route will be forever free of potholes.