2020 YEAR IN REVIEW

A 16-PAGE LOOK BACK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN NEWS AND SPORT ACROSS COUNTY SLIGO IN WHAT WAS A UNIQUE YEAR

JANUARY: Nessa Sweeney from Manorhamilton, with her baby boy who was born in Sligo University Hospital at 10.30am on New Year’s Dayy weighinggg 7lbs 6 ozs.

FEBRUARY: Sinn Féin’s Martin Kenny romps home to retain his Dáil seat at the General Election, followed by Independent TD Marian Harkin, Fianna Fáil’s Marc MacSharry and Fine Gael’s Frank Feighan. Pictured are the four TDs for Sligo/gLeitrim.

JANUARY: A cyclist warming up ahead of the Cyclcross National Championships that were held in Enniscrone.

FEBRUARY: Darragh Noone of Sligo Rovers in action with Finn Harps’ Ryan Connolly during the opening game of the season.

JANUARY: There’s anger among locals as new masts are erected at MacSharry Park and Markievicz Park with local sporting bodies receiving large sums of money for agreeing to host the masts.

JANUARY: J Timmy Govorov of IT Sligo in action during their defeat of UL in the Sigerson Cup as they progress to the quarter finals.

FEBRUARY: Two men and a woman are jailed following the discovery of a growhouse in Cloonloo. Along with the drugs and plants, Gardaii discovereddiscovered snakes,snakes, reptiles,reptiles, andand tarantulas.tarantulas. PicturedPictured areare Marcin Florczak, Magda Kowalska and Marek Tomiczek who all received sentences.

FEBRUARY: Coastal villages such as Strandhill count the cost following damage caused in the aftermath of storms Dennis and Ciara.

MARCH: Sinn Féin’s Chris MacManus becomes an MEP as he replaces Matt Carthy.

MARCH: A Covid-19 testing centre opens in Ballytivnan as the pandemic grips the country. There were three cases of the virus in Sligo by the end of March.

FEBRUARY: Aoife McDermott (left) from Riverstown and Ireland teammate Dorothy Wall following their victory over Scotland in the Women’s Six Nations Rugby Championship in Energia Park.

MARCH: Sligo Rovers suffered their fourth loss as they were beaten by Shamrock Rovers and were bottom of the SSE Airtricity League.

MARCH: Summerhill College Senior soccer team celebrate after their 3-1 victory over St Gerald’s in the FAI Connacht Schools final in Solar21 Park Milebush.

APRIL: 82-year-old Paddy Joe Lynch celebrates as he returns home following a stint in hospital with Covid-19.

APRIL: Ballymote based companies Tente and OPHARDT respond to the pandemic, as the demand for their products increases. Pictured is Councillor Dara Mulveyy with John Stewart of Tente.

MAY: As Normal People hits our screens, Sligo reaps the rewards as scenes set here bring newfound attention to county.

MAY: Two French Bulldogs who were stolen from a van at Glencar before Christ

MARCH: The country shuts down to try and fight the Covid-19 virus. Churches, schools, pubs, restaurants, shops are all closed, while businesses turn to remote working where possible.

FEBRUARY: Liam Gaughan of Sligo in action against Antrim in the Allianz League Division 4 in Markievicz Park. Sligo won by a point.

FEBRUARY: Kieran Elliot of North Sligo AC (right) in action during the Senior Men’s 60m at the AAI National Indoor Games at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena.

MARCH: Staff at Sligo University Hospital as they prepare for the expected surge in Covid-19 cases as the country has to deal with a massive increase in numbers. The hospital was reconfigured for the emergency, with no visitors allowed for the remainder of the year.