NEWS ROUND-UP

GoFundMe for Sligo’s Pride festival set up

A GoFundMe fundraising campaign has been set up to help fund this year’s Sligo Pride Festival.

The campaign has been set up in line with Pride month. Sligo Pride is a non-profit community group in its third year of existence.

The group say that they “aim to create an inclusive community here in the North West through the provision of workshops, events, creating awareness and also holding our own yearly Pride Festival”.

“Our aim is to bring the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies together to offer support, education and an inclusive safe space.”

They say any funding that they can generate through this effort will go towards funding this year’s Sligo Pride festival and its associated events, workshops, performances and outreach, to help put Sligo Pride on secure financial footing going forward, to help fund the costs associated with the running of Sligo Pride (workshops, administration costs, hosting, etc) and to aid in creating partnerships and local enterprise oppertunities with LGBTQIA+ organisations nationally.

Branley’s Yard has re-opened in Rathcormac

Branley’s Yard is back open. The yard in Rathcormac has an offering of exciting and unique studio units, both established and new.

The newly-designed market is a large, open air, semi-covered venue.

The studios are occupied by independent enterprises and collectively create an inspiring array of products for you to enhance your home or indeed purchase as a gift for that special occasion.

The makers and businesses in Branley’s Yard include

Ian Carty Ceramics, Benbulben Pottery, Yeats Country Antiques, Open Door Gallery and Studio, Made in Sligo Craft Collective, Spirit of the West gallery and gift shop, Outcrop, Wild Heart Studio, Wax-on surfboards, the Flower Shed, Rathcormac Hair Parlour, Dogmalion professional dog grooming and Vintage Lane café.

‘We need CCTV to tackle dog fouling issue’

A local councillor has said that dog fouling in open spaces is a problem which will not improve without the use of CCTV cameras for prosecution.

Cllr Arthur Gibbons asked if there was any alternative process Sligo County Council can pursue for successful prosecutions if GDPR guidelines prevent the use of cameras for this purpose.

Acting director of services Emer Concannon said the council intends to focus on preventative measures this summer including education and awareness initiatives.

The council is also advertising for part-time beach/amenity wardens for the summer months to assist in the management and enforcement of illegal litter and dog fouling activities.

The Sinn Fein councillor said that he is not convinced that education and awareness is an effective alternative. He also expressed his concern that the wardens will not present in areas such as housing estates where “the main problems” are.

“Children are walking into green areas and taking more than grass away with them on their shoes,” he said.

“Without prosecution, this won’t change. The only way of fixing this is the use of those cameras.”

Ms Concannon added that any current legislation falls under waste management and also said that the issue surrounding GDPR is set to be reviewed on a national level.

Benbulben is on Lonely Planet’s ‘incredible’ list

Benbulben has been included on a list of 20 “incredible places to visit in Ireland” just published by travel guide Lonely Planet. The iconic mountain has been listed as “Best for taking your breath away”. Of Benbulben, Lonely Planet says: “A flat top mountain visible along Sligo’s northern coast, Benbulben, resembles a table covered by a pleated cloth. Walking here is not for the uninitiated. High Hopes Mountain Treks leads hikes to the top. It’s best to stock up with snacks for hiking in the Benbulben area as restaurants are few and far between. Pay a visit to nearby grave of poet WB Yeats in Drumcliffe Cemetery.”

Also included on the list as “Best for road trippers” is the Wild Atlantic Way.

Building award medal for IT student Benin

IT Sligo student Benin

Mac Donnacha was presented with the CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building) Bronze Medal award last week.

Benin is in his final year in Construction Project Management and has also completed the Advanced Wood and Sustainable Building Technology programme. The CIOB

Happy eighth birthday to Bella McGowan from Ballygawley. Love from Mum, Dad, Ruby and Cillian. MORE HAPPY BIRTHDAY PHOTOS ON PAGE 20!

represents the world’s largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership. Members work worldwide in the development, conservation, and improvement of the built environment.

The medal award was presented to Benin for his achievements during his study at IT Sligo and his nomination for the Joe

White Award. The award was presented by Sean O’Brien and John Joe Doherty who represented the North West division of the CIOB. Lecturers Kieran Gallagher and Paul Donlon represented IT Sligo

Benin Mac Donnacha being presented with his bronze award by Sean O’Brien and John Joe Doherty, who represented the North West division of the Chartered Institute of Building. Also pictured are lecturers Kieran Gallagher and Paul Donlon, who represented IT Sligo at the presentation.

at the award presentation. IT lecturer Paul Donlon said: “Benin was an outstanding student and performed to a high level during his studies at Institute of Technology Sligo. He has worked hard and should be proud of his achievements and I wish him the very best in his future career. It is a pleasure to see a student progress through the years and reach great achievements that will line him up for a promising career.”

St Angela’s is introducing the Structured PhD

St Angela’s College has developed a unique Structured PhD which will be introduced for the next academic year.

The Structured PhD is part of the School of Home Economics and is now offered through the National Centre of Excellence in Home Economics at the college.

The PhD is for those who wish to progress to doctoral level study. The exciting new programme will attract Irish and international Home Economists who want to take the next step in developing their expertise and strengthening the research base upon which Home Economics is built, as well as welcoming candidates from aligned and cognate disciplines.

The Structured PhD (Home Economics) is offered on a full-time or part-time basis and candidates will work under the responsive supervision and mentoring of an expert academic faculty member availing of many research skills supports. On the innovative new PhD, Helen Maguire, head of the School of Home Economics, said: “Applications for the new Structured PhD are now open for studies in areas aligned to the research priorities of the School and full bursaries are available through the Kappeler Bursary.

“Frau Kappeler was a Swiss home economist, passionate about the development of the discipline, who bequeathed in her will a philanthropic donation to St Angela’s College designated for the advancement of the field.

“This PhD will allow graduates to unlock future career opportunities at a high level in a broad range of public and private sector roles.”

Hairdressers deliver gift bags to Sligo hospital

As part of its Healthcare Heroes campaign, hairdressers Peter Mark recently made a surprise delivery of gift bags to Sligo General Hospital to thank the hospital team for its work during Covid-19. Healthcare Heroes is a nationwide campaign by Peter Mark to show its appreciation for healthcare workers by donating gift bags with hair and beauty products to local hospitals.

The salon chain has delivered 4,512 bags to healthcare workers all over Ireland.

The campaign is the brainchild of celebrity stylist Adee Phelan who, at the beginning of lockdown in the UK in March 2020, had an idea that he would like to give something back to the hardworking staff of the NHS.

Following on from the success of the campaign in the UK, Adee teamed up with Peter Mark to bring the campaign to Ireland.

Go-ahead for handball court and skills wall

Planning permission has been granted for for the construction of two new facilities at the Sligo GAA Centre of Excellence at Scarden.

There will be a new skills wall for hurling and a new handball court.

A cover letter with the planning application outlined how the new facilities would “allow the centre of excellence cater for the array of sports that the GAA encompasses”.

“The skills wall was a key piece of training apparatus to support the county hurling team as they hope to push on following the success of the last number of years.

“The handball court area is being created at the rear of the skills wall with some additional lighting proposed in line with that already provided around the existing training pitch,” the letter stated.