Proposal to name park after George Maguire
A PROPOSAL was made at last Friday’s meeting of Sligo County Council to name a local park after the late George Maguire. A motion was put forward by Cllr Gino O’Boyle calling for Cleveragh Park – located opposite the Regional Sports Complex – to be named in memory of the well-known community worker who passed away in April.
“For those who didn’t know the late George Maguire, George was a role model and an advocate and champion for numerous children and young families he worked with,” Cllr O’Boyle said.
“His tireless work and commitment ensured the Avalon Centre had the most sought-after summer camps in the region. Our Show sells out year and after year and multitudes of children attend youth clubs and special needs programmes there.
“His years of dedication to his community and Sligo should never be forgotten and I hope in some way we can honour his memory by building on the foundations of his incredible work.”
The motion was supported by several councillors, including Cllr Declan Bree who said: “George Maguire played a significant role as a youth leader and community worker in the East Ward of Sligo for over three decades.”
“His commitment to young people and the passion for all he did was noteworthy. He made an impact on so many people’s lives.”
“His endless energy, his generosity, his enthusiasm and his sense of fun will certainly by missed by all who knew him.” “Sligo owes him a debt of gratitude and in this context I believe it would be fitting that an appropriate location, property or venue would be named in his honour.”
Cllr Arthur Gibbons said his work was “unrecognised” during his lifetime as he went about helping children and “putting them on the straight and narrow” and said naming the park for him would be a fitting tribute.
Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady echoed those sentiments, declaring him an “unsung hero” of Sligo. “I spoke to someone in their 30s who told me about how George kept him on the right path and only for him he might have went another way. That says it all, how many more people are out there who George looked out for and kept on the right path?”
Cllr Tom MacSharry said that although George was “never a man for fuss or fanfare”, he had a big impact on Sligo which deserves to be recognised.
Cllr Tom Fox said that he knew “gentleman” George growing up and that he would be supporting any proposal to name the park in his memory as a member of the Placenames Committee.
It was confirmed by director of services Dorothy Clarke that the proposed motion will be brought before the Placenames Committee in October and that any recommendation in relation to honouring the memory of George Maguire would be referred to the next available monthly council meeting for the consideration of members.