‘Appalling attempt to bring misery on people of Sligo’

THE owners of a Sligo pub have expressed concern about the proposal to allow gaming arcades, casinos and gaming machines in Sligo town.

Martin and Therese Foley – proprieters of Foley’s Bar on Castle Street – issued their concerns to councillors in the Borough District of Sligo.

Part III of the Gaming and Lotteries Act – which was discussed at municipal council meetings earlier this year – was debated at length by councillors before they agreed to defer their decision to allow for further public consultation.

Part III of the act provides for the process for issuing gaming licences, and sets out the roles of the various parties involved such as local authorities, district court and revenue commissioners.

The role of local authorities is “the adoption of a resolution permitting gaming in respect of the whole or a specified part of its administrative area”.

This would allow for a person to apply to the district court for a certificate authorising the issue of a licence permitting gaming with the area in respect of which the local authority has adopted Part III of the 1956 Act. If a certificate has been issued, the applicant can then apply to the revenue commissioners for a gaming licence.

The motion to consider adopting the act was brought forward by Cllr Declan Bree who said that not adopting it could threaten the future of the casino on Adelaide Street and it would also prevent any one casino owner from having a “monopoly”. The motion was met with opposition from councillors who were concerned that the “floodgates” would open for Sligo town to be filled with gambling halls and casinos, with Cllr Tom MacSharry stating previously that the local authority’s role in preventing high street gambling halls from opening has “protected our younger and vulnerable people from over exposure to gambling.” In their letter to the councillors, Mr and Mrs Foley said: “This proposal, if adopted, is an appalling attempt to bring misery on the people of Sligo, particularly to individuals with addiction issues and their families.

“The establishment of these casinos will have catastrophic consequences for generations of young people who, if hooked on gambling, will fall into the hands of sinister individuals to fund their habits.

“If gaming/casinos are legalised $ primary school teacher has recently published a book promoting positive mental health among young primary school children

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7his book was created to help address these issues and to provide children with helpful and supportive techniques that teach coping skills in a fun and meaningful way on Ted Nealon Road, it’s only a matter of time before they will be in pubs, bookmakers, vape shops, convenient stores, fast food outlets or any other premises that can accommodate them all over the town. “With five secondary schools and two third level colleges there is plenty of fodder for gambling arcades. We would like to point out that these casinos/gambling arcades are not allowed in Galway City, Donegal Town and Westport to name a few towns that are competing with Sligo for visitors.

“Only in the last few weeks our President Michael D Higgins opened a centre in Wicklow run by the Tiglin Charity situated in Greystones, funded by Wicklow County Council and during the course of his address, he criticised gambling advertising particularly on television, he also stated that society has an obligation to look at the opportunities that are being created for addiction.

“The President also said that local authorities across the country could take Wicklow County Council as an example of how funding can be used for the betterment of wider society.” A motion regarding Part III of the Gaming and Lotteries Act is expected to be put before councillors again in the coming months at the conclusion of public consultation.

Martin and Therese Foley at their pub on Castle Street. ,t is packed full of engaging & fun mindful activities, positive affirmations, inspiring quotes, poems, and activities which encourage self compassion & kindness, building self esteem and much more

Each journaling page is different & encourages children to practice gratitude & to reflect on their emotions and feelings and know that all feelings are ok ,n as little as minutes per day, journaling is helping to protect a child¶s mental & physical health and overall wellbeing 6tudies prove that by practicing mindfulness and gratitude daily for as little as two weeks, the benefits can last up to si[ months

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