Ballisodare’s new bike shop is reaping rewards of Sligo’s rediscovered love of cycling
CYCLING’S lockdown boom has carried into 2022 and is showing no signs of slowing down. While baking banana bread and Zoom fitness classes have since gone out of fashion after dominating our social media feeds for a time in 2020, the renewed interest in cycling on a local and national scale looks like it is here to stay.
Seeing the boom first hand is Enda Scanlon of Scanlon Cycles, a business which opened its doors in Ballisodare just last year at the old Toolan’s premises on the Ballina Road.
Enda opened his business not only in response to the renewed passion for cycling, but to also fill a void that had recently been created.
“I have always had an interest in bikes and had worked in a local bike shop for years. When Flanagan’s and Halfords both closed there was a bit of a shortage in Sligo to meet demand and that is when I decided to get started. It didn’t take long before people started calling out because of how busy the shops in town were and it has been that way for us since.
“I do everything. I don’t do just top end stuff, I cater from bikes worth €200 and up, it caters to all categories and makes it more accessible for more people.”
Cycling has opened up the scenic beauty of Ireland to far more people in the last two years, and Sligo would feature in any list of counties with must-see areas of natural beauty which makes it an ideal county to explore via bike. “People had more time on their hands in 2020 but cycling is one of those things that a lot of people really stuck at. I suppose during lockdown people started to appreciate everything they had around them and that life wasn’t all about work and cycling is a great way of exploring that. In Sligo we have plenty of backroads and trails like Coolaney and Union Wood. We are spoiled for choice.”
On the growth of his business, Enda said he is surprised at how rapidly things have moved
An example of an electric bike. forward for him with interest in electric bikes now becoming the next demand he needs to meet.
“It’s developed quicker than I thought it would. There has been a lot of goodwill and with the cost of living going up and fuel being hit hard, there is a greater demand for bikes as a primary mode of transport. I have had people enquiring about electric bikes as their means of getting of work so we are seeing that change already.” Speaking about the value of electric bikes, Enda said that they are a gamechanger for the cyclist who has experienced wear and tear over the years through sports-related injuries and now once again can access more challenging terrains.
“There are plenty of people who enjoy cycling but injuries over the years from other sports would make the likes of the trail in Coolaney too difficult to navigate with comfort. Electric bikes now gets you over those steep hills and just really gives you back access to these areas that unfortunately you couldn’t do anymore on a regular bike.”
Enda said that online sales are unsurprisingly the biggest challenge facing bike shops such as his, but the value of exploring your options in person and are still valued by plenty of people and is an important experience that can’t be replicated online.
“I have plenty of optimism moving forward. The biggest issue is online sales and bikes being pushed at big prices, while also leaving people without a place to go for pieces or to get repairs when they are needed. Its like buying a pair of runners online, you can never be sure if they’ll actually fit you or not. You come to a shop in a handy location, give the bikes a go and see what suits best for you. It is an important part of finding the right bike that buying online can’t give you.”
Scanlon Cycles is open from 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. They can also be reached by calling 086 3957097.
THE premiere of Eva – a brand new production from Hawk’s Well Theatre – commemorates the life and work of one of Sligo’s radical revolutionaries, Eva Gore-Booth.
The follow-up to the hugely successful and critically acclaimed Constance, both shows are intrinsically linked, not just through the familial connection of their subjects but also in their approach, scale and creative teams.
A talented and prolific writer, Eva, the younger sister of Constance de Markievicz, was a fierce social revolutionary, pacifist, and feminist, who rejected her privileged heritage, challenged the accepted social structures of her time, and fought passionately for gender and class equality throughout her life.
Says show creator, Kellie Hughes, who also wrote and directed Constance: “I found Eva and her life and work through creating Constance for the Hawk’s Well Theatre.
“She was an incredible human being and artist, a leading light in the struggle for the vote and a champion of working women’s rights. Her writing on gender equality is also very important, to our time as much as her own.” Inspired by Eva’s partner Esther Roper’s assertion that “to follow the procession of her poems is to see and understand the story of her inner life”, Hughes charts Eva’s inner life, adapting her poetry and combining it with original compositions by Stephen Doherty. Speaking about bringing Eva to life with Hughes, Stephen, who himself played a key role in Constance, enthuses: “Finding a musical voice for Eva’s words and ideas has been such a rewarding process. The rich blend of musicality within the group led by Kellie who is masterful at fusing words and music together has brought this incredible figure to life.”
Developed in collaboration with an octet of traditional and classical musicians that includes Niamh Crowley,
Eva Gore-Booth.
Seana Davey, Stephen Doherty, David Doocey, Niamh Farrell, Jim Higgins, Eddie Lee and Marie O’Byrne, Eva is a rich musical celebration of the life, work and redoubtable spirit of Eva Gore-Booth.
The show receives its world premiere at the Hawk’s Well Theatre in Sligo on Thursday, September 8, at 8pm, followed by a performance on Friday, September 9, at 8pm. There will also be performances that weekend at 3pm and 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are priced at €25 and €12.50 for U-18s.
Mary and Heinz Probst.
THE Sligo Rovers 500 Club draw for June and July took place recently with 20 members being drawn out to win prizes totaling €2,800.
The 500 Club is one of the club’s most important fundraisers with over 500 members contributing €20 per month to help towards the running of the club.
For June, Paul Kivlehan was the winner of the top prize of €500, while John Verdon, Austin O’Callaghan, Mary Burke, Yvonne French, Keith Taylor, Shane Martin, Noel McCloat, Michael Comny and John Roaf all won €100 each.
For July, Declan McGarrihy won €500, while Pauric Casey, Gavin Gilmartin, Eileen Rossiter, Ian McLoughlin, Jim Gray, Pat Devaney, Jim Gallagher, Conall Collier and Brendan McIntyre won €100 each.