€4 million Queen Maeve Squ ‘transformative moment’ for Minister for Culture, Sligo County Council chief executive, Cathaoirleach and more speak about the potential of Queen Maeve Square at the site’s official opening last Friday
THE Queen Maeve Square project has been hailed as a ‘transformative moment’ for Sligo town as the site officially opened last Friday.
A ceremony took place prior to the start of the Queen Maeve Festival as Minister for Culture Catherine Martin TD formally opened Queen Maeve Square along with officials and councillors from Sligo County Council, representatives from Failte Ireland and other dignitaries.
The project took roughly 15 months to complete at a cost of €4,173, 968.
€2.7 million in funding came from Failte Ireland, €750,000 came from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and €650,000 came from Sligo County Council.
Queen Maeve Square has transformed the centre of Sligo into an attractive public space and orientation hub, and aims to encourage visitors to come to Sligo for events and festivals.
It will also serve as an outdoor venue for concerts and other events, with a standing capacity of approximately 4,500.
Outdoor dining facilities for local businesses and attractive seating options
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An iconic Sligo sign, which will be unveiled during the launch, is to become a focal point of Queen Maeve Square. It is expected to encourage visitors to stop for photo opportunities and spend more time in the area, while helping promote and raise the profile of the square and Sligo.
Speaking at the opening, Minister Catherine Martin said the square serves as focal point for the town centre.
The project is enhanced with four information points which detail Sligo’s rich history and inspires visitors to further explore the destination. These information points focus on different themes relevant to Sligo and the cut-out artwork for the metal signs was designed by students from ATU Sligo.
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(mail michaelclarke#sligococo ie further information to visitors, and at night, the square will be illuminated by light projections offering an exciting, animated space.
Minister Catherine Martin aid: “I am pleased to officially open Queen Maeve Square in Sligo. The investment of over €4million in Queen Maeve Square helps transform the heart of the town and gives a central focus to many of Sligo’s attractions.
“Sligo has so much to offer visitors, and Queen Maeve Square creates a fantastic focal point for the town, and is an exciting new addition to support Sligo hosting festivals and events.
“Queen Maeve is wonderful amenity for visitors to enjoy and spend longer in the region and I look forward to seeing the tourism offering in Sligo continue to develop around this focal point and under the guidance of Fáilte Ireland’s recently launched 5-year Destination and Experience Development Plan for Sligo.”
Minister for Housing and Local Government Darragh O’Brien TD was unable to attend but also extended his best wishes for the success of the square in a short statement.
He stated: “Queen Maeve Square is one of a number of projects my Department, through the Urban
Regeneration and Development Fund, is supporting across County Sligo.
“Along with other URDF supported projects, such as the O’Connell Street Enhancement works, this project will help drive regeneration and rejuvenation of the town centre and help make Sligo an even more attractive and vibrant place for people to live, work and invest in. Sligo County Council has been allocated over €57 million in total under the URDF and I look forward to continuing to work with them on the progression and completion of their remaining URDF projects.”