Rural business owners an inspiration in tough times
In August of 1915 a curate from Cliffoney in north Sligo stood among the great leaders of the day to lead prayers at the funeral of O’Donovan Rossa.
While the occasion will forever be linked to the graveside oration of Pádraig Pearse, Fr Micheál O’Flannagáin’s contribution also deserved to be resurrected.
During the Reception of the Remains in City Hall, Fr. Michael delivered a passionate and fiery oration to a select group of senior members of the revolutionary movement.
“Nationality counts for a great deal in the world today. But the men of Ireland should make it clear that the principles of nationality are no less sacred by the shores of the Atlantic than they are along the slopes of the Carpathians, or by the shores of the Danube,” he said.
Those words written over 100 years ago could well be paraphrased to read ‘ the principles of equality’ in the increasingly divided Ireland of 2017. Last week we saw the Government launch yet another report aimed at ‘ Rural Ireland’. The few national headlines reports like these generate scream ‘ you lot down there – this is about you’ and that’s their bit done.
I almost feel as if I will soon need a passport to cross the Shannon at this stage. Where is this country? I don’t live in the ‘ Rural Ireland’ of Government reports. Sligo nestles in a corner by the Atlantic between two of the most majestic mountains in the world. It has breathtaking scenery. Modern homes. Talented musicians. Driven entrepreneurs. Gifted writers. Hardworking denizens who, like my ilk, have deliberately chosen to live in Sligo. We don’t want to join the two- hour commutes of Dublin, the sky- high rents, the stress, tempting though the concerts and job opportunities may be.
Talking to business owners around ‘ Rural Sligo’ ( sorry Sligo) last week was inspirational. I met people who knew nothing about Government reports but a lot about surviving recessions and helping communities. They all had their story to tell of starting out, some twenty years ago, others within the last five years.
I met scientists, toolmakers, bankers ( yes, even them), shopkeepers, craft brew masters ( pictured), gardeners tourism operators and community leaders. They all had valuable contributions to make as to how to make Sligo better. They didn’t have time to read the 71 page report. Who does?
Who does the Government write these for? The people they’re trying to target are too busy out there making it happen themselves. While giving a cautious welcome to any supports, they know there’s no white horse going to gallop up and save them.
One man spoke of putting up his own wifi mast in a barn up the road from his business. Another is trying to persuade a community to make the most of their tourism potential.
Yet another is trying to open up a community café. The amount of red tape and general ‘ hoops’ businesses have to jump through to qualify for Government grants was mentioned. The much- maligned JobBridge scheme was unexpectedly credited with helping one company grow a year ahead of schedule. The potential for online retail from Sligo was also highlighted. One person lamented that there “wasn’t a mention” of Mental Health in the Rural Action Plan. Maybe he’s right. I didn’t have time to read it all either.
Tellingly, although many agencies were listed as having been consulted, not a single person I spoke to was approached by any Government official about their views.
Another, who was only too happy to share his success story, has never been asked by the Government to help other entrepreneurs sell successfully, despite having “a pain in his face” from people asking him how he does it.
We could take heart from the courageous story of the people of Cliffoney in 1915 who barricaded a church in a stand- off for ten weeks.
They took matters into their own hands. Because today, like in 1915, equality, nationality and even, dare I say it, prosperity, are no less sacred on the shores of the Atlantic than they are in Dublin.