Friends of Sligo Gaol are made up of a diverse group
FRIENDS of Sligo Gaol was formed over two years ago with the aim of preserving and conserving the protected structure of Sligo Gaol.
In the beginning there were McHughs, three of them; Tamlyn, a well- known archaeologist and lecturer, her husband Ciaran, a photographer and her father- in- law Brian, a journalist and former newspaper editor and co- founder Jarleth Gantly.
From Tamlyn and Ciaran’s kitchen a plan was hatched to form a group with the eventual aim of turning the almost two hundred year old Sligo Gaol located in Cranmore into a viable tourist attraction.
From here the group expanded to include 13 people each bringing their own talents.
Dan Scannell is a former Governor of both Castlerea and Loughan House prisons. Deirdre Melvin is Project Manager at the Hawk’s Well Theatre.
The group has three more archaeologists in the guise of Ciaran Davis, who is also a photographer, Chantal Doyle, and Lara Byrne who is an archaeol- ogist and writer. Gary Burke is an historian and lecturer at St Angela’s College. Next is Marie Casserly, a county councillor, the current Mayor and secondary school teacher.
David McLoughlin is a firefighter with Sligo Fire Services while Niamh McSharry is a Tourism and Event Management specialist. And finally myself, Grace Larkin, a journalist.
“The group works so well as although many of us have common interests and a common goal, we each bring our own unique talents to the table,” said Chairperson Tamlyn McHugh.
The group meets in the informal setting of Ciaran and Tamlyn’s kitchen every six weeks or so to discuss progress and plan future activities.
Over a cup of tea each person gives their opinion and suggestions and although meetings can sometimes go off track when the banter starts or Dan tells the group one of his enthralling stories about his time as governor, the work always gets done.
The group has had much success during this time. And so it is onwards and upwards.