Sligo shines on a European stage
EU Commissioner Phil Hogan was unable to attend the launch of the Volunteering/Sligo Cultural Exhibition but he did send a video message complimenting the efforts of the volunteering sector in Sligo.
Commissioner Hogan said: “Hosting the European Volunteering Capital has helped to put Sligo on the map. Getting the title in the first place is a great testament to you. I want to pay tribute to the 2016 winners of the Sligo Cathaoirleach Awards who I’m sure will act as fine ambassadors to the town and county on their visit to the EU Parliament.”
Commissioner Hogan gave a special mention to MEP Marian Harkin who is the current chair of the Volunteering Interest Group in the European Parliament. Marian is passionate about volunteering and equally so about her native Sligo.
Speaking at the launch she said: “We say that Sligo is surprising and it is. A county of just 66,000 people we are so pleased to host the title of EVC 2017. We took the baton from London and we will pass it on to Aarhus in Denmark. This award has been earned by the people of Sligo.”
“Today is not just about Vol- unteering,” she continued: “WB Yeats, one of the foremost poets in the UK language called Sligo ‘ the land of heart’s desire.’ ”
The MEP who has clearly never lost her grá for Sligo proceeded to outline some of the best things about her home place.
“Sligo is famous for its heritage, the megalithic tombs at Carrowmore, our long stretches of white sandy beaches to the more secluded covers at Aughris and Dunmoran. Strandhill is a mecca for surfers. We have Streedagh where three of the 130 ships of the Spanish Armada were shipwrecked in 1588. They were found in 1985 and many artefacts have been recovered. To complete the picture the landscape is dominated by our own table top mountain Ben Bulben and Knocknarea on top of which Queen Maeve of Connacht is buried.
“This is just a snapshot of Sligo but if you really want to experience what we have to offer you will have to come visit us and there will be a hundred thousand welcomes for all of you in the land of heart’s desire.”