Special event recounts rich history of Sligo Gaol
IT’S been 200 years since Sligo Gaol opened, and its tourism potential was highlighted at a special event at IT Sligo last Thursday.
A ‘Jail Break’ event was followed by a talk on the past, present and future of Sligo Gaol.
A number of people were ‘ locked up’ in a jail cell and had to solve clues in order to break free.
It was all part of an event organised by five third year students of Tourism with Event Management.
Michael Farry, historian and author, was joined at the talk by Tamlyn McHugh of Friends of Sligo Gaol and Siobhán Ryan, Heritage Officer with Sligo County Council.
The talk heard that the County Council, along with Friends of Sligo Gaol, will carry out a feasibility study/scoping document in the coming months to assess the potential of the jail.
Once that study is completed, the future of the jail will become clearer, and any plans to open it to the public can then be discussed.
“There are a number of challenges,” explained Siobhán Ryan. “Where the jail is situated is a place of work. There are multiple uses on site. The fire station is situated there so you have to consider access for emergency services.
“There is a need for ongoing conservation. Archives are also located in the gaol. The area is residential but it is close to the urban centre.
“There is a dose of reality about it all as well,” she added.
Tamlyn McHugh explained the plans in store for the year.
“2018 is designated ‘Year of Sligo Gaol’ by Sligo County Council. There will be a children’s book about the jail released this year and it will be available to schools.
“There will be a conference weekend and a Michael Collins Commemoration Day in September where we will have a relative read from his diary.”
For Friends of Sligo Gaol, future plans include continuing to promote and create awareness of Sligo Gaol, the feasibility document and working towards the conservation and preservation of Sligo Gaol.
Michael Farry spoke of some of the fascinating stories that lie behind the walls of the jail.
“There is a lot of information available about Sligo Gaol. From the 1911 census, on April 2nd, there were 45 prisoners - 40 of those were male and five of those were female. There was one child in prison, he was a son of one of the female prisoners.”
One of the male prisoners was in his 70s and was in prison for assault.
All four female prisoners were illiterate. They were in prison for crimes such as drunken behaviour, assault, neglect, and ill treatment of children and larceny.
Michael Farry told the stories of Frank Carty and Michael Collins’ imprisonment there. Collins even managed to gain one pound during his stay there.
“There are so many fascinating stories that lie behind those walls,” he added.