REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT A CIVIC RECEPTION IN THE MAYOR’S PARLOUR, TOWNHALL
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT A CIVIC RECEPTION IN THE MAYOR’S PARLOUR, TOWNHALL SLIGO FRIDAY, 6 NOVEMBER 1998
Firstly, may I say how glad I am to be with you – on this the second day of my two day visit to Sligo – which I might add – I’m thoroughly enjoying. Yesterday I visited Sligo Development Centre at Cleveragh Road – and I also met with members of Victim Support. I attended the 11th Annual Sligo International Choral Festival last night. Today, after visiting you – I will visit the Niland Gallery before returning to Dublin.
Sligo to me is one of the most varied and beautiful counties in the country – with its wild Atlantic coastline peppered with long sandy beaches – inland the spectacular Ox Mountains and the wooded tranquility of Lough Gill – where the Lake Isle of Innisfree can be seen – immortalised in Yeats’ poem. Your county has some of the finest archaeological sites in the country – for example Carrowmore west of here has, I understand, one of the earliest passage tomb cemeteries in Europe – and pre-dates Newgrange by almost 1,000 years.
Sligo has something for every visitor – whether archaeologist or angler, hill-walker or golfer. But of particular interest to many visitors here is the Yeats Summer School. On my journey here I read back on the history of the school and on the Yeats Society here in Sligo – and learned that a Yeats Country Festival took place here in 1958, organised by a small group of enthusiasts. The Festival was such a success that a few days later the Yeats Society Sligo was formed – its purpose being to organise the Summer School. That first Summer School was held in 1960 and has gone from strength to strength since.
As the Yeats Society in Sligo has achieved much in the past – so too has Sligo Corporation. I often think that our Local Authorities are not given sufficient credit for the valuable work they do on behalf of us all. This may be partially due to a lack of specific knowledge of the many varied functions and duties carried out by Corporations and County Councils – and also because there is little media attention given to their achievements.
From my many visits throughout the country I’m well aware of the wide range and diverse nature of the services and support given to communities by Local Authorities - such as your own – a fitting example of this is your valuable input to the exhibition of the works of Jack B. Yeats at the Niland Gallery – which as I mentioned earlier I will visit in an hour or so.
Since Sligo Corporation achieved Urban Renewal status for the town nine years ago – the town centre has changed dramatically – from dereliction and decay in parts – to renewal and revitalisation. I know that there is a renewed civic pride in the town – due in no small part to the attractive and tasteful redevelopment along the Garavogue River and in particular along Rockwood Parade.
The success of the Urban Renewal Scheme in an area is often closely linked to the pro-active approach of the Corporation - an approach that is much lauded and self-evident here in Sligo.
I don’t want to detain you any longer – if I were to speak of all the good works and successes of Sligo Corporation I would be giving a very long speech indeed. I commend you for your proven dedication to providing excellence in Public Service to the people of Sligo – I thank you for your kind welcome to me this morning. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Sligo and I hope to visit again soon.
Thank You.