Dear Mayor McGarry

I write this again as I don’t recall getting a response to my previous mail of 30/09/2009, and after hearing you on George Hook today attempting to defend your council’s decision to reopen O’Connell Street, I have some important points to make:

Re: your interview on The Right Hook today:

Do you think your “silent majority” might stand up? I was in the Glasshouse last night and I didn’t see or hear one of them. Not one! Its obviously an invisible majority too.
Or perhaps its a figment of your imagination. In fact, the entire room of over 100 people was in favour of keeping O’Connell Street pedestrian.

Your dismissal of the petition with 2850 signatures was interesting, considering that you went public in the Irish Times in September to say the council’s decision had been made – all BEFORE THE END OF THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS which is obligatory in the 2000 planning act AFAIK. So this reopening of O’Connell Street could be illegal then, then couldn’t it? In fact our MEP Marian Harkin has stated as much and has petitioned the minister of the environment to look into it.

I would like to inform you that the facebook page “Walking Down O’Connell Street” www.facebook.com/oconnellstreet now has…. 2,192 fans – More votes than you ever got. & Its growing by a couple of hundred a day.

All this talk about O’Connell Street being dangerous after dark is complete spin. Surely its your job to make sure the street is properly lit! And it is far from crumbling! What you said is a total fabrication. Yes it is quiet, since it is mostly daytime shops rather than pubs now. But its not dangerous or crumbling. And we have three businesses that have tables on the street (for which they have paid substantial rates incidentally), Bistro Bianconi, Hargadons, Café Fleur and shortly McGarrigles will reopen with food and drink again too. A pedestrian environment is essential for these businesses, and the street, to survive and encourage other similar business to open on that street, enhancing our city’s night-time atmosphere further.
Also, re: your point that you and the other councillors were elected earlier this year – as if that gives you the mandate to ignore our present “rebellion”: We voted you in before we realised that you were going to completely ignore us with regards to O’Connell Street.
I am an east ward resident please so don’t believe those who will tell you that all east ward residents want O’Connell Street open because they are suffering more than anyone else in the current traffic system. I would rather my journey take a little longer than have no pedestrian centre in town. You and the other councillors are just deflecting from the fact you copped out of making the right decision on an eastern bridge route.
The re-opening of O’Connell Street will only move the current rush hour tailbacks a few metres one way or the other. If anything, it will make the problem worse, creating a new junction where 2 busy streets will meet, O’Connell Street and Wine Street.
If the reopening goes ahead it will also make the street a very dangerous place for pedestrians during the busy Christmas period.
I love Doorly Park, the area where the proposed eastern bridge was mooted. I walk and cycle there with my children there daily. But I still believe that an eastern bridge is the only long term solution to east Sligo’s traffic problems.
So Sligo councillors, I demand you stop deflecting from the real issue and FIND A ROUTE for the bridge. It is your responsibility to find a solution.

Yours sincerely,

Eddie Lee

Sligo’s first ever Santa run will take place on Sunday, December 20th at 10am. The aim of the fun run/walk is to have participants spread Christmas cheer by dressing up as Santa Claus. The costumes are provided to each runner as part of the admission fee and they endure the 5k run as Santa to raise money for the Special Olympics. SligoTV talk to the organisers, sponsors and benefitors to find out more…..

With over 700 hundred critics and three judges in the Garavouge bar for week one of “Sligo’s got talent” we bring you two of the night’s favourite acts.  Dance group “Beat it” and singer Ustane told SligoTV why they decided to enter the competion and here’s a snippet of what you can expect to see more of in week two of the Sligo talent contest.

Hip/Hop, DJ’s, Films, podcasts, robotic displays and photo workshops for free at Sligo New Media Youth Collective Open Day

The Northside Resource Centre, Forthill, Sligo

Saturday July 4th – 2-4pm

Clasp Youth Project is proud to be a part of Sligo’s New Media Youth Collective, which will be having an open day/showcase on Saturday 4th July from 2-4pm to show-off the work created so far, and to invite new members to take part.

On the day there will be Hip/Hop dancing by Zombie Crew from Dublin, Dj PC and his youth DJ’ers, film screenings, photo workshops, radio pod casts, robotic displays, new media project displays and the launch of the NMYC web site www.youthgroupsligo.com

New Media Youth Collective involves six youth groups from Sligo; learning and sharing new technology skills. Over the last two years each group has worked on the projects using new media including film, robotics, radio pod casts, a website and lots more.

The objective of the programme was to introduce young people into the area of new media technology and build their capacity to work together in a collective approach with other youth groups in the county.

The Groups involved are Young Model, Clasp Youth Project, Easkey FRC, Northside CDP, Cranmore Co-op, and Tubbercurry Cloonacool Pioneer group. Together the group have completed a host of projects including the development of a dedicated website desinged by young people in Clasp Youth Project which will host the work of the other youth groups involved in the programme. The website will be officially launched on the 25th of April. www.youthgroupsligo.com

Other projects include Young Model’s work on art/music and art/film through creative technology, in response to both the 2007 Andy Warhol exhibition and 2008’s Gracelands’ Art Festival in Leitrim. Easkey Foroige Club worked on a series of themed short radio programmes for broadcasting. Northside Youth Project worked on computer games, lego robotics, web design and multi media. Cranmore Youth Project produced a short film on the developments in Cranmore over the last two years with a local artist on the history of Cranmore.

Tubbercurry- Cloonacool Pioneer group worked on film production and all aspects of film making including acting, camera work, lighting, sound and editing.

All of Saturdays displays will be organised by the young members; Photoshop by Clasp Youth Project, Multi media by the Young Model and Robotics by the Northside Youth project. Music will be provided on the day by Clasp Youth Dj’s and Paul Cunningham. Everyone is welcome to take part and help celebrate the work of sligo’s young people. Tehre will be a few refreshments on offer and even a free draw for a number of MP3 players. So come along on Saturday 4th July, between 2pm and 4pm, to The Northside Resource Centre, Forthill, Sligo for a free day of inspiration, music and new media.

On the eve of St Patrick’s Day, Kila played in The Clarence. Here are some photos with the band. If you see them with their eyes closed is because they put so much passion into playing the music and not because the photographer didn’t take another shot to get them with their eyes open.

Here are few photos from Sander van Doorn Rag Week in Clarence.

Rag Week brought The Coronas in Sligo in The Leitrim Bar. Here are few shots from the gig and an exclusive interview taken just beside The Coronas fancy van. http://sligotv.ie/?view=79 The party crowd disturbed the interview a bit. The band was impressed with the atmosphere in Sligo.

Here are some pictures taken before Sander Van Doorn’s gig:

We met Coolio last night in Clarence just before his show. We asked him about his music, the Big Brother experience and about Rihanna. The interview is up already. Check it out.

We’ve given away all free VIP passes for Coolio this evening in Clarence.

We still have two free passes for every night from tomorrow until Friday.

You know the rule: send your name and phone number to SligoTV and we will get you on the list.

First come, first served so be fast.