Sligo Forum is a voluntary group established to support the needs of the community and voluntary sector in County Sligo.  As a member of Sligo Forum you receive our monthly e-bulletin service, access to information and support, community based training, access to Sligo County Council community grants and representation at a county and regional level.

Sligo County Community Forum is currently asking all membership groups and E-Bulletin subscribers to renew their membership with us by Feb 28th 2012 (extended deadline).  Just fill in the membership form attached and send it to us at the Development Centre, Cleveragh Road, Sligo.  Unfortunately any group that does not renew will no longer be considered a member of the forum.

Group membership brochure

Easy to use Group Membership Form

Fermanagh’s Sounding Board participants nominated for Pride of N.Ireland Awards.

Sounding Board, the music technology programme led by Sligo LEADER is full of pride after learning that 4 of its participants are up for a Special Achievement Pride of N.Ireland Award. The participants, all from Co Fermanagh were part of the cross border Open College Network training course RAPP (Reconciliation and Leadership) organised by Sligo LEADER and delivered by YMCA, Belfast. It ran during the summer months.

Nominees are Shea Daly (Lisbellaw), Cona Gallagher (Belcoo), Louise O’Neill (Belleek) and Hayley McCauley (Belleek).

Majella Flanagan, Sounding Board Development Worker, explains how this has come about. “The four participants were part of a group of 11 young people from Fermanagh and county Sligo. The cross border cross community RAPP training was expertly delivered by 2 great tutors from YMCA, Jill Caskey and Darryl Petticrew, August to late September. The group showed a great commitment to the training as it was over 90 hours and was often very challenging but they all completed it with great humour to receive the OCN II Diploma. I am so pleased that their hard work has been acknowledged by other people and in such a high profile way. I am familiar with the Daily Mirror Pride of N.Ireland Awards and important role that they play in supporting N.Ireland’s youth sector. We are all very proud of our 4 Special Achievers and wish them all the best. I and the rest of the training group will be attending the Award ceremony to cheer them on.”

The Pride of N.Ireland Awards is on Saturday evening Dec 3 in Stormont Castle and promises to be a memorable evening for all.

Michael D’s Active Citizenship Alive and Well in County Sligo

It was with great interest that the members of Sligo County Community Forum listened to the inaugural speech of our new president elect, Michael D Higgins, on Friday last.  Michael D’s promise to encourage active citizenship and build social solidarity between people, spoke directly to the aims of the Community Forum in Sligo…. Press Release re active citizenship

Sligo LEADER and Sligo Council Arts Service joined forces for the innovative finale of the Arts Service’s project, Games Without Frontiers, Oct 29, 2011.

Games Without Frontiers was a 6 week visual arts and technology games project for young people in the borough of Sligo. Its finale was a showcase of the participants’ work in Doorly Park. Participants, their families and friends attended to look and try out the many games created. Andy Parsons was the principal artist facilitator.

SOUNDING BOARD is Sligo LEADER’s music technology and tuition programme for the county’s young rural people. It has been delivering workshops for over 12 months and has trained participants in composition, recording and performance. It will continue until August 2012, delivering workshops, offering day trips to music production companies, gigs and summer schemes.

Sligo Arts Service invited SOUNDING BOARD participants to attend as a documentary crew to capture opinions and images, sounds of the games/art works. Participants carried out interviews, photographed the works as well as created soundscapes based on the event. Some of these will be available to see on www.youthgroupsligo.com so keep visiting the site for updates.

The SOUNDING BOARD crew was made up of Matthew Hallinan, Ciaran Harte, Nathan Healey, Keelan Mitchell Hughes, Clara, Evan, Jordan and Leona McSharry and David Woods. Tutors were John Crowe and Darren Dwyer.

Majella Flanagan, SOUNDING BOARD Development worker at Sligo LEADER explained the value of this collaboration. “Games Without Frontiers was a very innovative event that uses creative tools, much like Sounding Board, to enrich our local community and its young people. Both myself and Andy saw that bringing the 2 programmes together would spread the benefits of the resources out there. It was a great day, as the footage shows. Thanks to Sligo Arts for including us.”

 For information on the day and upcoming opportunities in SOUNDING BOARD, please contact Majella on mflanagan@sligo leader.com, 071 9141138

Events are aimed at young people between the ages of 12 and 18 years

Enquiries in relation to any of the above can be directed to Community & Enterprise, Sligo County Council. Tel: 071 9111802

CRAFTFEST NORTHWEST – VIEW OR DO

Knitted monuments, embroidered banners, workshops, demonstrations and master classes – Craftfest Northwest 2011 is a celebration inspired by contemporary and traditional crafts in Sligo.  Indoors and outdoors, Sligo residents and visitors will be treated to stunning displays and demonstrations of contemporary and traditional crafts as Sligo launches the inaugural Craftfest Northwest 2011 from 3 to 24 November. 

Craftfest Northwest starts on Thursday 3 November with the opening of the prestigious RDS Showcase Exhibition of Craft celebrating 2011 Year of Craft.   The annual RDS National Crafts Competition is one of Europe’s leading craft competitions with categories include ceramics, glass, furniture and textiles.   It showcases the highest standards of Irish design and technique in traditional and contemporary craft disciplines.   Each year, the winning and commended entries are showcased at the RDS National Crafts Competition.  The exhibition runs Monday to Friday from 10am – 5 pm in the Yeats Gallery.   Award winning designer Úna Burke who numbers Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera and Daphne among her fans, will perform the opening ceremony.

All exhibitions run from 3 November to 24 November with other events running on selected Friday and Saturdays.   Booking is essential for workshops and master classes.   For details of all events see local press or www.facebook.com/CraftfestNorthwest.  For bookings email craftsnorthwest@gmail.com or phone 071 9143686 Monday to Friday 10am – 5.00pm.

Craftfest Northwest 2011 is joint initiative supported by Crafts Council of Ireland, Sligo Leader Partnership and Sligo County Enterprise.