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'The one constant in life is change. Sligo as a city has always been
changing. A particular dramatic period of change was in the 19th century
when our port, which could then be considered the equivalent of an international
airport was bringing trade, farming materials and plant, stock, coal and timber
to and from Sligo. The activity of the Port has cultural significance
also; William Pollexfin - a formidable shipping magnate of the time brought his
young grandson, Jack Yeats on early morning inspections of the quayside
activities. Yeats would later acknowledge that these experiences with his
grandfather fuelled his creative imagination from a very early age and
influenced many of the themes of his paintings and illustrations which followed.
Sligo's wealth at the time was invested in fine town centre buildings such as
the Town Hall, Banks, Courthouse, Model School and Town Houses. The Port
acted as a Regional Gateway connecting Sligo to North America, South America, |
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- Pictured above and below are images of the new
development on the former Silver Swan Hotel site on Hyde
Bridge
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Europe and Britain, especially Scotland. The foundries of Clydeside
provided many of the farm implements of the time while migrant workers made the
journey on a seasonal basis seeking employment.
19th Century Sligo
One outstanding manifestation of the current changes in Sligo, the New Inner
Relief road, has a precursor in post-famine Sligo of 1848 with the construction
of the two Inner Relief roads of that time, known as the Albert Line and the
Victoria Line.
The Albert Line is now known as Pearse Road and the Victoria Line as Markievicz
Road. The construction of these roads was to facilitate growing traffic
issues of the period - a sure sign that the more things change the more they
stay the same.
Papers at the time carry articles in relation to traffic congestion at Old Pound
Street caused by sheep and cattle! But principally these roads were
constructed to aid better access and connectivity to the region. The
advent of the Bianconi transport network and the difficulty of overcoming the
physical barrier of Gallows Hill and Mail Coach Road to the south and Holborn
Hill to the North had to be addressed in order to improve transport in order to
improve transport links to and from Sligo. Markievicz Road and the
associated Quay Wall, constructed as a famine Relief project and being some 1000
feet long and some 30 feet high for example, was representative of a time of
significant engineering achievements undertaken in difficult circumstances and
site conditions and remains a monument to the men and women of Sligo who build
it. The Albert Line or Pearse Road, descending 200 feet in just one mile
aimed at getting to the heart of Sligo, focusing on the Courthouse and
connecting to the existing street pattern at Teeling Street.
Sligo Port
The new Sligo Inner Relief Road represents a contemporary feat of
engineering which shows the continuation of that process of change in Sligo.
The economic activity of the Port has now diminished from it's former glory.
The focus is now on the Services sector together with the development of Sligo's
industrial medical, diagnostic, tool making and institutional sectors. A
number of issues have contributed to Sligo's current growth. A series of
tax incentives encouraged new developments manifested in the regeneration of
Rockwood Parade, Kennedy Parade, Kempten Parade and Riverside. The
certainty generated from the Sligo & Environs.
Development Plan 2004-2010, the designation of Sligo Gateway city under the
National Spatial Strategy, together with the restoration and refurbishment of
key public buildings such as City Hall, Model Arts & Niland Gallery and
Courthouse have significantly contributed to the preservation of key landmarks
in a time of change. These important public buildings continue to
contribute to the architectural character and quality of Sligo City Centre.
Wine Street Car Park
Any deficiencies in the are of contemporary commercial and retail
developments are now being met in the Quayside Shopping Centre, Wine Street Car
Park Redevelopment and at Carraroe. Much of this change does not happen in
isolation but is due to the fostering of new partnerships, many of which have
been co-ordinated and developed by Sligo Local Authorities.
Another deficiency which is now being met, and is encapsulated in the changing
face of Sligo, is Tourism and the Hospitality industry. Four significant
new hotels, two of which are now completed, one under construction at Silver
Swan site and one in the planning stage at Bundoran Road will greatly contribute
to the Tourism growth of Sligo through proactive marketing by these hotels of
Sligo and the region.
Hotel Development at Hyde Bridge
Such significant change presents challenges in equal measure.
Retaining the quality of the City Centre and integrating balanced development
remains a challenge for developers and Planning Authorities to ensure that the
quality of life issues of a vibrant City Centre are met. In some cases
familiar local landmarks have disappeared such as the Silver Swan Hotel,
however, in the changing face of Sligo this familiar hotel will be replaced by
what we anticipate will be a very significant contemporary piece of architecture
which will house a new hotel and form a landmark at Hyde Bridge.
Pedestrianisation
The future changes anticipated by the Local Authority will be in the
area of transportation with the continued planning and development of the
Western Distributor road, Eastern bridge, a Western by-pass and bridge linking
to a new N15 route to Donegal, the pedestrianisation of the City centre, the
planning and development of the Port area through Local Area Action Plans and
the continued marketing and development of industrial and technological
opportunities in the region.
Quality Housing
The continued development of quality housing in the public and private
sectors and the development of new partnerships in the creation of integrated
communities will continue to be pursued. One such development is envisaged
at Ballinode as part of the Hazelwood Ballinode Local Area Plan 2004-2010.
Another area of focus by the Local Authority is the refurbishment and
regeneration of older existing housing stock within the Borough. In
particular, the Cranmore Regeneration Project which has been in the formation
and consultation phase for the past year. The first draft proposals are
being launched in September which will form the basis of the physical element of
the Cranmore Regeneration Masterplan and will set out the framework of
regeneration in the area and include housing, community facilities, a civic
centre, details on addressing issues of access, youth, education, enterprise and
recreation.
Quality of Life issues for the people of Sligo are also being addressed through
the Planning and Development programmes relating to Pedestrianisation, Public
Arts, the arts generally, Recreation and Public Parks; in particular the
development of Doorly Park, Forthill, and the long term development of Cleveragh
as a Regional Park.
Strategic Location
The development of towns and cities has always relied on strategic
locations and the availability of Opportunity. These opportunities must be
grasped in the key areas of competitiveness in education, industry, quality
housing and environments, where, through recreation and improved quality of
life, the human imagination can take flight through the fostering of our arts,
heritage and culturally rich environment.
The corridor of the new Inner Relief Road will provide new opportunities for new
residential and commercial buildings reflecting high quality contemporary
architecture on new sites generated by the Inner Relief Road and in particular
in the areas of Union Street and Adelaide Street. These buildings will be
important in presenting a 'new face' of Sligo to the users of the Inner Relief
Road. The 'gateway structures' (which have received planning permission),
planned at Carraroe represent the start of such development together with the
refurbishment and redevelopment of the former Harper Campbell warehouses at
Union Street in the City Centre.
Regional Capital
The changing face of Sligo represented by the scale and variety of
development currently underway reflects the assertion of Sligo as the regional
capital and gateway to the North West. City Building comes together
through the inter linked development of key areas of human activity, many of
which sometime appear to occur in isolation. However there comes a time
when the pieces come together to form a perfect fit that completes the jig-saw.
The jig-saw that is city building in Sligo is far from complete but the pieces
are certainly coming together!
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