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Historic Year for Sligo: celebrating 400 years as a Borough

The process of incorporation of the Borough of Sligoe began on the 26th September 1612 when Letters Patent were granted. On 20th March 1613, King James I, by Royal Charter, bestowed on Sligo the status of a Corporate town, giving it parliamentary status.

The Charter states ‘There shall be one body corporate and politic consisting of one Provost and twelve free Burgesses.’ The creation of the body known as the Borough of Sligoe bestowed upon its members the ‘power and authority to return two discreet and fit men to serve and attend in every Parliament.’

The Exhibition, The Borough of Sligo, Aspects of its history over 400 years

continues until Thursday, 30^th August 2012 in City Hall – free and open to all 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

The exhibition covers a variety of aspects of the Borough’s history from 1612 to the present. There is something for everyone in this exhibition whether you are interested in sport, architecture or commerce as well as the more conventional historical subjects of political and military history. Fascinating facts, artifacts and images are revealed in this exhibition. Some of the objects featured are in private collections and on view to the public for the first time. People might be surprised to learn that Sligo’s citizens wrote a new chapter in political history by becoming the first electorate in Ireland or Britain to vote under the proportional representation (P.R.) system.

There are many more surprises and delights in store by visiting this highly visual and accessible free exhibition.

The exhibition is the voluntary work of a group of local historians with a passion for Sligo’s history who have come together to contribute to the Sligoe 400 celebrations. They are Padraig Deignan, Fiona Gallagher, Paul Gunning, Aiden Mannion (Chairman), John McTiernan and they are supported by the County Librarian, Donal Tinney and the Sligo Library and Museum Service and the Arts Service.

The exhibition can be downloaded in the following sections

Introduction (PDF) - 3,037 kbs

Charters and Patent Holders (PDF) - 2,205 kbs

Sligo’s Adopted Coat of Arms (PDF) - 2,221 kbs

Provosts and Mayors (PDF) - 2,106 kbs

The Borough of Sligo Physical Development (PDF) - 2,635 kbs

Population and Demography (PDF) - 10,719 kbs

Sligo Port (PDF) - 3,728 kbs

Transport (PDF) - 4,538 kbs

Utilities – Gas/Water (PDF) - 2,221 kbs

Public Buildings (PDF) - 1,954 kbs

Religious Buildings (PDF) - 2,103 kbs