Paths to Commemoration

Sligo County Library has just begun an exciting new project, supported by Sligo PEACE III and delivered by community consultancy Green Hat. Paths to Commemoration will engage with 20 civic and community leaders who will take part in a series of workshops and study trips on commemoration between now and December 2013.

The programme consists of three elements, including guest speaker sessions, research on best practice for commemoration, and study trips including one international visit.

County Librarian Donal Tinney explained, “This is an exciting project for Sligo. From March we will be hosting a series of 8 monthly guest speaker sessions, which will be open to the general public as well as the 20 programme participants. These will cover a range of topics around commemoration including the Easter 1916 Rising, 1981 Hunger Strike, Origins of St Patrick’s Day, and use of arts in Commemoration. The recruited civic leaders will also be undertaking a number of study trips across the border to look at commemoration in Northern Ireland, as well as a trip to the fascinating World War I battle site of Messines in Belgium.”

PEACE III Programme Development Officer Deirdre Rooney also said, “It is hoped that through these activities participants will develop a greater understanding of their community leadership role and be able to interact and actively engage in the process of commemoration of historical events in an inclusive & sympathetic way, recognising that in the past such anniversaries have divided communities.”

Green Hat’s Director Bryony Flanagan said, “We are absolutely delighted to be working with the staff at Sligo County Library on this programme, as well as the Sligo PEACE III Partnership. Paths to Commemoration promises to be a thought-provoking and engaging programme of events. It will also stimulate worthwhile discussion amongst civic leaders in County Sligo around how we commemorate significant events and how they can take this into the future”.

Paths to Commemoration was officially launched on Tuesday 19 February at 3.00 p.m at the Sligo Southern Hotel. You can get more information and an Expression of Interest form by emailing commemoration@greenhat.org.uk  or contacting Fiona on 048 6772 3766

Name of Guest speakers; Topic covered, Date and Venues listed below.

• Thérèse Cullen "Saint Patrick’s Day" Tues 12 March 2013 at 7.30pm Sligo Central Library.
• Roinin Higgins "1916 Easter Rising" Tues 16 April 2013 at 7.30pm Sligo Central Library.
• To be identified "Sligo 400 / Lock-Out" Sligo Central Library.
• Susan McKay "Women’s Suffrage" Sligo Central Library.
• Billy Moore "Apprentice Boys, Derry walls 400 etc" Sligo Central Library.
• Martin Snodden "WWI / WWII" Sligo Central Library.
• Laurence McKeown "1981 Hunger Strike" Sligo Central Library.
• Lycia Trouton / "Similar Art & Commemoration" Sligo Central Library.