O'Connell Street, Sat Aug 15th

The first annual O’Connell Street Festival held yesterday (Saturday August 15th – which celebrated pedestrianisation – was a far greater success than organisers had anticipated. With fantastic weather all day, and endless crowds of people at the concerts and likewise drawing on the streets with chalk, a clear message about the significance of O’Connell Street to the community was made. A petition stating support of pedestrianisation and opposing opening the street to traffic collected over 2000 signatures Saturday.

Those signing the petition included local residents, shoppers, parents, students, seniors, employees, and even taxi drivers. O’Connell Street vendors themselves were unanimous in supporting O’Connell Street as a traffic-free zone. The petition is expected to multiply in signatures with the O’Connell Street campaign to continue in the coming weeks.

Poet Dermot Healy opened the event with a speech, welcoming everyone to the three year anniversary of the street’s pedestrianisation.

Poet Dermot Healy launches the festival

Healy said, “I remember when Grafton Street closed its doors on the car; it was felt that business in the street would lose out; yet those buildings in Grafton Street are now some of the most expensive in Dublin. Then, came the turn of Galway to open a walkers highway; again the same arguments were made against going ahead, but Shop Street is now easily the busiest and most entertaining street in the city.

The tourists have been given a freeway and culture has gained a new entry. Opening a street to walkers only is like having a Public Park in the middle of town. And once you give the walker freedom to shop, unhindered by traffic, business in fact gains from the initiative. I’d love to see O’Connell Street become permanently free. So on behalf of the organisers of the festival I’d ask you to send a clear message to the Borough Counsellors that on a street like this the walker stays, does business, shops, has a break; holds festivals like last month’s Cairde festival; the community has a place they go to. Enjoy yourselves. Someone walking down this street in a 100 years time will be grateful to you.”

Samboeire wind their way through the street

Acts commenced at one pm and continued until past nine at night. These included Samboeire Samba Band, Hanneke, Wayne O’Connor, Cathy Jordan of Dervish, No Crows, Wurlitzer, The Bug House Band, Yurodny and The Odd Socks Revival. The variety of music pleased all crowds, and reminded everyone that it is music, not traffic, that creates a community.

'Have Hay Will Travel' alternative public seating

One of the highlights of the day was the chalk mural on the street.Hundreds of people, mostly children, drew pictures, wrote support for the campaign or signed their names on the street, taking ownership of O’Connell Street as a place of social interaction and creativity. Other activities included clay sculpture workshops, a children’s circus, and a button making workshop.

The O’Connell Street vendors had a very busy day with crowds coming in and out of shops and pubs and restaurants throughout the festival. One employee, concerned that the festival might mar trade, later exclaimed that the day was happily hectic. It was clear that O’Connell Street as a public space is great for business, as it is for social time.

Festivals organisers noted that EU regulations on climate change stipulate that governmental efforts are made to reduce greenhouse gas. Keeping O’Connell Street pedestrianised is a step towards achieving this, and aids in our collective responsibility to curtail global environmental devastation – which is the world’s most pressing task.

“This is the time to be moving forward,” co-organiser Seamus Kealystated, “for our future generations. It is up to all of us. We should be remembered as standing up for what is right.”

Organisers Tara McGowan and Seamus Kealy wish to thank Dermot Healy,all the artists and musicians who generously gave their time, the O’Connell Street vendors, all the volunteers who supported the event, and the community of Sligo for coming out, showing support and having a great time.

To get involved in the campaign, one can email oconnellstreetfest@gmail.com or simply write to Mary Blowick, Sligo Borough Council, City Hall, Sligo, stating one’s opposition to reverting O’Connell Street to a traffic corridor.

People Not Cars

On Saturday August 15^th, Sligo’s first O’Connell Street Festival will take place, on the three year anniversary of it’s pedestrianisation. The street will be occupied from afternoon to night with music, performances, public art projects, children’s games, and other festivities. The entire day is set aside to bring together a common voice to keep O’Connell Street pedestrianised. Musical acts come from both across Ireland and locally, as do artists and community groups.

This festival underscores the relevance of the people’s voice in determining Sligo’s future democratically and progressively. Recent deliberations by Sligo Borough Counselors have raised the idea of bringing a traffic corridor back onto O’Connell Street. This suggestion is not only unpopular with the general public and local businesses, it is being met with resistance. The public has shown that O’Connell Street works – and must be further pedestrianised, not reverted to the grey traffic corridor of previous years. To keep the spirit of Sligo high and to further green the town for families and guests alike, O’Connell Street will continue to be a pedestrianised zone.

If you would like to speak on the day, or get involved please contact The O’Connell Street Festival Team on oconnellstreetfest@gmail.com