Success of Sligo’s Queen Maeve Square highlighted but calls continue for greater activity

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

Two years on from its official opening the long term plan for Queen Maeve Square was a topic of conversation at the March meeting of Sligo County Council with a motion from Cllr Thomas Walsh regarding its use generating plenty of discussion.

Cllr Walsh’s motion asked “Sligo County Council if there is a strategy for increasing activity in Queen Maeve Square? Has there been a public/stakeholder consultation to develop a short-term/long-term plan? He cited “temporary roof covering, purchase/lease of a marquee, monthly market, invitation to meet promoters, summer music series, youth fora’s, day activities, celebrate Sligo Day.”

Cllr Walsh insisted, “We need to see an increase in the level of activity.

Addressing the Council Chamber he added, “We have to come up with a fund for all types of events for the town centre. I don’t think a market on a Saturday morning once a month is going to cost a lot.”

Cllr Walsh continued, “There is a lighting feature that isn’t working yet. The taxpayer has put millions into this. I’m not sure if we have invited promoters and agents to visit and spend a night in Sligo.

“I’m trying to be as positive as I can but there needs to be more activity of all types. We need to look at a temporary roof. If somebody wants to book an event they need to be guaranteed it will be covered. We can put on other events if we want – the long term hire of a marquee for conferences and events. There needs to be a targeted strategy surrounding Queen Maeve Square.”

The motion was supported by Cllr Ann Higgins who previously put forward a motion calling for the installation of a canopy. “It is timely that a strategic plan be developed. Queen Maeve Square is a phenomenal location, we are all very proud of it but more could be done to fulfill its potential.”

Cllr Marie Casserly urged her colleagues to show some patience saying, “Private companies who want to run a project for profit have data. Sligo on Ice has been hugely successful. You need to plan it over a couple of years, we should walk before we can run on this one. We have done an awful lot in a short space of time.

"Cllr Walsh you are always optimistic and wanting more but there is a process. It is doing very well and as we get more companies involved that will be self-fulfilling. Trying to get everything in a short space of time will be counter productive."

Cllr Edel McSharry voiced her support for the motion when she said, “An awful lot of work has been done. Sligo is one of the most attractive places in terms of money spend.” She added, “With our inclement weather some sort of structure would be useful. Markets need good coverage and insulation. The ice rink was extremely successful in terms of the people it brought in, the spend, the amount of beds sold.”

Cllr Liam Brennan praised those involved in progressing Queen Maeve Square to this stage saying, “It has been a great success so far, I would like to acknowledge the great work gone into it.”

Addressing the meeting Brian Flynn, Director of Live Invest Visit & Borough District of Sligo Municipal District said there have 53 unique events in Queen Maeve Square in less than two years with in excess of 100,000 visiting the square in that period.

"I have to highlight the success of the figures but we have to walk before we can run,” said Mr Flynn who confirmed, “Conversations are ongoing regarding a roof/canopy but that will take time to deliver.”

Mr Flynn added it was the Council’s intention to continue with Sligo BID as the square’s operator while also confirming work was ongoing to enhance the light projector in the square.

Encouraging positivity in relation to Queen Maeve Square Mr Flynn commented, “We need to prove ourselves at local level before external promoters will come on board. We need everybody in this room to be positive.”

The debate on the motion concluded with Cllr Walsh commenting, “It is early days but there is a huge amount of work to be done here. Until we do it at a bigger scale we need to show it is working. I ask that we bring in a plan over the next 3-5 years. We all want Queen Maeve Square to work but I can see challenges coming down the road.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.