streets of sligo

dardevle

hi...while i'm sure that some of you already know this,
i just thought i would post up and let others that maybe interested
and have not come across a recent book by Sligowoman
Fiona Gallagher called "the streets of Sligo", which is currently onsale.
it covers the evolution and urban growth of the town over the past 7
centuries and while there have been other volumes written in the past,
i think that this would be a welcome addition to any Sligonians library.

CSC

Can you tell me where this is on sale? Is it on any website?

blackiebest

Sounds good, where is it on sale?

dardevle

keohanes in castle street had a couple left when i
was in there today...don't let the price put you off
its around fifty euro but its a book for life.well worth
the money,got it myself for christmas,got one for my dad today
and hope to send one to an uncle in england before long.

slapbangwhallop

dardevle wrote: »

hi...while i'm sure that some of you already know this,
i just thought i would post up and let others that maybe interested
and have not come across a recent book by Sligowoman
Fiona Gallagher called "the streets of Sligo", which is currently onsale.
it covers the evolution and urban growth of the town over the past 7
centuries and while there have been other volumes written in the past,
i think that this would be a welcome addition to any Sligonians library.

have it - thought it was pretty crap - just a rehash of material already available in books that are out theree.

She could have done some primary research or uncovered something that isnt already out there.

dardevle

slapbangwhallop wrote: »

have it - thought it was pretty crap - .

well entitled to your opinion...imo any book that brings to the fore
the history of our town, in a time when so much of that history
is being torn down or paved over is no bad thing..just my opinion.:)

slapbangwhallop

dardevle wrote: »

well entitled to your opinion...imo any book that brings to the fore
the history of our town, in a time when so much of that history
is being torn down or paved over is no bad thing..just my opinion.:)

Yeah thats what I am saying - its doesnt bring ANYTHING new to the fore - its simply a rehash of books that are already out there.

Just just at the sources on each page.

Nothing new in it - 50 wasted - IMO!

dardevle

a HISTORY book with nothing new in it!:eek:


maybe you can get a refund.

CSC

I really enjoyed the "Down Gallows Hill" book that was brought out a few years ago.
Was going to buy this book as a Xmas present but couldn't see it online anywhere. Think I will hold off now for a while before I pick one up.

TequilaMockingBird

CSC wrote: »

Can you tell me where this is on sale? Is it on any website?

Scroll down to the bottom of the page -
http://www.booknest.ie/cgi-bin/webstore/webstore.cgi?page=sshist.htm&cart_id=

slapbangwhallop

dardevle wrote: »

a HISTORY book with nothing new in it!:eek:

maybe you can get a refund.

hilarious. if you are going to bring out a new history book at least go through newspapers of the day or uncover a new source.

She has basically copy and pasted her way to a book - its pretty embarrasing.

slapbangwhallop

CSC wrote: »

I really enjoyed the "Down Gallows Hill" book that was brought out a few years ago.
Was going to buy this book as a Xmas present but couldn't see it online anywhere. Think I will hold off now for a while before I pick one up.

been trying to get a hold of a copy of that for a couple of years.

bobcar61

is it a large book...many pictures showing Sligo evolving through time?

CSC

slapbangwhallop wrote: »

been trying to get a hold of a copy of that for a couple of years.

I remember buying it off the author himself (Gunning - can't think of his first name now) at the time. Great book - loads of photos and stories of Sligo through the years.

SligoBrewer

Lenscape by James Eccles is a top notch book. I'll never stop looking through it.

magnumlady

SligoBrewer wrote: »

Lenscape by James Eccles is a top notch book. I'll never stop looking through it.

Yes that is a really good book.

jimmmy

slapbangwhallop wrote: »

have it - thought it was pretty crap - just a rehash of material already available in books that are out theree.

She could have done some primary research or uncovered something that isnt already out there.

I agree with you there. I spent 3 or 4 minutes reading it in a bookshop before I spent my 50 quid, and was glad I did not buy it then. I read what she wrote on a street I know the recent history of extremely well, and because she was wrong in that, it gave me no confidence to trust her on the history of anything else in the town.

shellyriver

Hey Jimmy

Shellyriver here - ha ha -- imagine I agree with you! on some thing.

What street was inaccurate? I bought the book and to be honest (and I know my schizzel) if was not a bad attempt. True as said by slapbang it was a rehash. Feel she basically wrote about 20 versions of the same book in an endeavour to be a authoratative tome -- bought it, and read it over X-mas. Overstretched and thin on the ground.

Don't you think you were a little cheap -- do a dry-ride read and leaving your thumbprints on the pages! Fair enough it was a bit pricey.

jimmmy

shellyriver wrote: »

Don't you think you were a little cheap -- do a dry-ride read and leaving your thumbprints on the pages! Fair enough it was a bit pricey.

I do not think I was that "cheap", no. I went in to the bookshop, where I have left a fair bit of money over the years, to buy a book before Xmas. Rather than spend 50 quid without checking the contents of the book, I quickly flicked through the pages until I read something not quite true....while most of the book was / is probably ok I decided to buy another book in that shop instead. I can assure you my thumbs were clean. Most people do not spend 50 quid on such a book without flicking through a bit ...as the saying is, never judge a book by the cover ! If it was 25 or 30 I may have bought it....I may even buy it someday yet.

shellyriver

Well done on leaving significant sums with book seller in days gone by.
Well done on ensuring the mits are hygienic.
Well done on keeping an open mind about purchasing in the future.

Basically, well done:cool:

Ps What was not 'quite right'? I bet your wrong:D

jimmmy

shellyriver wrote: »

Ps What was not 'quite right'? I bet your wrong:D

I will not bore you with details, but I can assure you I am not wrong. I have spent a lot of my life in that street, know all the neighbours, have seen deeds etc. Still, no book with so much information could be 100% right, and fair play to the author for at least trying.

Xiney

If you've come here looking for a post you made that's no longer here, it's been deleted for going off topic.

Any questions, feel free to pm me or takola, and any new posters should be sure to read the Sligo forum charter.

dardevle

jimmmy wrote: »

. I read what she wrote on a street I know the recent history of extremely well, and because she was wrong in that, it gave me no confidence to trust her on the history of anything else in the town.

jimmmy....was just wondering since most of what is in the book
has already been in print before in other volumes written about Sligo,(re-hash as some would have it)
have you come across this incorrect history in the books that have gone before or do you think it's only this book?

Essexboy

Does she explain why Sligo still has many roads with pre-Independence names eg Knox Street, Victoria Road etc.?

Xiney

Essexboy wrote: »

Does she explain why Sligo still has many roads with pre-Independence names eg Knox Street, Victoria Road etc.?

Mr Xiney was always saying how Sligo was a barracks town. I'd wager that's the reason.

slapbangwhallop

Essexboy wrote: »

Does she explain why Sligo still has many roads with pre-Independence names eg Knox Street, Victoria Road etc.?

not sure exactly what you mean there.

The Line along the Hill was called the Victoria Line and Pearse Road was the Albert Line (maybe other way around), O'Connell Street was Knox Street. Protestant minority control what happened in this town for a long time and name the street after "their" religious, royal and political leaders.

Thankfully thats all changed but even up until VERY recently most of the main retail business were owned by the same old Protestant families.

slapbangwhallop

Xiney wrote: »

Mr Xiney was always saying how Sligo was a barracks town. I'd wager that's the reason.

It was called a "Barracks town" or "Barrack town" because of the main British Army barracks was located in the town - on Forthill.

The reference to Barrack town is usually used as a to reference to the perception of a pervasive British culture or mindset of the inhabitants of the town - for example football being the main sport in the town and not Gaelic etc.

elshambo

Xiney wrote: »

Mr Xiney was always saying how Sligo was a barracks town. I'd wager that's the reason.

Garrison Town; Garrison Town
Jasas Xiney, if yer gonna label us at least get the label right:D

still could be worse than a few street names
could be cork, with changing the name of Cobh to Queenstown of their own accord, flying the union jack all along the top of Patricks st as late as 1905 of their own accord (no law saying you had too) and being the home of the orange order:eek:

few street names aint so bad;)

Essexboy

slapbangwhallop wrote: »

not sure exactly what you mean there.

The Line along the Hill was called the Victoria Line and Pearse Road was the Albert Line (maybe other way around), O'Connell Street was Knox Street. Protestant minority control what happened in this town for a long time and name the street after "their" religious, royal and political leaders.

Thankfully thats all changed but even up until VERY recently most of the main retail business were owned by the same old Protestant families.

Lower Knox Street is the stretch of road between Wine Street and Stephen Street, including the bridge - Lyons and the Post Office are situated there.
I was told that the road between Duck Street and Hughes Bridge is still Victoria Road (no sign to confirm this)
And who was the queen in Queens Stores Road?

dardevle

knox street (or o'connell street as is) and lower knox street were named after a prominent buisness family of the day(1784),in 1898 the first nationalist dominated corporation proposed the name be changed to
o'connell street but the name change was not applied to that portion referred to as lower knox street,the victoria line ran from victoria bridge to the junction of duck street/barrack street and was renamed markievicz road in 1943,the 'kings' stores were erected in the reign of george III but the title changed to queens stores in 1847 with the reign of victoria and because she reigned for 63 years the name stuck!

Essexboy

dardevle wrote: »

knox street (or o'connell street as is) and lower knox street were named after a prominent buisness family of the day(1784),in 1898 the first nationalist dominated corporation proposed the name be changed to
o'connell street but the name change was not applied to that portion referred to as lower knox street,the victoria line ran from victoria bridge to the junction of duck street/barrack street and was renamed markievicz road in 1943,the 'kings' stores were erected in the reign of george III but the title changed to queens stores in 1847 with the reign of victoria and because she reigned for 63 years the name stuck!

Thanks. You certainly know your Sligo.
Just wonder how the name Lower Knox Street survived but it is better than the current habit of calling streets after long forgotten councillors!

shellyriver

:cool:Hi Dardevle

Don't think you're right re Markievicz Road or Lower Knox Street.

Markievicz Road is the old Albert Line (he of the c*ck ring and hash smoking wife). Curious to call it Markievicz Road -- because when she was given freedom of borough, 'Separation Women' of 'Da Hill' aka Forthill (as they did at the 'Ropak') hoisted union jacks and other patriotic emblems, stayed out, drinking tea and singing songs, along with pelting her with stones --because their menfolk were fighting the Hun etc.:P

At the juncition of Barrack Street and Duck Street, bounded by The Coslaigh Stream and Charles Anderson's 'Charleville' -- on what title deeds show was Sir John Montgomery's Parks -- was a small street called Knaggs' Row -- an old sligo building family, long dead.:cool:

Lower Knox Street was the 'crooked approach' to the humped bridge which existed before the Sir John Benson / Noblett St Ledge (who feel out before) the 'Victoria Bridge' erected (and hence that famous Collooney man's name isn't inscribed on the limestone of what is now called 'Hyde Bridge'.

Mere pedantry -- but I believe correct.

dardevle

albert line is what is now know as pearse road, or as we used to know it as simply'the line'...markievicz road was the victoria line or as we called it 'the point line' as it was the road to rosses point.


lower knox street was not applied to a geographic area by me...i mearly
stated what i believe the origins of the name were.


mere pesantry...up or down:D

EuskalHerria

slapbangwhallop wrote: »

not sure exactly what you mean there.

The Line along the Hill was called the Victoria Line and Pearse Road was the Albert Line (maybe other way around), O'Connell Street was Knox Street. Protestant minority control what happened in this town for a long time and name the street after "their" religious, royal and political leaders.

Thankfully thats all changed but even up until VERY recently most of the main retail business were owned by the same old Protestant families.

Nice use of relgion there, throw the word protestant in their one more time unapporiately please?

slapbangwhallop wrote: »

It was called a "Barracks town" or "Barrack town" because of the main British Army barracks was located in the town - on Forthill.

The reference to Barrack town is usually used as a to reference to the perception of a pervasive British culture or mindset of the inhabitants of the town - for example football being the main sport in the town and not Gaelic etc.

Again i have to wonder, are you from sligo or outer space, GAA is more prominent than Football in this town, go to a GAA game and a rovers game and see the difference in attendance.

elshambo

EuskalHerria wrote: »

Again i have to wonder, are you from sligo or outer space, GAA is more prominent than Football in this town, go to a GAA game and a rovers game and see the difference in attendance.

1.How many games a year do Sligo GAA play compared to Rovers?
big event so get bigger attendance

2.How many Gaa clubs are in the town, how many football clubs?
you can strech it to:
How many Gaa clubs in the county, how many football clubs?
if you want, but the figures wont help you:o

The first one set up inside the town in recent history (before boundry was extended and St Mary's became part of town) was set up by a football team to keep fit during summer (think it was City Utd lads in early/mid 90's)

3.How many registered(all levels) or formerly registered Gaa player in town
HOW MANY registered or formerly registered(all levels) football players?:eek:
No need for exact figures or asking me for exact figures (which you were bound to do) because as you even know its slightly:o in footballs favour

ooh and Euskal, most of the people(as you well know) at Sligo Gaa games are from the county, not the town:o
and what about people supporting "other" football teams

Stay Classy!

Sorry mods if off topic
but couldnt let him attack a fellow poster with loaded "how many show up to see Sligo lose at GAA once a year is proof of it being bigger" line
and FOOTBALL is an important part of what this town is!

*
ooh and thats true about the prodestant cartel running the place and naming everything
My grandfather's lot were prod and switched sides before he was born
but years later, as in when he was in his 40's/50's he was still getting the nod and the wink in shops and was generally looked after
Still, would have prefered if they had stayed prod, rich id be, as rich as jesus

Xiney

elshambo wrote: »

couldnt let him attack a fellow poster with loaded "how many show up to see Sligo lose at GAA once a year is proof of it being bigger" line

Why is one being bigger than the other a point of personal attack?

Everyone cop on, stay on topic and don't confuse sports rivalries with something that has a bearing on real life.

slapbangwhallop

shellyriver wrote: »

:cool:Hi Dardevle

Don't think you're right re Markievicz Road or Lower Knox Street.

Markievicz Road is the old Albert Line (he of the c*ck ring and hash smoking wife). Curious to call it Markievicz Road -- because when she was given freedom of borough, 'Separation Women' of 'Da Hill' aka Forthill (as they did at the 'Ropak') hoisted union jacks and other patriotic emblems, stayed out, drinking tea and singing songs, along with pelting her with stones --because their menfolk were fighting the Hun etc.:P

At the juncition of Barrack Street and Duck Street, bounded by The Coslaigh Stream and Charles Anderson's 'Charleville' -- on what title deeds show was Sir John Montgomery's Parks -- was a small street called Knaggs' Row -- an old sligo building family, long dead.:cool:

Lower Knox Street was the 'crooked approach' to the humped bridge which existed before the Sir John Benson / Noblett St Ledge (who feel out before) the 'Victoria Bridge' erected (and hence that famous Collooney man's name isn't inscribed on the limestone of what is now called 'Hyde Bridge'.

Mere pedantry -- but I believe correct.

Hillers eh! who'd ave em?As always its pleasure to read your posts - full of quality information.

shellyriver

Hi Da Real

Ya, of course, Markievicz Road was Victoria Line (slip of the pen/or keyboard as it was -- hadn't proofed email.

Post was sent late at night 1 am. Markievicz Road was obviously Victoria Line (mind a little tired at time). Anyways re 'Old Prod' community is Sligo -- not known as 'Little Belfast' during C19th for nothing.

'Hillers' and 'Ropak' are the original working class of Sligo -- hailed from these mini-Ghettos. Plenty of working class Protestants in Sligo during C19th, with plenty of descendants still knocking about.

I suppose 'Goods'ssssss' on ye olde Knox Street, as it was called in Sligo, looked after the Lutheran previously mentioned.:D

SligoBrewer

Xiney wrote: »

Why is one being bigger than the other a point of personal attack?

Everyone cop on, stay on topic and don't confuse sports rivalries with something that has a bearing on real life.

Sorry, but Sligo Rovers is Life to a lot of people. Me included.

Xiney

That may well be, but it has no bearing on this thread.

No more off topic posts please.

red bellied

The lane located off Connolly Street is called Pound lane the former name of the street. Interestingly they never changed this or maybe they just forgot.

Forthill where the Barracks used to be located and from where association football was introduced has also produced some of the best footballers in the town. Dying out now though obviously. Also the most fantical Rovers supporters were located here as well.

shellyriver

That's because Corporation are idiots. Executive and most of councillors -- many don't know their own name! -- never might knowing the names of Streets (anyways not important I suppose).

Past Maugheraboy Bridge -- there is a sign saying Church Hill!
At Circular Road off MCR -- a sign saying Pound Street!

Not to mention the highly contentious!! Gallows Hill/St Joseph's conundrum. Very important when brought to court:D

Was disappointed in book Streets of Sligo (which I bought, not having thumbed through as if in an Arab street bazaar, 'cos I love history and like to have my sources and references correct).

Along with essentially writing 20 versions of the same book, more recent battles concerning Sligo's history were blithely ignored. For example no reference to Corporation permitted Mental Hospital Road to be called 'Clarion Road'. I know Councillors took a vote on this and latter name won out.

In similiar vein why not call O'Connell Street - 'MacDonald's Boulevard' when they decide to open the biggest 'greasy spoon' in 'Da Borough'.

Good old councillors:D

jimmmy

shellyriver wrote: »

Was disappointed in book Streets of Sligo (which I bought, )

It only took me a few glances to see it was not worth 5 euro, never mind the 50 euro on the cover, because I love Sligo and like to have my sources and references correct.

dardevle

sligeach...

while i agree with you that there are other books on
the subject of 'sligo'that are perhaps better constructed....some of these books can be hard to come by(i see a previous post that refers to jimmy eccles book of which there were only 1,000 printed),so for those of us with a lesser knowledge of the town than yourself, any work of reference
that incorporates the writings of previous books is no bad thing imo...if
only to bring to the fore these other books that are sometimes forgotten
about over time...for example since the printing of this book,others such as John c mc ternans books have started to appear on the shelves again....my final word on the topic will be this....only by reading the book and then comparing it to the other books that are out there(by reading them jimmmy!) can an objective opinion be formed, and a well read and
knowledgable population can only serve the town better going forward.

shellyriver wrote: »

Along with essentially writing 20 versions of the same book, more recent battles concerning Sligo's history were blithely ignored. For example no reference to Corporation permitted Mental Hospital Road to be called 'Clarion Road'. I know Councillors took a vote on this and latter name won out.

.

ps....the reference your looking for is on page 106....maybe the arabs
got to your copy first:p

jimmmy

shellyriver wrote: »

That's because Corporation are idiots. Executive and most of councillors -- many don't know their own name! -- never might knowing the names of Streets (anyways not important I suppose).

I do not know what you mean by "never might knowing". However , I agree with you about the councillors etc. Some small time politicians are good for looking after themselves though (junkets etc ) and patting themselves on the back.

On the subject "streets of Sligo", how many Sligo people could name the new inner relief road correctly ? Who cares what name the councillors gave it. I know the posters on this thread probably could name it, but the man in the street ?

Xiney

Personally, I don't think there's much point in naming a street if you're not going to put street signs up. Anybody giving directions to someone new to town would use landmarks rather than street names, because you can't follow the street names. They're kind of pointless if you can't use them.

shellyriver

Hi Dardevle

When I said, 'no reference' I meant in context to the proposed debate ie the name of what was to be Clarion Road for example (Caldwell Line - being the local builder who costructed Asylum /Caldwell Line). This debate was circulated in local papers and eventually voted on motion by the Corporation. This I would consider was the most recent and important debate concerning a name for a historic thoroughfare in the town.

As I said disappointing that no reference to the debate -- seeing as the book takes trouble to trot out all the various names of shops (with a view I'd imagine to garner sales) surely then when a matter of public importance (which on for a few months and was voted upon) should, with a view to balanced approach, be at least mention in the interests of historical accuracy and posterity make reference to what the current thinking as to the populace was/is re such names.

Anys bring back Knox Steet, Radcliffe Steet, Victoria & Albert Lines, Provost Row and Mags Lane I say:D