New Road Signs in the City.

Mint Sauce

Yes its in the right forum, and no, its not a typo.

Sligo Town City has a load of new Road Signs called The City Loop, and seems to follow a route starting at Lord Edward/Wine Street, Markievicz Rd, Connaughton Rd, Bridge St, and Castle/Grattan/John St. All Coloured a light blue, and numbered from J1 going up to at least 7 or 8 at each junction following above the route.

Any one know when these went up, or for what reason, and do they serve any purpose over the additional signs? Or are the light blue junction numbers just to serve as a land mark, in the same way as the S* numbered junctions only seem to do on the link/relief road.

Finally wonder how much they cost, are they authorised by the NRA, and whose paying for them, Sligo Coco or the NRA? If Sligo Coco, wondering if there is actually a need for them, and could the money not be spent or put towards tidying up or fixing some of the above named roads/pavements, and the ones running off and between them (not mentioning any road in particular).

Remember Dublin City doing something similar a few years ago, which only caused great confusion to both residents of and visitors to the City to what the numbers meant. Hopefully should cause no such problem here considering the much smaller size, but still curious to the motives behind thier use.

red sean

Saw them going up yesterday.
City?? Talk about pretentious! It's a bloody town.
And whats the City Core? Do they mean the Town Centre?
What a terrible waste of public money.

Mint Sauce

red sean wrote: »

Saw them going up yesterday.
City?? Talk about pretentious! It's a bloody town.
And whats the City Core? Do they mean the Town Centre?
What a terrible waste of public money.

Is the City Core the street we all wont mention?



As for the Town Centre, my under standing of that, was some of the roads and streets mentioned in my OP, ie, the business and commerce. In my own opinion, this so called city loop, just seems to be an official name, for what basically is part of the one way system that encircles the town.

I have however noticed the extending of the new street paving built on High Street extending down Castle and Grattan street, some sort of good steps in tidying the place up.

red sean

I'd have thought we needed public toilets worse than we needed more roadsigns, but of course I'm not an engineer trying to make a handy job for meself :P

Regardless who paid for them, I think they're an unnecessary expenditure.

mike65

Is this some sort of piss take? Sligo City?!

red sean

mike65 wrote: »

Is this some sort of piss take? Sligo City?!

Are you lost?

mike65

No but people looking for Sligo town might be! (does that red head still post those delightful pictures of herself in and around the Sligo area?)

red sean

Do'nt know but Googles yer friend

Mint Sauce

Seen a couple more on the mail coach rd around the theatre and the cathedral this morning, but didn't seem to be running in order. Jumped from a single digit, to 17 I think.

JupiterKid

Sligo is a town. End of.

Sligo has about 20,000 population. The towns of Navan, Dundalk, Drogheda, Bray, Tralee, Swords, Wexford and Naas are all bigger than Sligo.

Even Celbridge, a village in the early 1980s that has since mushroomed since into another Dublin commuter town has a population that exceeds Sligo's.

shanec1928

irish-stew wrote: »

Seen a couple more on the mail coach rd around the theatre and the cathedral this morning, but didn't seem to be running in order. Jumped from a single digit, to 17 I think.

they were putting more up today.
and the population of the town is just shy of 25000

Mint Sauce

Driving home last night, some of the signs just direct you to junction number, and not an actual destination.

Seriously, WTF?

red sean

So this is probably the type of nonsense our hard earned property tax is being spent on.

Mint Sauce

Anyone find the City Core yet?

Truley

irish-stew wrote: »

Anyone find the City Core yet?

Yeah the 'relief road' goes though it!

alsace royal

someone said to me the j numbers are to do with post codes??? i dout it myself but said id throw it out there

Geuze

alsace royal wrote: »

someone said to me the j numbers are to do with post codes??? i dout it myself but said id throw it out there

J stands for junction, in this context.

Geuze

Census 2011 reports:

http://www.cso.ie/en/census/census2011reports/


Population by Area report:

http://www.cso.ie/en/census/census2011reports/census2011populationclassifiedbyareaformerlyvolumeone/


Sligo = 19,452 people, the 19th largest town by pop in Irl.

5 cities and 18 towns have more pop than Sligo town.


1 Drogheda
2 Dundalk
3 Swords
4 Bray
5 Navan (An Uaimh)
6 Ennis
7 Kilkenny
8 Tralee
9 Carlow
10 Droichead Nua
11 Naas
12 Athlone
13 Portlaoise
14 Mullingar
15 Wexford
16 Balbriggan
17 Letterkenny
18 Celbridge
19 Sligo

Plazaman

irish-stew wrote: »

Anyone find the City Core yet?

Went to the City Core for lunch today, couldn't find it, had to get a sandwich in Matt Lyons instead.

Does this mean we won't be able to enter the Tidy Towns anymore?

iamnotme

I've been looking at these signs for the last week and can't get my head round them. Being from the town and knowing the local road network (I used to drive a van), I've absolutely no clue as to what information these signs are supposed to present. J13? City Loop? City Core? Think this is another case of some young overpaid genius looking at a computer and not the real world.

Plazaman

OK I know J13 is the Abbey Street/Gallows Hill junction and it's pointing towards the Hawks Well for J14.

So if we multiply 14 x Pi and take away the trajectory angle of the.......



Fúck it!

Sligo Beers in Hargadons anyone........

Mint Sauce

Plazaman wrote: »

OK I know J13 is the Abbey Street/Gallows Hill junction and it's pointing towards the Hawks Well for J14.

So if we multiply 14 x Pi and take away the trajectory angle of the.......



Fúck it!

Sligo Beers in Hargadons anyone........

Maybe thats the core.

:pac:

il gatto

Geuze wrote: »

Census 2011 reports:

http://www.cso.ie/en/census/census2011reports/


Population by Area report:

http://www.cso.ie/en/census/census2011reports/census2011populationclassifiedbyareaformerlyvolumeone/


Sligo = 19,452 people, the 19th largest town by pop in Irl.

5 cities and 18 towns have more pop than Sligo town.


1 Drogheda
2 Dundalk
3 Swords
4 Bray
5 Navan (An Uaimh)
6 Ennis
7 Kilkenny
8 Tralee
9 Carlow
10 Droichead Nua
11 Naas
12 Athlone
13 Portlaoise
14 Mullingar
15 Wexford
16 Balbriggan
17 Letterkenny
18 Celbridge
19 Sligo

Not that I care, because to me and everyone in County Sligo and neighbouring counties, we call it Sligo "town" exclusively, but those figures are inaccurate. The town boundry, despite being extended in the last ten years or so, does not extend to include all of the built up area of the town.
Sligo also has a large student population from surrounding counties, of which most would not be in residence on a census night. Out of the 4-5000 students, 3,000 plus wouldn't show up on the census.
Sligo is an incorporated town or borough with it's own (soon to be defunct) elected council. Use of the term "city" would only relate to it's two cathedrals which is an antiquated and vague useage.
Wishful thinking on the behalf of local politicians to get city status was based on funding, status and self interest. It was never going to happen.
Also some of the towns you listed include vague "rural" population figures. If Sligo encompassed a 5 mile radius, you could probably easily exceed 30,000. Wexford, Athlone and Kilkenny are not as big as Sligo.
And places like Naas and Celbridge are just dormitory towns with massive housing estates evrywhere. Celbridge has one main street ffs. Historically large towns tend to have more in the way of infrastructure and interest.
Mullingar. Jesus.
This island has 2-3 cities. Dublin, Belfast and Cork (at a stretch). Everything else is a town, and not even particularly large ones at that. We're just used of small here.

il gatto

And regards the new signs, maybe they relate to satnav or something. Make no sense otherwise. I thought blue signs were for motorway and green for national primary route? They look out of place (and expensive).

Geuze

Sligo borough pop:

2006 = 17,892
2011 = 17,568

Borough pop fell by 300+.


Environs of Sligo (suburbs not inside the legal borough boundary):

2006 = 1,510
2011 = 1,884

See here:
http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/census2011vol1andprofile1/Tables,7,and,12.pdf


Sligo census town pop:

2006 = 19,402
2011 = 19,452

ThingaMeJig

Saw them today for the first time...blue looks a bit bright alright! And there are probably a few too many too. Looks like the same system they have in Dublin and Cork - orbital routes etc. But if it means I don't get stopped on Bridge St four times a day by confused tourists asking how to get around the town, then they might serve some purpose

il gatto

Geuze wrote: »

Sligo borough pop:

2006 = 17,892
2011 = 17,568

Borough pop fell by 300+.


Environs of Sligo (suburbs not inside the legal borough boundary):

2006 = 1,510
2011 = 1,884

See here:
http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/census2011vol1andprofile1/Tables,7,and,12.pdf


Sligo census town pop:

2006 = 19,402
2011 = 19,452

That doesn't take into account the largely absent student population during the census, a factor only affecting towns with a large uni or IT. It leaves as many 1,000 properties vacant most weekends.
The tiny increase in overall population is very suprising. There was a lot of extra residential development in the early period between 2006-2008. There are no vacant ghost estates. I suppose large numbers of migrant workers abandoning ship may have negated any increase in that period.
Having visited most towns on that list, I suppose the moral of the story is, a few big housing estates for commuters may give an impressive boost to your population, but very few of the trappings that go with a traditionally larger town.

Geuze

The Census is held on a Sunday night.

It was held on Sunday 10th April 2011.


Would students be in Sligo on Sunday evening / Sunday overnight?

Or would they be recorded at home, even if they travel back to Sligo on Sunday night?

Geuze

il gatto wrote: »

Geuze wrote: »

The tiny increase in overall population is very suprising. There was a lot of extra residential development in the early period between 2006-2008. There are no vacant ghost estates. I suppose large numbers of migrant workers abandoning ship may have negated any increase in that period.
Having visited most towns on that list, I suppose the moral of the story is, a few big housing estates for commuters may give an impressive boost to your population, but very few of the trappings that go with a traditionally larger town.

Yes, the small rise in town pop is surprising.

Much stronger pop rises in Ballisodare, Collooney, Strandhill, Rosses Point, etc., as people moved out.

Please note that there are several ghost estates in Sligo town:

the Old Mill on Union street is classed as a ghost estate
Swan Point
Castlewood House
City Gate
and there is one on the Calry road.

See here:
http://www.airo.ie/content/dehlg-unfinished-estates-2010

Geuze

il gatto wrote: »

Geuze wrote: »

Having visited most towns on that list, I suppose the moral of the story is, a few big housing estates for commuters may give an impressive boost to your population, but very few of the trappings that go with a traditionally larger town.

Yes, Sligo has the "trappings of a traditionally larger town", e.g. airport, hosp, IT, etc.

But it has been overtaken in pop by many other towns, e.g. Ennis.

il gatto

Many students would be marked in at their home address. Nowadays many only return on the Monday because they drive rather than relying on public transport.
The ghost estates in question are two apartment blocks and small estates that barely register in relation to the size of the town. Many more developments were completed and are inhabited. Most people wouldn't even know where they are.
I suppose my point is that I find it hard to believe that towns that feel so small (Celbridge, Mullingar) have such populations. Sligo, as a traditionally important town has a larger CBD and is to some extent a center of government/business. It has a Garda divisional HQ, massive hospital, large courthouse, rail link, airport (just about), a number of government buildings etc. Celbridge feels like a village/small market town which has had a rash of badly planned estates grafted to it.
Many of the towns which boomed in population over the last decade are no more than dormitory towns for larger urban centres and will take years to catch up with regards to infrastructure and services. In this economy especially.
Strandhill, Rosses Point, Ballysadare, Collooney etc. Are a microcosm of this. All are 5-10 miles from Sligo town and the majority of people who have moved to them work, shop and socialise in Sligo. Most have gained little in the way of retail or services in that time.
I suppose I just have an antiquated view of Sligo in the pecking order. It's no surprise with our local politicians that we find ourselves falling behind.

Geuze

You are right.

Most people, if asked to guess, would never put Sligo as the 19th biggest town in terms of pop.

It does have all the facilites, as you say, yet former villages / one-street towns have overtaken it in pop.

Example: Newbridge, Celbridge, Balbriggan - I'd say these were small towns 20-30 years ago.

The question then is: why did the pop of Sligo town grow much slower than the pop of county Sligo?

Answer: not enough new houses built in town, too many built in county villages...........

Why: tax breaks - rural renewal tax incentives - too much dev in Tubbercurry / Coolaney / Colooney / Ballisodare

red sean

Geuze wrote: »

You are right.

Most people, if asked to guess, would never put Sligo as the 19th biggest town in terms of pop.

It does have all the facilites, as you say, yet former villages / one-street towns have overtaken it in pop.

Example: Newbridge, Celbridge, Balbriggan - I'd say these were small towns 20-30 years ago.

The question then is: why did the pop of Sligo town grow much slower than the pop of county Sligo?

Answer: not enough new houses built in town, too many built in county villages...........

Why: tax breaks - rural renewal tax incentives - too much dev in Tubbercurry / Coolaney / Colooney / Ballisodare

You're gone away off topic here. The thread is about the ridiculous wording and cost of the new road signs!

SprostonGreen

The new signs in the city look good. I know the route already, so don't think it of any benefit to me, but I'm sure it must be to those that don't. Anyway I think a new traffic plan is much needed.

red sean

SprostonGreen wrote: »

The new signs in the city look good. I know the route already, so don't think it of any benefit to me, but I'm sure it must be to those that don't. Anyway I think a new traffic plan is much needed.

City :rolleyes: It's a town and it always was.

ThingaMeJig

I tend to agree with SprostonGreen...these signs are for visitors, not for the locals..."sher don't we know where we're goin?". Its pretty clear they are trying to get traffic to circulate rather than lock up the town centre. I blame the Spatial Strategy for the term 'City' (there have been 2 brown signs celebrating same on the Dublin and Bundoran approaches to the town for ages). I reckon using the term will give very false impressions to the typical foreign visitor, and might even turn them off coming to 'town' in the first place. I wonder if this loop will change route a bit when (if!) the new CityGate street ever happens...

ThingaMeJig

One other thought (just after I hit Reply...typical)...like them or not, the litmus test might be when the Fleadh comes to town next year...if they do their intended job, they might well be worth every penny spent on them

dingding

Did anyone drive around the Sligo loop.

First time I have driven on some of those roads in years

red sean

dingding wrote: »

Did anyone drive around the Sligo loop.

First time I have driven on some of those roads in years

Where does it take you?
Must update me satnav now that we're a city

il gatto

red sean wrote: »

Where does it take you?
Must update me satnav now that we're a city

Me too. Don't want to get lost in da big shmoke

muddypaws

I thought the definition of a city was a town that has a cathedral.

Mint Sauce

muddypaws wrote: »

I thought the definition of a city was a town that has a cathedral.

We have two, A RC and COI one.

:P

Although I also heard that you also require a University amounsgt other critieria, population does not seem to mater in Ireland.

muddypaws

irish-stew wrote: »

We have two, A RC and COI one.

:P

Exactly, therefore Sligo is a city.

Mint Sauce

muddypaws wrote: »

Exactly, therefore Sligo is a city.

But the Third Level is Sligo IT. Not Sligo University.

muddypaws

irish-stew wrote: »

But the Third Level is Sligo IT. Not Sligo University.

I've never seen it anywhere except your post that had that as part of the city classification, cathedral, and you're in.

Mint Sauce

Think I might have found The City Core. A new Plaque has been unveiled at the bottom of Market St, but its to mark the Centre of Sligo Town. Seems the Coco also cant quite decide if we are a Town or a City.

sligoface

City core just sounds immensely stupid, never heard any such thing in any city any in any country, let alone a small town! The signs are unnecessary at best. Why not spend the money on something useful, I could think of a million better ways to spend the money, like put some bins in Doorly Park for people to dispose of dog waste (they make ones that are small and designed so you can't dump household rubbish in it), or a water fountain, or public toilets, put some proper lighting or CCTV in places like Market Yard or Rathbraughan that are getting dodgier every day.

6781

When you have towns like Naas, Carlow, Athlone, Portlaoise, Letterkenny all with bigger populations you have to wonder why some people call Sligo a city. I think Sligo makes a very good town but it would be a rubbish city.

ThingaMeJig

Ask 100 people what they understand by 'City Core' and betcha nearly all will tell you its the centre, downtown, etc.

red sean

ThingaMeJig wrote: »

Ask 100 people what they understand by 'City Core' and betcha nearly all will tell you its the centre, downtown, etc.

What's wrong with simply saying 'Town Centre' ?
More to the point and less pretentious in my opinion.

Markiemarkso

I saw this on the website for the Innisfree Vetinary Hospital.


Directions

Approaching Sligo from the South ( N4 dual carriageway) ,take the exit signposted for Sligo(South) , Dromahair, Carraroe (Junction S2). From the roundabout at the top of the sliproad, take the exit signposted Sligo R287. Continue straight through the next roundabout. Follow the road through five sets of traffic lights. At the fouth set of lights follow the signs for town centre. The Hospital is situated on the left hand side, next to Sligo Tyre Centre .

Approaching Sligo from the North ( N15) turn left at the third set of traffic lights (Junction S10) signposted for Sligo(North), at the next junction turn left and follow the signs for the city loop from J5 through to J11 . At Junction 11 veer slightly left ( follow signs for N4,N17, N59) . THe hospital is located 100m from Junction 11 on the right hand side ,next to Sligo Tyre Centre.

Approaching Sligo from the East (N16) proceed straight through the first set of traffic lights signposted for Sligo (North), then follow signs for city loop from J7 through to J11. At Junction 11 veer slightly left ( follow signs for N4, N17, N59) . The hospital is located 100m from Junction 11 on the right hand side , next to Sligo Tyre Centre.


Now try and explain to someone how to get there without using junction numbers and you'll see the difference.