What's the future for Sligo?

muffler

El Weirdo wrote: »

I don't think many businesses are looking to attract 12 year old girls into their workforce.

I dont think anyone mentioned anything about 12 year old girls.

redarmyblues wrote: »

Only the ones in Knocking Shop Hollow in Letterkenny.

No need for this type of comment. Warning given

El Weirdo

muffler wrote: »

I dont think anyone mentioned anything about 12 year old girls.

12 year old girls love Penneys.

muffler

El Weirdo wrote: »

12 year old girls love Penneys.

Leave it there as thats not what you said. You clearly mentioned "12 year olds in the workforce" and Im not allowing that type of thing so no more of it.

T-Bird

Was out in the town this evening and have to say the place was buzzing. People sitting outside of pubs and restaurants listening to music and enjoying the atmosphere. We had a meal in Indulge, I didn't have great expectations but have to say that the food and service was top class.

Sligo, like a lot of high streets might well be loosing its high street stores and having them replaced by restaurants and coffee shops. But if it brings in the trade and creates jobs and develops good atmospheres then something is being done right.

Personally, I have a good feeling for the future of Sligo and feel that things are finally coming together. Jobs, plans in place for improving the infrastructure and also plans to improve the town itself.

Andy From Sligo

I fear Sligo wont be remembered for a shopping mecca if it stays as it is though in its present state and people still will shop out of the area, its been left behind in that department and has stagnated in my view especially when you see the selection and caliber and size of stores other towns have ... but as you say if people like it for the restaurants and all the other things you have mentioned thats a good thing i suppose

T-Bird

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

I fear Sligo wont be remembered for a shopping mecca if it stays as it is though in its present state and people still will shop out of the area, its been left behind in that department and has stagnated in my view especially when you see the selection and caliber and size of stores other towns have ... but as you say if people like it for the restaurants and all the other things you have mentioned thats a good thing i suppose

No, it wont be remembered for a shopping Mecca in its current state. That would never work. My posts in the past have been about putting all the right elements in place to create an interest.

There have been what 600 jobs announced in recent months? Most of those jobs will probably be taken up from people from outside of Sligo in the short term. But there will be many more indirect jobs (caterers, suppliers, distributors) as a result. Either way it will bring in money and people and the high street shops will take note and comeback again. Its all about supply and demand. I'd also argue that this is probably why Next and TK-Max might have been persuaded to stay.

Well that's my view on it and I don't think it can happen any other way.

Andy From Sligo

I can never seem to relay my thoughts properly on this one, i have my thoughts on it and people on here might think I am coming across negative but i think there are more chances of longevity of employment if some more shops move into Sligo that people sometimes travel out of Sligo to get too (yes could be UK chains which again don't sit well with some people on here , and some who live in Sligo)

Yes I welcome firms setting up in sligo of course, and the associated footfall of more people in the town as a by product of people working there having to use local shops and businesses and put more money into the economy of sligo of course I do - but things that I cannot get excited about is the (promises?) of how many jobs this will give people (some maybe local, some maybe internally of the firm itself) also not sitting with me is if a place needs fully trained 'experts' to work for them, does this help long term people that are unemployed and may not have those qualifications they are looking for, and the talk of 'how much they may end up giving employment too in 5 years or the long run) - have also seen companies such as ones starting up not last around very long before they have to shut down leaving people who have got used to having being employed there out of work again and back looking for employment again... or the International company that moved to sligo in the first place 'pull out' and move their operations out of sligo and somewhere else more convenient (tax breaks / better locations etc) or even moving their companies back to their origin of their own country.

So in a sense , I know you have to grab what you can when you can and obviously it is good for anyone who wants to come to sligo to set up .... but i just think it is possible (and you can never be certain of course you cannot) but lets say for example a big chain store / loads of big chain stores came to sligo instead, there could well be 150 employees needed at the start , not panned over something like 5 years and on the longevity side of things if its a very popular one of the chain shops that people come far and wide from its got more of a chance of being in business longer - then (i am not calling shop workers un-educated or anything) but generally they can be employed with very little qualifications and trained up .

But no, I am not being negative ... I am just digging a little bit deeper rather than saying "yippee look at all these businesses who want to set up in Sligo this is absolutely fantastic" I am just wondering if this euphoria will last a long time because I have seen many specialist businesses over the years set up in finnisklin trading estate and the like and not staying open very long on the whole. I suppose maybe thats what is making me think this way.

dingding

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

Yes I welcome firms setting up in sligo of course, and the associated footfall of more people in the town as a by product of people working there having to use local shops and businesses and put more money into the economy of sligo of course I do - but things that I cannot get excited about is the (promises?) of how many jobs this will give people (some maybe local, some maybe internally of the firm itself) also not sitting with me is if a place needs fully trained 'experts' to work for them, does this help long term people that are unemployed and may not have those qualifications they are looking for, and the talk of 'how much they may end up giving employment too in 5 years or the long run)

I think from meeting some of the companies at the excellent techlife event recently in the building block that many of the companies will exceed both the 5 year timelines and growth projections. The key is to get the technical team leaders into Sligo and these experts will drive the growth of teams underneath them. Abtran would be a serious employer and employ almost 2,500 people in Ireland. Having Sligo as the next phase of development for a company of this scale is excellent and if they get the appropriate contracts as they grow then they could exceed the job announcements.

As others have said Sligo has turned the corner and if we build on the positivity on these announcements and the potential they are opening up, then we will achieve teh growth. If we assume that the companies wont succeed and dont give them a chance by relocating to Sligo, welcoming the companies and the opertuitities that the bring then this will become self fulfilling.

I was sickened to see posts on facebook to boycott Abtran because they carried out work for Irish Water in the past.

The government and state agencies have put huge faith in Sligo and in supporting businesses here. We all have a responsibility to support these initiatives in any way we can. We could encourage our friends and family to take up these opportunities in Sligo not play the usual narrative that they wont last and there is no point in taking up jobs with them.

We need to change the record. Be positive and work and encourage others to avail of the opportunities.

We have complained in the past that progress has been held up in Sligo by some property owners, we now have the chance to put this behind us and look forward to a bright future for Sligo.

To look to fill Sligo with low paid jobs for unqualified people is not in the best interest of Sligo. WE need to be recognized as centers of excellence for AI, Cloud Technologies, Business Process Outsourcing, Pharma etc...

miamee

Very interesting to read some of the views here from 6 years ago about the future of Sligo. Would your views have changed in the meantime or do you think things have improved since?

I'm relatively new to Sligo, living here a year and a half but we have been visiting for a number of years and I think things in Sligo are looking up. To me there seems to be a positive vibe about the place most of the time. Town can be dead at times and I am still getting used to the fact that not everything is open every day but I'm nearly there 😄 These are only from my own observations and not from a wide source of locals. We're in the lucky position that between us we have one fully remote job and one local job so are not and have not been job hunting since we got here. Actually that is not fully true, I moved jobs but stuck with looking for a fully remote position which I got.

Chauncey Gardner

I think the developmental status of Sligo (the town) is pretty much in tandem with all similar Irish towns and possibly faring better. But that doesn't mean that its going to get any busier.

Your current "remote" working status is of significance. That's a relatively new opportunity but one which has impacted on the rhythm of the town. ie: a reduced number of work colleagues going into town for lunch, or a quick shop, or going out for drinks after work etc. Fewer people in town shopping, due to shopping on line.

And over past decades, tightly knit workforces within the town were broken up by the closure of factories and small businesses.

I was greatly heartened to go to a few recent Sligo Rovers home games. Families, mums with daughters, grandparents with grandkids. groups of teenagers enjoying the craic and the popcorn but not paying too much attention to the game : ) The buzz was great. That's the sort of activity that gives the town a very positive shot of adrenaline and keeps people connected.