Sligo County Council is delighted to announce that it has been awarded €200,000 in funding by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027.
Funding Awarded for Sligo Gaol under the ERDF Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027
This funding, secured through the EU’s THRIVE – Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme – Application Strand 1, is a significant step forward in the Council’s vision to transform the old Sligo Gaol into a modern tourism and community facility.
The €200,000 grant will support the development of a further application by Sligo County Council, for funding of between €2-7m for Strand 2 in 2025. This competitive bid will be made against other eligible partners within the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA), encompassing 9 local authorities.
Cllr Gerard Mullaney, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, welcomed the funding, saying,
"This funding is a significant boost for the redevelopment of the historic Sligo Gaol. We are committed to preserving our heritage and creating a vibrant, accessible space that will benefit both our local community and visitors alike. The support from the ERDF Northern and Western Regional Programme is invaluable, and we look forward to progressing further in our plans."
Martin Lydon, Chief Executive of Sligo County Council, added,
"The awarding of €200,000 from the THRIVE scheme is an encouraging milestone in our efforts to revitalise Sligo Gaol. This funding will help us in our pursuit of a comprehensive transformation, turning this valuable heritage asset into a modern facility that contributes to the economic and cultural development of our region."
Denis Kelly, Director of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly said:
“The Northern and Western Regional Assembly are committed to the delivery of balanced regional development and this means supporting the development of Sligo Town as a regional urban centre of scale. The revitalisation of Sligo Town is an important part of delivering on that strategy, as outlined in our Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Northern and Western Region. With the support of the Government, THRIVE is leveraging ERDF funding to support this community-led heritage regeneration project, empowering Sligo County Council and local communities to unlock the full potential of their heritage assets and the NWRA is delighted to be making this funding award”.
Sligo Gaol, built between 1814 and 1828, stands as a significant historical landmark and a testament to Sligo's rich heritage. The Gaol, designed as a panopticon, features a semicircular arrangement of cell blocks around the Governor's House. Although a portion of the original complex was replaced by Sligo Fire Station, substantial elements, including the Governor's House, the Marshal sea, a 3-storey cell block, and portions of the original 8-section 2-storey cell block, remain intact.
The redevelopment of Sligo Gaol will create a modern tourism and community facility that complements the town's vision for a vibrant town centre. The Council's plans align with THRIVE's objectives to revitalise town centres and repurpose publicly owned heritage buildings for the benefit of the local community.
THRIVE supports local authorities and communities in reimagining town centres and transforming vacant or derelict heritage buildings within those centres. By renovating, renewing, and adaptively reusing these buildings, THRIVE aims to create vibrant, attractive, and functional town centres that serve as hubs for residents, businesses, and visitors. In implementing this THRIVE project, Sligo County Council will promote the values and working principles of the New European Bauhaus – an initiative of the European Union – which aims to ensure strategies and projects are sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, inclusive and accessible. This THRIVE project will provide the opportunity for citizens, communities and stakeholders to have their say in the on the plans to develop Sligo Gaol. Sligo County Council's successful funding application under THRIVE's Application Strand 1 is an encouraging step towards achieving this vision.
THRIVE is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Northern & Western Regional Programme 2021-27.
