Sligo County Council has been awarded €350,000 in funding under the Historic Towns Initiative (HTI) 2026–2027 to support essential conservation works on two nationally significant public buildings in Sligo town — Sligo City Hall and the Yeats Memorial Building.
Sligo Town Awarded €350,000 Under Historic Towns Initiative 2026–2027
The Heritage Council, along with Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government, James Browne TD, and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, announced that 18 historic towns will share €2m funding under the 2026 Historic Towns Initiative (HTI). The HTI is a joint initiative between the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Heritage Council.
Sligo County Council has been awarded €350,000 in funding under the Historic Towns Initiative (HTI) 2026–2027 to support essential conservation works on two nationally significant public buildings in Sligo town — Sligo City Hall and the Yeats Memorial Building.
The funding will enable priority maintenance and repair works aimed at protecting Sligo’s architectural heritage and supporting the long‑term use of historic buildings at the heart of the town centre.
Sligo City Hall Conservation Works
Built in 1872, Sligo City Hall is the principal public building in the town centre and a structure of national importance. The building is currently in need of urgent maintenance to prevent ongoing deterioration of the historic fabric.
Works funded under the initiative will focus on:
- Repair and conservation of the building exterior
- Reinstatement of missing cast‑iron features
- Restoration of floor finishes within the main public entrance hall
- Specialist joinery and iron repair works, which will continue into 2027
These works will be carried out using best‑practice conservation methods to ensure the building’s historic character is safeguarded for future generations.
Yeats Memorial Building
The project also includes further conservation works to the Yeats Memorial Building, another nationally important landmark located close to City Hall. Initial repairs to the front and side elevations were completed in 2021 as part of the Sligo O’Connell Street Historic Towns Initiative project.
The additional works funded through HTI 2026–2027 will build on that earlier investment and contribute to the long‑term preservation of this culturally significant building, closely associated with one of Ireland’s most celebrated literary figures.
Supporting Heritage-Led Regeneration
This investment reflects Sligo County Council’s ongoing commitment to heritage‑led regeneration, the conservation of historic civic buildings, and the enhancement of the town centre as a vibrant place to live, work and visit.
The Historic Towns Initiative is jointly funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and The Heritage Council, and supports high‑quality conservation projects that protect historic towns while encouraging sustainable reuse.