€3.25 million secured for Sligo Cultural Plaza from Fálte Ireland (€2.5 million) and the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (€750,000).
This was a very exciting project on which we were delighted to work, culminating in funding being successfully secured by Sligo County Council for this important development in Sligo’s City Centre.
The proposal seeked to transform Sligo city’s city centre public realm, informed by the Public Realm Plan (PRP) recently prepared by Sligo County Council. The transforming of the City’s public realm will create a key vibrant and prosperous city in the north-west region with an attractive city centre in which people want to live, socialise ,shop, visit and invest
The plaza will help promote the city as a destination on the Wild Atlantic Way for visitors providing the opportunity to host a wider range of events and activities. Located across the river and connected to O’Connell Street by way of a footbridge and riverside walk, the existing Stephen Street car park is a town centre space that has, in recent years been adapted to allow for larger events such as concerts, festivals, markets and public screenings. It has become, in essence, Sligo’s central public space.
This proposed new amenity will address the Garavogue riverside. The size of the Plaza would allow it to accommodate a variety of open-air activities, festivals, public screenings including an outdoor market. Stephen St. Cultural Plaza would also serve as a key transition space, between the main retail area and the emerging heritage Greenfort cultural precinct located to the north-east. and the Wild Atlantic Way drop-off coach station 100m away.
Project details
- Extensive consultation with Sligo County Council
- Preparation of strategic and funding documents, for submission to a variety of funding sources
- Consultation with Fáilte Ireland, to identify the key milestones and metrics for the project
- Definition of target markets, both domestic and international
- Submission of draft marketing initiatives, aimed at attracting domestic and international visitors
- Projections for the economic impact upon Sligo, including visitor numbers, length of stay, number of overnights and bednights, average spend, international expenditure, additional expenditure in City, etc.
- Potential impact upon employment, both directly and indirectly
- Compatibility with National Plan Framework and National Development Objectives and Outcomes
- Overview of governance and management
- Consultation on possible collaboration among local organisations in operating and promoting the Plaza
- Potential for innovation, quality and sustainable renewal
- Viability and sustainability of the Plaza
