The cholera epidemic remembered one hundred years after the event, as written by a schoolboy James Reynolds from Knockminna National School near Ballymote in Sligo from the Duchas school folklore collection in 1938. Cholera in 1837 People were dying in hundreds and nearly all Ballisodare population was wiped out. Sligo hospital was packed and so… Continue reading Cholera and the Cure
As it's International Women's day, here is a short account of one Sligo lady who was considered ahead of her time for highlighting social issues and provided literary inspiration for the gothic novel Dracula. Charlotte Blake Thornley Stoker (1818 - 1901) Charlotte was described as ambitious, intelligent, vivacious and a social reformer. Charlotte grew up… Continue reading Charlotte Thornley Stoker
The author Bram Stoker's mother hailed from Sligo. Her name was Charlotte Thornley and she lived with her parents Captain Thomas Thornley, Matilda Blake Thornley along with her two younger brothers Thomas and Richard. Charlotte lived with her family on Correction Street now Old Market Street in the town. It was here where she resided in… Continue reading Sligo and the Dracula connection
It wasn’t all fun and games at Halloween in Sligo, you could lose an eye!
In October 1909, Robert Coulter’s on Thomas Street in Sligo town was the place to shop for all your Halloweve treats, with Nuts, Apples, Grapes, Figs, Bananas and Cakes.
Source: Sligo Champion 1909
In 1904 Sligonians could join the Sligo Musical Society and take part in their Samhain musical, described as a romantic Irish Cantata. It was written by Dr. Annie Patterson and won first prize at the Dublin Feis Ceoil in 1902.
Source: Sligo Champion 1904
Apples for Halloween
At the monthly meeting at the Sligo District Asylum on October 20th 1906, the management committee voted to award Mrs Fox the tender for Halloween apples.
Halloween merrymaking leads to assault
Kids today are in danger of losing an eye from fireworks at Halloween but back in 1893, Michael Leonard nearly lost an eye at Halloween for playing an old Irish custom of rapping on doors to warn of Halloween.
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Sligo convict transported to Van Diemen’s Land
Van Diemen’s Land was set up as a penal colony in 1803 by the British Empire. It is estimated that some 75,000 convicts were shipped there up until 1853 when the mass transportation of people ended. The most common crime that led to transportation was petty theft or larceny. Followed by burglary or housebreaking, highway robbery, stealing clothing, stealing animals, military offences, prostitution and crimes of fraud. Transportation on a large scale ended as the authorities mindful of the rebellion in the American colonies feared a similar uprising could occur on Van Diemen’s Land.
Although mass transportation ended in 1853, political prisoners were still transported. Many Irish Fenian prisoners continued to be transported to Van Diemen’s land, including Thomas Francis Meagher, leader of the Young Irelanders. Meagher managed to escape and went to the United States in 1852. He was also the Irishman who introduced the Tricolour, and which is now the…
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