Theatre For Sligo – Plans Outlined

At a press conference held in the Yeats Memorial Building, Sligo, on Monday evening, members of Sligo Drama Circle reported progress on their plans to build a theatre for Sligo, gave details of fund-raising schemes for the project and announced the programme for “Summer Theatre ’74”. Mr. Joe Meehan, Chairman of “A Theatre for Sligo” committee reported that following acquisition of the Temple Street site from Most Rev. Dr. Conway, Bishop of Elphin, the committee had been involved with the necessary legal and administrative preliminaries. He said this stage had almost passed, and the second and more difficult stage of fund-raising had been reached. Legally, Sligo Drama Circle was now Sligo Drama Circle Incorporated with an office in the Yeats Memorial Building, and with Directors and the Circle was now in a legal position to collect money and own property. Planning permission had been applied for from Sligo Corporation and no problems had arisen on that score.

Architects had been approached and some outline plans had already been submitted. A broadly-based committee of prominent Sligo people had been set up to augment the Drama Circle in their efforts, and plans were well afoot to establish a National Advisory Council of people prominent in Irish Theatrical life and in Irish cultural life generally, to assist and advise the local committees in their endeavours. The stage had now been reached where fund-raising must now begin. Mr. Lionel Gallagher said that fund-raising up to now was of an individual nature, some of it being quite encouraging, including the donation from the Mayor of St. Louis, USA, Mr. John H. Boelker, through the good offices of Sligo’s Mayor, Cllr. Martin Keaveney. However, now they were calling for a concerted effort from all members and supporters for projects that would be launched on a phased basis from now on.

The first of these was called “Friends of the Sligo Theatre”. This was a scheme whereby people in Sligo and the hinterland of Sligo would buy an annual ticket for £10. This investment of £10 in the Theatre Fund would give the investor two free tickets for every Drama Circle play presented in the next twelve months – including the Summer Theatre plays, a new autumn-winter season, and Spring Theatre’75 incorporating next year’s festival production. “It is vital to make this scheme a success”, Mr Gallagher continued, “as it would be a yardstick of our local support and grants and donations from outside Sligo will depend to a large extent on the measure of support we get at home”. In this way the £10 would be worth much more than its face value – it would fund the shows in advance and enable the Circle to make more money for the project. And more than that, it would be the strongest argument the Circle could have when its members went outside Sligo to Government and other agencies, asking them to match their investment with what had already been raised locally. “For this £10 you are showing your faith in the future of Sligo, and you are bringing more money from outside into Sligo – and into the bargain, you are going to see some good plays”, Mr. Gallagher added. He appealed for support for the scheme and asked as many as possible to become “A Friend of the Sligo Theatre”. Further information could be obtained from the Secretary, “A Theatre for Sligo”, Yeats Memorial Building, Sligo.

Mr. Liam Mc Kinney gave details of a scheme which would be formally launched in the autumn at the end of ‘Summer Theatre ’74’. This is a life patron scheme, and it will involve contributions of £100 in four annual instalments of £25 each. Each contributor to the scheme will become a life member of the Circle, with full voting rights, and will also become a patron of the theatre, with his or her name permanently displayed in the theatre. A suitable inscribed certificate will be presented to all patrons. This scheme will be launched on a local, national and international basis. Further details will be announced in the autumn. Mr. John Mullaney spoke on grants and foundations, and the efforts and hopes of securing assistance from these sources at home and overseas. Mr. Harold Johnston outlined an approach which will be made to local and national firms, and Mr. Rory Callagy spoke of fund-raising activities by members of Sligo Drama Circle other than the normal activity of the group – which is the presentation of plays.

Mr. Meehan thanked the members of the press for supporting the Conference and also the representatives of the other organisations and bodies who attended. He particularly thanked the Yeats Society for placing their facilities at the disposal of the Drama Circle and the final word of thanks went to Mr. Mc Donagh of the Bonne Chere who was in charge of the catering.

from The Sligo Champion, June 14th, 1974