Max is the Chairperson of Sligo Pride Festival 2021
OutWest Sligo Coordinator
Board member of Ireland Pride Network
Facilitator of Trans Northwest

Former chair of IT Sligos LGBT+ society

Current day job: BEx intern with Abbott Diagnostics, Finisklin

Here is some more information Max sent us before the show. 

My name is Maxton (Max) Ó Floinn, I'm 22 years old, my pronouns are he/they and I am a transgender man.
I have completed my level 7 course in Biomedical Science in IT Sligo, I'm currently on a 15 month internship with Abbott Diagnostics and I plan to go back to college in September 2022.
I have a habit of getting involved in things like Sligo Pride which is taking place this August from the 2nd-8th. This current version of Sligo Pride is only in it's second/third year after debuting in August 2019 with a lot of help from Dublin Pride and the Outing Festival. Previous to that there was SAGA Pride in 2016 and Pride Northwest several years before, so Sligo Pride is still quite young.

Are you a Sligo Native? If no what is the story of how you moved here?:

I grew up in County Leitrim, so not a million miles away. I moved to Sligo for my 3rd level education with IT Sligo

What do you love about living in Sligo?: 

I love being able to walk to the shops! Something that wasn't really an option in rural Leitrim. I've very recently got my first car so I can just drive out to Strandhill for a walk, or Rosses point to watch the sunset or go out any other amazing walks

If you could wave a magic wand what would you fix or bring to Sligo ie. facilities, shops, restaurants, culture/arts?: 

I think the first obvious answer to that is a LGBTQ+ bar.
There's also a lot of run down looking buildings that would be great to see done up into more housing or new businesses. An idea suggested by a friend of mine would be for the old Savoy Cinema to be done up and converted into something like a bowling alley and/or games arcade

What are you looking forward to in the future in your personal and professional life?: I

I suppose I'm looking forward to figuring out what I'd like to do with my life, I have the next 2 years of my life planned with my internship and then going back to college.
In my personal life I'm looking forward to eventually living with my girlfriend of 5 years as we're long distance between Sligo and Galway just with college and work. Can't wait to adopt several dogs as well.

What are your must do Sligo recommendations? Restaurants/Walks etc.: 

Penny cafe is fab, they've only just reopened. They have Elderflower Fizzies which seemed very popular at the OutWest Sligo meet up on the 19th of June. Blind Tiger hot chocolate is probably the best in town but the Rover Lab white chocolate mocha is phenomenal.
I love Doorley park and watching the sunset at Rosses Point

Check out https://sligopride.com/ for updates on all the upcoming events and how to get involved.