In this episode of Sligo Community Voices, Val chats to Nigel - the Marketing & Development Manager of The Hawk's Well Theatre in Sligo town.

The Hawk's Well is a huge part of the Sligo community, with many residents spending time on the stage. The theatre hosts a number of events including music, community groups, and of course shows, and you can hear more on the podcast.

Nigel also tells Val about the Shine group - AParticipation Programme with Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities.

You can also hear about The Art Deco Theatre in Ballymote, and what you can expect to see there, including a family film club.

Visit the Hawk's Well Theatre Website here: https://www.hawkswell.com/

And the Art Deco Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/p/Art-Deco-Ballymote-61581603966796/

In this episode of the Sligo PPN Sligo Community Voices Podcast, Val speaks to many of the organisations who attended the Sligo PPN Community Expo and Power to Change Launch at the Clayton Hotel on May 18th, 2026.

You can hear about some upcoming events, and how you can get involved with the different organisations in Sligo.

Thanks so much to everyone who took part:

Emer - Mental Health Ireland Development Officer in Sligo/Leitrim https://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/

Mary from Tubbercurry Family Resource Centre https://tubbercurryfrc.com/

Valerie and Rita from ICA Sligo https://www.facebook.com/sligoica/

Dee and Charlotte from Sligo Pride https://www.facebook.com/sligopridefestival 

Charles from the IGBO Association https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562745264694

Craig from Sligo Chess https://sligochessfestival.com/

Tracey from Clann Credo https://www.clanncredo.ie/ 

Monica from the Irish Cancer Society talking about the Relay for Life Sligo https://www.relayforlife.ie/event/sligo/home

Ronald from Sligo Leader Partnership https://www.sligoleader.ie/ 

Sidonie from Sligo Global Kitchen https://www.facebook.com/foodsies/

Philip from M-PACT, an initiative of Alcohol Forum Ireland https://alcoholforum.org/ 

Yvonne- Power to Change  https://www.sligoppn.com/power-to-change/ 

Aisling from the Sligo DPO - listen to the full Sligo PPN DPO episode here https://www.sligoppn.com/sligo-community-voices-podcast-episode-8/

Pippa - Autism Friendly Sligo https://www.facebook.com/Autism.Friendly.Sligo 

Clíodhna  PEM Technology Gateway https://www.pemcentre.ie/

Joan - Sligo Cycling Campaign https://www.facebook.com/SligoCyclingCampaign

Joseph from Tubbercurry Men's Shed https://www.facebook.com/Tubbercurryms 

Caroline from DVAS https://domesticviolence.ie/

Jason from Alone https://alone.ie/ 

Deirdre - Mebh's Dragon Warriors  - dedicated PPN Podcast: https://www.sligoppn.com/sligo-community-voices-podcast-episode-6/

Carolina - Cranmore Coop https://www.cranmore.ie/ 

Aisling - Sligo Volunteer Centre - dedicated PPN Podcast: https://www.sligoppn.com/sligo-community-voices-podcast-episode-5/

Fidelma - Age Friendly Sligo https://agefriendlyireland.ie/programmes/local/sligo/ 
Mairead - Sligo Local Community Safety Partnership https://www.sligococo.ie/LCSP/

Frank - Diversity Sligo https://diversitysligo.ie/ 
Nike - Aremoja Women's Group https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069549033342

In this episode of Sligo Community Voices, Val speaks with Bláithín from Havin’ a Laugh Charity.

Havin’ a Laugh Charity creates positive, life-enhancing experiences for people accessing mental health support services.

Bláithín shares insight into the charity’s work, including their monthly coffee mornings and community activities.

Val also reflects on her own experience with depression and attending mental health services, and explains how much support and encouragement she received from the charity during that time.

Bláithín spoke about a new Sligo wellbeing map being developed in collaboration with the Atlantic Technological University. The map will be available on the website and will highlight places that support wellbeing, encourage connection with nature, and promote positive mental health.

Havin' a Laugh encourages individuals and businesses to organise fundraising events and activities in support of the charity, helping to provide vital support to those who need it most.

If you would like to available of a voucher from Havin' a Laugh, please ask your counsellor to refer you to the charity.

If you need support, you can contact The Samaritans on 116 123.

For people living in the North West of Ireland, you can contact North West Stop. They offer a FREE Counselling Service. Call 0818 444 000

Uisce Álainn by Medb's Dragon Boat Warriors took place on May 2nd on Lough Gill and the Garavogue River.

The event was a celebration of unity and resilience, a shared journey of remembrance and connection, and people came from all over Ireland to take part. Find out more here: https://www.uiscealainn.com/

In this episode of Sligo Community Voices, Val chats to some people who were involved in the event, they spoke about their roles on the day and about their organisations:

Amro - PPN Chair and also a member of Medb's Dragon Warriors. https://www.medbsdragonwarriors.com/

Bernie - Slaney Purple Paddlers, Wexford: https://slaneypurplepaddlers.com/

Eithne - Medb's Dragon Warriors

Vanessa and Ella - Ballina Dragons https://ballinadragons.com/

Carmel, Grainne and Stella - volunteers from Sligo Volunteer Centre

Garda Alan Cummins

Sharon - Carrick Rapid River Responders 

https://www.facebook.com/p/Carrick-on-Shannon-Rapid-River-Responders-100089922051457/

In this episode of the Sligo Community Voices podcast series, Val chats to Riona, the branch coordinator of Down Syndrome Sligo, and Aoife, a member of Down Syndrome Sligo.

Down Syndrome Sligo provide support & activities for people with Down syndrome and their families.

Riona speaks about the benefits and activities that members of Down Syndrome Sligo, and how people can get involved.

Aoife talks about the things she enjoys doing with the group, and sings a song for the listeners to enjoy.

Find out more about Down Syndrome Sligo on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DownSyndromeSligo and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sligodownsyndrome/

In this episode of the Sligo PPN Sligo Community Voices Podcast series, Val chats to Sue - the manager of the Sligo Northside Centre.

The centre is a vibrant community space, in the heart of Sligo town, and Sue speaks about the history of the Northside Centre, and about some of the many events that take place there.

You can keep up to date with the latest news on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SligoNorthside

In this episode of Sligo Community Voices, Val chats to Alan - a volunteer with HUGG in Sligo. Alan has personal experience of suicide loss - his son, Conor, died in 2019.

Alan speaks about the importance of peer support, and about the supports that HUGG offer.

HUGG is an essential lifeline for people who have been bereaved by suicide. Our services include suicide bereavement support groups led by trained volunteers with lived experience of suicide loss, resources on grief after suicide, public events and webinars and advocacy and research focused on suicide bereavement support.

If you or someone you know is affected by suicide or suicide loss, please know that support is available. You can contact HUGG for suicide bereavement support on 01 513 4048 or email [email protected] or visit their website ⁠https://hugg.ie/,⁠ or if you are in crisis, you can reach out to Pieta: 1800 247 247 or ⁠https://www.pieta.ie/⁠ or the Samaritans: 116 123 or ⁠https://www.samaritans.org⁠

For people living in the North West of Ireland, you can contact North West Stop ⁠https://www.northweststop.ie/⁠ They offer a FREE Counselling Service. Call 0818 444 000

In this episode of Sligo PPN Community Voices, Val chats to Damien, who has been a member of the Sligo Drama Circle for 40 years. Hear all about the upcoming production of The Snapper, which takes place in the Hawk's Well Theatre from April 21st - 25th https://www.hawkswell.com/whats-on/shows/the-snapper

Sligo Drama Circle celebrate 70 years this year, and they are producing a book to commemorate the anniversary. You can hear more about it on the podcast.

Damien also speaks about the importance of being a member of Sligo PPN, and how the connections with other community groups have been so beneficial.

In this episode of Sligo Community Voices, Val chats to Lorna - The Learning and Public Engagement Curator of The Model, Sligo.

The Model is one of Ireland's most important contemporary arts centres with an extensive and vibrant programme of visual and performing arts.

Lorna hosts gallery tours of the exhibitions, she also facilitates drawing sessions in the gallery, and she tells Val more about the different events taking place, including Informal Music, Bump and Baby, Sligo Film Society, and more.

Please visit the website to find out more: https://www.themodel.ie/

*Please note, the Songs to the Siren exhibition has now closed.

In this episode Val chats to Aisling and Ruth from Sligo Disabled Person's Organisation.

The Sligo DPO are a group of disabled people working together towards disabled rights informed policy. Anyone over the age of 16, who identifies as disabled, is welcome to join.

Find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087089397676, or email [email protected]