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]

In this episode of the Sligo PPN Community Voices Podcast, Val chats to James and John from the Sligo Men's Shed.

Sligo Men's Shed welcome new members, aged 18 and over, to join them. They also welcome visitors to the shed, where they carry out a number of activities, including wood turning, gardening, and more.

They host music sessions every Thursday at 11am, and welcome all genders to join them, and play some tunes.

Please visit the website to find out more: https://menssheds.ie/sheds/sligo-mens-shed/

In this episode of Sligo Community Voices, Val talks to Clodagh - the chairperson and founder of Medb's Dragon Warriors Boat Club.

Founded in 2021, their members are Cancer Survivors & their Supporters. Their goal is to live well with, & beyond cancer, supporting each other through the team sport of Dragon Boating.

Find out more on their website: https://www.medbsdragonwarriors.com/

In this episode of the Sligo PPN Community Voices Podcast, Val chats to Breege Dolan, the manager of Sligo Volunteer Centre.

Breege talks about the 20th anniversary of Sligo Volunteer Centre, you can also hear about some interesting volunteering roles, including the Sligo Welcome Ambassadors.

The Sligo Volunteer Centre welcome people from all abilities to get involved in volunteering, and there are opportunities to suit everyone.

There's also a call for businesses to take part in corporate volunteering.

For more information about Sligo Volunteer Centre, please visit the website https://volunteersligo.ie/

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In this episode of Sligo Community Voices, Val speaks to Cat from Queer Shed, Sligo.

Queer Shed is based in Ard Voltas in Ballisodare, Co. Sligo, and provides a safe space by and for queer folks in Sligo and the North West.

They host a variety of events during the year, and people who identify as queer and allies are welcome to attend.

Find out more on their Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/queershedsligo/

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In this episode of the Sligo Community Voices Podcast, Val speaks to Gayle Nagle, co-founder and staff member of the Sligo Sudbury School, established in 2018 in Ireland as a democratic, self-directed education centre.

The mission of the school is to provide a safe environment where young people can engage in self-directed learning and democracy, where children are free to choose their own learning goals and pursue them at their own pace, while participating in a community of self-governance and justice where each member’s voice is equally valued and heard. https://sligosudburyschool.com/

Gayle speaks about the school and their plans and fundraising for a new building, and you can find out more about that here: https://sligosudburyschool.com/new-build/ She also talks about the benefits of being in the Sligo PPN.

They also have an original musical taking place in the Hawk's Well Theatre - Just One Song is on the 3rd and 4th of March.

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In this episode of the Sligo Community Voices Podcast, Val speaks to Heather Cassidy, Community Engagement Officer NW Alzheimer Society of Ireland, and Clair Culkin, the manager of the Alzheimers Day Care Centre Aughamore, Sligo.

You can find out more about the supports and services that Alzheimer Ireland offer families, and clients.

Clair also talks about their upcoming fundraising event - The Massive Sale of Work, taking place in the Sligo Park Hotel on February 15th, 2026.

Please visit the website to find out more about the supports and services available to people with dementia, and their families: https://alzheimer.ie/

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