The Sligo Feis Ceoil

The Sligo Feis Ceoil is a great old institution

The Sligo Feis Ceoil is a great old institution. How it has managed to survive for all these thirty-seven years, which have included two major wars and a domestic revolution, in which Sligo played an active part, is a mystery; but there it is; or, rather, here it is again, for I see that the Feis is being held next week as usual.

Eight hundred and fifty entries have been received - sixty more than last year's total - and the range of competitions is bewildering in its variety. Since it has been denied the use of the Town Hall, in consequence of the prior claims of the Feis Shligigh, the Feis Ceoil leads a kind of peripatetic existence. Some idea of its wide appeal may be gained from the fact that competitions are being held in the St. John's (Church of Ireland) Parochial Hall, the Gillooly (Roman Catholic) Memorial Hall, the Presbyterian Sunday School, and the Methodist Hall in Wine Street.

I notice, incidentally, that the Congregational Hall in Stephen's Street, is used as the Feis offices!

The Irish Times, April 12th, 1941