Hi Curlywee.

 I just read your entry on the Sligo Town forum, and one name in particular brought back some memories, that was Straightback.

Straightback, who's surname was Carroll, I can't remember his first name, died about 2 or 3 years ago, I think it was from pnumonia.

God love him, he wasn't the full whack! and I think a lot of the schoolchildren knew that, as they used to call him names and get him really angry, to the point where he'd chase them up the street, threatenening to hit or even kill them if he caught them.

He took it upon himself to regularly direct traffic around the area of the bus station entrance, though he caused more confusion and near accidents than he did to relieve the traffic problems.

Some schoolchildren were giving him a really bad time one day, and he was spitting fury at them, though he couldn't leave his duty, as he called it, at the station entrance. He had to call for (imaginary) backup, so he took out a womans purse and held it to his mouth and radioed for reinforcements from the Garda Barrack's.

Another day, a fellow taxi driver was talking to him and Straightback said he was on 24 hour duty directing traffic at the station entrance.

Poor old straightback has gone but he won't be forgotten fora long time, he's probably directing traffic at the pearly gates now.

Hi Jim
I came from sligo holbron street and I know all the men that you were talking about ,My dad martin Cawley was one of the men that stood at the postoffice and the bank,  And poor straight back RIP he  was one on his own.
I also knew george the icecream man we live in the same street has him benbulben terrace and yes these were poor days but the best we all went to the hill schoolyou might know me I am now in my late 60th and I still go back to sligo every year  it has changed a lot with years but still good old sligo town ,
Cheers
Sligo Girl 

Hi all,

My Dad knew Straightback (I think he was one of those pesky school kids lol!) His name is Sean Langan and he lived at Church Hill.

Hi I just found this site my chance. I grew up in Sligo in the 1950s, what briliant, innocent times they were.  I have so many memories (happy ones) when Sligo was just a small town and we seemed to know everyone in it.
I remember Straightback, what a character. Bless him, also anyone remember Jimmy Ward and not forgetting Allowiches (sorry probably spelt wrong) they had such good souls and I am sure they are sadly missed by the older people in Sligo. 

Havent been back there for many years and from what I hear, dont like all the changes, but thats life and progress, I guess.

I lived in old Cartron and used to play in Nelsons fields, alas all houses now.

Just thought I would walk down memory lane for a few minutes.

bye for now xxxx

Hi Sligo Girl and oldcartrongirl
Good to hear from you.  Yes Sligo was a great place in the 1950s.  Everyone knew everyone.  No one had much money but as you say we were happy enough.  I have to say there was this myth about people who lived on The Hill being tough and we were afraid to go up there but it was totally without foundation.  I remember the Moran brothers, I forget the name of the street they lived in but you couldn't have met nicer people - real Sligo people.  I knew them from the Junior Branch of the Legion of Mary which met once a week in the Gilooly Hall. There were others but I can no longer remember their names.  I think Paddy Foran was headteacher at the Hill School at one time but I think that was much later.  I can't remember the proper name of the school.  Some of those houses had/have fantastic views over the Garavogue Estuary and Sligo Bay.  Do you remember the fishermen with their nets in the estuary? They would row out with the nets trailing behind and row in a wide circle and then come back to the shore where they attached one end of the net to a machine a bit like a large wringer on metal legs.  They turned a handle on the machine which pulled the net in and trapped lots of fish in the shrinking circle.  As it got closer to the shore you could see the fish- salmon I think - leaping out of the water trying to get away.  The other men would be there in their thigh length rubber boots collecting the fish.  I can't remember how they took them away but I do remember them going up the very steep steps from the Point road.   I wonder if they still fish there using nets.
Happy Memories
curlywee

Where are you Curlywee,Did you get my reply

sligogirl