Sign O’ the Times? Sligo’s Leprechaun Questioned

Ron Wilshire

Ron Wilshire

Published June 16, 2019 4:29 am
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SLIGO, Pa. (EYT) — Should Sligo continue the tag line of “A Touch O’ Ireland” and a leprechaun to welcome people to the town?

Sligo Borough Council did not have a quorum for its regular monthly meeting in June, but it did hear a presentation about community signs by Rick Smerkar, a civil engineer from Licking Township.

Smerkar said communities have different types of signs that often project a community identity. Many are professionally produced on different material all of the way from the original Sligo wooden painted sign to colorful molded plastic. Costs could range from $500.00 to $5,000.00 and beyond.

“I wanted to thank you guys for giving me the opportunity, and I also wanted to thank you for past efforts because I know there has been work on signs in the past,” said Smerkar.  “For those that can remember, the first time in Sligo was a bear. I didn’t remember that until Janie told me there was one down in the basement.”

Smerkar’s assessment of the aging Sligo sign was that it is on wood, green, non-illuminated, three locations, crowded, a jumbled message, and tough to maintain.

He also presented other community signs and said design consideration would include size, locations, costs, life span, materials, installation methods, and maintenance.

Sligo, PA was named after County Sligo in Ireland.

Some on the council and the small audience seemed receptive to the idea of some type of new sign and still use the “Touch O’ Ireland” slogan but were not sold on keeping the leprechaun. The leprechaun on the current sign more resembles the mascot of Lucky Charms than any historical connection.

As far as “a touch o’ Ireland,” Sligo’s street signs do have shamrocks and the fire truck is green—with a leprechaun.

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