Strandhill People’s Market is one of Ireland’s most successful rural markets — and it's under threat.

Due to a hangar at Sligo Airport being reassigned, the market has been forced to close. Over 160 active traders, many of whom rely on the market as their primary source of income, have been displaced. The closure has had an immediate ripple effect — on local jobs, footfall in cafes and shops, and the wider community.

We are calling on the Irish Government, the board at Sligo Airport, Sligo County Council and relevant authorities to act immediately and secure a solution that allows the market to return to its long-standing home in Hangar 1.

The traders fully support the essential work of the rescue helicopter service and are not seeking to disrupt its operations. However, it’s clear that the current overlap — with both the outgoing and incoming service providers occupying hangar space — was not originally intended and has created an avoidable blockage. We believe there are fair and practical solutions that would allow both services to co-exist during this interim period.

Specifically, were asking for support in exploring:

1. That both helicopter services share Hangar 4 which has two bays for helicopters until such a time as only one operator remains on site.
2. That Hangar 1 be returned to the market for the duration of this transitional period.
3. That a temporary hangar be constructed to house the light aircraft currently occupying Hangar 1.

Why this matters:
- Over 2,000 small and micro-businesses have traded at the market since its inception 11 years ago.
- Many traders have gone on to open cafés, restaurants, and shops starting with a stall at the market. 
- The market welcomes 2,000–3,500 visitors every Sunday, with an estimated €3 million in annual local economic impact.
-Over 20 nationalities trade weekly, including many newcomers to Ireland who’ve built livelihoods here.
-It is Sligo’s biggest weekly tourism-facing event and a critical part of the West’s rural economy and social life.

• Since the closure, local businesses — from coffee shops to service stations — have seen a drop in trade. Traders are letting staff go. Families are losing income. And a community has lost a gathering space that has served as a meeting point for the young, the old, locals, and tourists alike.

At a time when tourism numbers are down by 30% and small businesses across Ireland are under pressure, we should be backing our own — not blocking them. Now more than ever, community matters. Let’s protect this market, this space, and this spirit. Please sign and share.