Sligo Institute of Technology students prevented from holding graduation celebrations in a marquee.
After months of planning, preparation and considerable expense, organisers of the Institute of Technology (IT), Sligo graduation weekend are blocked from holding the celebrations in a marquee in Strandhill.
The marquee outside the town was due to house a dance event involving Ministry of Sound club DJs from London. The graduation ball with a band and local DJ was also to be held there.
Vice-president of the Students' Union in IT Sligo Pat Shovlin explains why plans for the graduation weekend had to change at the last minute.
The Students' Union withdrew their application for a dance licence claiming Gardaí warned them they would object vehemently to the event.
An Garda Síochána decline to give the grounds for their objections.
The Students' Union claims the cancellation of the dance event will cost them £12,000. They now have to transfer the graduation ball for 900 students from the hired marquee to a night club in Castlerea, County Roscommon.
Albeit over 40 miles away, it seems the students will go to the ball.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 6 November 1998. The reporter is Annette O'Donnell.
