Sligo Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Trailblazing Ann focused on boosting housing, connectivity and Sligo’s energy infrastructure

Ann Butler may be the first Deputy President in the more than 100-year history of Sligo Chamber of Commerce, but the Ballina native insists that the lack of precedent will not inhibit her advocacy for local businesses.

Along with twin sister Deirdre, Ann took over Higgins Pharmacy at Market Cross and Teeling Street in the Sligo town in 2016. The pair have since overseen a period of innovation for the business, modernising its operations through the introduction of a platform for online sales and appointment booking and sales. They have also introduced services for vaccinations and blood testing, along with an app.

She believes her 20 years’ experience in community pharmacy will stand to her in her role as a support to Sligo Chamber President Fintan Kennedy.

“I’m there to directly support Fintan and, more broadly, the businesses of Sligo. I can be there for them because I’ve been a business owner, I know a lot of people involved in business across the county, and I’m always prepared to advocate for them,” she says.

There are three key priorities for the incoming team – expanding housing availability in the county, enhancing connectivity by advocating for better roads and public transport infrastructure, and building out energy infrastructure, such as EV charging points, to support growth and secure Sligo’s economic future.

Ann is particularly focused on increasing the availability of accommodation for students at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Sligo.  

“The ATU is offering lots of new courses in things like pharma and architecture. That will attract greater numbers of students to the town, which is great, but housing will be key to sustaining the growth of the ATU and the prosperity it brings to the town and surrounding areas,” she says, adding that increasing the provision of housing for students will have a positive impact on Sligo Chamber’s other priorities.

“Making more accommodation available to students reduces the numbers travelling to university from elsewhere in the North West, which reduces the level of traffic on the road and increases connectivity. All these pieces are connected to a certain extent so, if we make progress on one, we can make progress on all of them.”

Ann points to Sligo Chamber’s centenary celebrations last year as an example of its positive work promoting life in the Yeats County.

“We celebrated 100 years last year and produced a great viral video showcasing Sligo as a place to live, with great countryside and the sea. To really capitalise on that work, we need more housing, we need better roads and public transport, and we need to ensure that there’s adequate energy infrastructure to support the future economy.”