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Locrawl

Sligo

Sligo (Sligeach in Irish, meaning shelly place) is the principal town in County Sligo in Northwest Ireland & Lakelands. In 2022 it had a population of 21,000, with the service sector the main employer.

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Do
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Eat
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Drink
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Buy
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20 places

  1. See

    Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery

    Remarkable ritual landscape with some 30 tombs dating to 3700-3000 BC; they're passage tombs but with atypical features.

    Mar-Nov daily 10AM-5PMAdult €5, conc €4, child €3

  2. See

    Creevelea Abbey

    Substantial ruin of a Franciscan Friary established in 1508. In spite of formal dissolution of the Order and ousting by Cromwell's forces, the friars retained a presence until 1837.

    24 hrsFree

  3. See

    Parke's Castle

    This is just across the boundary into County Leitrim, but easiest to reach from Sligo — boat trips of the lough call here. It's a 17th-century fortified manor house built over the 15th-century O'Rourke's Castle. It fell derelict but was restored by OPW in the 20th century.

    Apr-Oct daily 10AM-5PMAdult €5, child €3, conc €4

  4. See

    Sligo Abbey

    The abbey was founded in 1253, destroyed by fire in 1414, rebuilt but sacked in 1642. In the 19th century the last friars left to nearby Holy Cross, but the building was restored, and the choir, carved altar and cloisters are impressive. Yeats set two short stories here.

    Apr-Dec daily 10AM-5PMAdult €5, conc €4, child €3

  5. Do

    Sligo Races

    Stages National Hunt and flat racing, with 8 meetings May-Oct. It's a right-hand course with a one-mile circuit.

    Adult €20, under 14 free

  6. Do

    Sligo Rovers FC

    Rovers play soccer in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland, the Republic's top tier. The season is March to November and games are usually Friday evenings. The stadium, capacity 5500, is 200 m west of the bus station.

  7. See

    The Model

    Niland Collection

    Contemporary art gallery named for the "model school" in this building 1862-1970s. The permanent exhibition is the Niland Collection, which majors on the paintings of Jack B Yeats, brother of the poet WB Yeats. Plus other temporary exhibitions of visual art, plus music.

    Thu-Sat 11AM-5PMFree

  8. Eat Not mapped

    Bistro Bianconi

    Cheerful pizzeria and Italian restaurant. Carlo Bianconi (1786-1875) lived in Clonmel Tipperary, and set up regular stagecoach routes across Ireland.

    Tue-Sat 5-9PM

  9. Eat Not mapped

    Coach Lane

    Donaghy's Bar

    Donaghy's Bar is at street level, with bar meals. Coach Lane restaurant is upstairs, offers European classics majoring on steak. Vegetarians have little choice but omnivores post great reviews for food and service.

    Thu-Mon 2-9PM

  10. Do Not mapped

    County Sligo Heritage and Genealogy Centre

    Look up your Sligo ancestors — former US Vice President Mike Pence, the founder of Chile and a noble Goon all have roots here — but do your homework first with online resources. All Ireland's births, marriages and deaths are online from 1864, see Ireland for other resources you might search. The Centre offers assistance but you pay for their time, and you need to book a slot.

    Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM

  11. Eat Not mapped

    Kate's Kitchen

    Deli and gourmet cafe. They also sell kitchenware and toiletries.

    Tue-Sat 8AM-4:30PM

  12. Drink Not mapped

    Lola Montez

    An "intimate late night bar" named for the 19th-century courtesan from County Sligo.

    Sat 11PM-2AM

  13. Drink Not mapped

    McLynn's

    A traditional Irish bar with music and an old-style setting, a family business since 1889. Roaring open fire in winter and beer garden in summer.

    Wed Thu Sun 7-11:30PM, Fri Sat 5PM-12:30AM

  14. Eat Not mapped

    Poppadom

    A few Thai and Indonesian dishes but mostly classic Indian. Gets very mixed reviews for food and service.

    Daily 4PM-midnight

  15. Drink Not mapped

    Shoot The Crows

    Grand pub founded 1876 in the days when a bounty was paid for shooting crows, on production of the bodies. Times were hard so the understanding publican accepted shot crows as payment, which he could exchange himself for cash or whatever. There's trad music three nights a week and an eclectic collection of other music. No you're not drunk, the place really is built at those peculiar angles.

    Daily 5-11:30PM

  16. See Not mapped

    St John the Baptist Cathedral

    Cathedral of St Mary the Virgin and St John the Baptist

    This was the Church of Ireland (Anglican) parish church from the 1730s. The diocese was based in Elphin in Roscommon until 1961, but that building was far from its congregation and was damaged by storms in 1957, so the Sligo church became the cathedral.

  17. Buy Not mapped

    The Cat and The Moon

    They stock a wide range of hand-made gold and silver jewellery from their own workshop, plus other local crafts and giftware.

    Mon-Sat 9AM-6PM

  18. See Not mapped

    Yeats Society

    This houses a display on WB Yeats. They also organise cultural events such as the annual summer school.

    Wed-Sat 11AM-4PM

  19. See

    Sligo Cathedral

    Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

    Romanesque Catholic cathedral completed in 1874.

    Daily 7AM-10PM

  20. Drink Not mapped

    Swagman Bar

    Good beer, food and atmosphere.

    Mon-Sat 10:30AM-11:30PM, Sun 11AM-11PM