• Sligo Rovers Football Club, The Showgrounds, Church Hill (From Exiting the train station, cross the road and continue straight ahead up Wolfe Tone Street. At the end of the street turn right up Churchill - the ground is approx half a mile on the right.), ☎ (071) 917 1212 (secretary@sligorovers.com), [6].

• Model Arts and Niland Gallery, The Mall (From GPO, turn left. Cross the river, continue along Stephen Street, onto the Mall, gallery on left (total distance of 480 m (525 yd)).), ☎ (071) 914 1405 (info@modelart.ie, fax: (071) 914 3694), [7]. Tu-Sa: 10:00AM-5:30PM, Su: 11:00AM-4:00PM, M: Closed. Hosts fantastic permanent exhibition of Jack B. Yeats work (brother of the poet W.B. Yeats), along with local and travelling exhibitions. Beautiful Atrium Cafe (Bridgestone and Georgina Campbell guides recommended). Free wireless hotspot in the Cafe. Gallery exhibitions and visual events free, booking may be advisable for visual events; music, drama and comedy performances usually range from €10-€20.  edit

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• County Sligo Heritage and Genealogy Centre, Áras Reddan, Temple Street (From GPO, walk South down O'Connell Street for 200 m (220 yd), turn right onto John Street for 50 m (55 yd). Take left up Charles Street, and at the top (200 m (220 yd)) turn right onto Temple Street, Centre is on immediate right (total distance of 530 m (580 yd)).), ☎ (071) 914 3728 (info@sligoroots.com), [8]. Searching for your Sligo roots? The Centre offers a full service to enquirers whose ancestors hailed from County Sligo. edit

• Sligo Races, Sligo Racecourse, Cleveragh Road (From GPO, turn left. After 40 m (44 yd), turn right onto Rockwood Parade. Take second right at 140 m (153 yd) (opposite Footbridge), onto Water Lane. At top of lane (200 m (220 yd)), go straight up Market Street and High Street. At the top of the hill, bear left onto Burton Street, then turn right onto Pearse Road. Take third left after 400 m (435 yd) (opposite Bed & Breakfast houses) onto Cleveragh Road. Racecourse is 550 m (600 yd) on left (total distance of 1.6 km (1 mi)).), ☎ (071) 918 3342 (info@countysligoraces.com, fax: (071) 916 2484), [9]. 6-8 race meetings per year, from May to Sep. €15/€10 concessions (children free).  edit

• Sligo Abbey (Dominican Friary), Abbey Street (From the GPO, turn left. After 40 m (44 yd), before the river, turn right onto Rockwood Parade (alongside the river). Walk 140 m (150 yd) to the second right onto Water Lane, and at the top of the lane, 90 m (98 yd) turn left onto Castle Street. Walk 200 m (220 yd) onto Abbey Street, with Abbey on the left (total distance of 455 m (498 yd)).), ☎ (071) 914 6406 (sligoabbey@opw.ie, fax: (071)914 9909). daily 10AM-6PM (last admission 5:15PM). Closed from mid-Dec until Feb.. founded by Maurice Fitzgerald in 1253, destroyed by fire in 1414, rebuilt in its present form; the Abbey was burned in 1642 and everything valuable in it was destroyed. Much of the structure, including the choir, carved altar and cloisters remain. Adult:€2.10, Senior:€1.30, Student:€1.10, Family:€5.80, Group Rate:€1.30.  edit

• Famine Memorial, Quay Street Car-park (From the GPO, turn right. After 40 m (44 yd), turn right. Pass the City Hall on your right, Quayside Shopping Centre on your left, enter the car-park at the riverside (total distance of 270 m (295 yd)).). open all hours. One of a suite of three sculptures commissioned by the Sligo Famine Commemoration Committee to honour the victims of the Irish Potato Famine (1845–1849), when over 30,000 people emigrated through the port of Sligo, here commemorated by this sculprute.. A plaque in the background, headed 'Letter to America, January 2, 1850' tells one family's sad story. free.  edit

By air

• Aer Arann [1] operate two flights per day from Dublin (IATA: DUB) (40 minute flight) to Sligo Airport (IATA: SXL), and four flights per week from Manchester (IATA: MAN) airport (80 minutes).

Sligo airport Strandhill, but public transportation links are not great. Bus Éireann run buses (route 472) seven times a day (five times on Sa, not at all on Su) starting across the road from the bus station, picking-up and setting-down at the airport only on request. A taxi will cost you between €10 to €15, depending on number of passengers, time of day/night, Etc.

By rail

• Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann), Lord Edward Street, ☎ (071) 916 9888, [3]. operates seven trains per day Monday to Saturday (with an extra eighth train at 7.07AM Monday to Friday) and six trains on Sunday from Dublin's Connolly Station. The trip takes a little over 3 hours and adult prices range from €26 to €35 with price reductions for children under 12, students with valid student ID and free travel for children under 3. Oddly enough, the price for a return journey is exactly the same as for a single one. If your travelling days are variable, travel Monday to Thursday or Saturday, as tickets are more expensive on Friday and Sunday (the busier days). edit

By road

By bus

• Bus Éireann (Irish Bus), Lord Edward Street, ☎ (071) 916 0066, [4]. Buses or coaches operate throughout the day from most major towns/cities.
  

From Dublin: 6 buses daily M-Sa, 5 on Su and Public Holidays, journey time: 3 and a half to 4 hours.
From Galway: 6 buses daily M-Sa, 5 on Su and Public Holidays, journey time 2 and a half hours.
From Belfast: 3 buses daily M-Sa (change at Enniskillen), 2 on Su (change at Dungannon), journey time just under 4 hours.
Bus Éireann prices are approximately half that of the train but buses can be a bit stuffy! Similar concessions/price reductions apply as for train travel.  edit

• Feda O'Donnell Coaches (Bus Feda), ☎ (074) 954 8114 (busfeda@eircom.net), [5]. operate from Gweedore, County Donegal, and Galway as follows:

From Gweedore (via Letterkenny): 2 buses daily M-Sa, 3 on F, 3 on Su, journey time 3 hours 15 minutes. From Galway (Cathedral): 2 buses daily M-Sa, 4 on F, 4 on Su, journey time 2 hours. edit

By car

• From Dublin take the N4 road west (approx. 210 km (130 mi), 3 to 3 and a half hours).

• From Galway take the N17 road north (approx. 145 km (90 mi), 2 to 2 and a half hours).
• From Belfast, Blacklion (approx. 200 km (125 mi), 3 to 3 and a half hours).

Sligo town, at 12.9km² (5 sq mi), is small enough to walk from one end to the other in an hour.

Local buses

There are buses which run from the main bus station to Strandhill (Route 472) and Ballisodare, Strandhill and Rosses Point.

Parking

As in many parts of Ireland, parking spaces can be difficult to find, although most hotels and bed and breakfasts have their own free parking for residents only. If you wish to park in the town, there are a number of local authority operated car parks dotted around the town. To park in a public car park or on the street in most parts of the town centre, you must pay and display at the nearest meter. Parking costs €1.20 per hour (generally between the hours of 8:30AM-6:30PM. M-Sa, 12PM-6PM Su and Public holidays, although some locations have different pay times or days). Parking costs can be paid for by Euro coins, credit cards or mobile phone. You can prepay for your parking if you park outside these hours, i.e., If you leave you car overnight, you can pay for your parking from 8:30AM the next morning. Please note, if paying by coins, the machine does not give change, so you should try to have exact change available. You will, however, receive a parking disc for the remainder of the next hour, e.g., pay €2, and you get a disc for 1 hour 40 minutes. Some carparks allow for all-day parking at a special rate. The meters in these carparks will display this option. If you don't pay, or your time has run out, you may receive a parking ticket, with an on-the-spot fine of €40, or €80 if you park illegally in a wheelchair-user only zone (always marked, often with blue paint).

There are also some private car-parks which have different rates of payment (and different punishments if you don't pay). The (Catholic) Cathedral, for example, uses barriers, with payment of €3 when leaving the car-park. If you can leave your car until church services (mass) times, you may be able to leave without paying (but do you want to cheat the church?) Parking at Sligo General Hospital is metered, and costs €2.40 for up to four hours, or €4 for up to 24 hours. The local bus (Route 478) passes just outside the hospital every 20 minutes during the day, and costs 70 cent to bring you into town. If you don't pay for your parking at this carpark you are liable to be clamped, with a release fee of €65.

Most of the shops in Sligo are concentrated in a small area, based around O'Connell Street, Wine Street and Grattan Street. It also has a two new shopping centres, Johnston Court [11] and The Quayside [12]. The town has a huge range of the normal High Street shops, including most of the Irish and British chains. These include clothing, grocery, electronics, books, music, sports, fotwear, Etc., Etc. Apart from all of those, there are a number of one-off shops in Sligo, which make it well worth the visit. Just a small selection of these is outlined below.

• The Cat and The Moon (Goldsmiths, Irish Craft Boutique and Art Gallery), 4 Castle Street (From GPO, turn left. After 40 m (44 yd), turn right onto Rockwood Parade alongside river, take second right onto Water lane, then left into Castle Street. Shop is 50 m (55 yd) on left (total distance of 320 m (350 yd)).), ☎ (071) 914 3686 (info@thecatandthemoon.com, fax: (071) 914 3686), [13]. M-Sa: 9AM-6PM. stocks a wide range of hand-made gold and silver jewellery (from their own workshop), both for retail sale and specially commissioned articles. The Irish Craft Boutique also features a huge selection of other Irish-made jewellery, glass, ceramics, textiles, furniture and handcrafts. The Art Gallery (upstairs) hosts regular exhibitions, usually promoting young local and other Irish Artists. edit

• Michael Kennedy Ceramics, Market Cross (From GPO, turn left. After 40 m (44 yd), turn right onto Rockwood Parade alongside river, take second right onto Water lane, then up the hill to shop on left (total distance of 300 m (328 yd)).), ☎ (071) 914 8844 (Gort, County Galway edit

• Kate's Kitchen (Hopper and Pettit), 3 Castle Street (From GPO, turn left. After 40 m (44 yd), turn right onto Rockwood Parade alongside river, take second right onto Water Lane, then left onto Castle Street. Shop is 40 m on left (total distance of 310 m (340 yd)).) (info@kateskitchensligo.com), [15]. m-Sa: 9AM-6PM. Fabulous Delicatessen, with all types of food catered for, from home-baked hams to some of the finest chutneys, preserves known to man. Also contains a separate toiletries area (Hopper and Pettit), specialising in Crabtree & Evelyn and other fine ranges. edit

The choice of good quality restaurants in Sligo has improved immensely over the last few years. Please note, that all the hotels listed in the Sleep section below also have restaurants, and many have carvery lunches served at the bar.

Budget

• Cafe Mauds, Unit 26, Quayside Shopping Centre (turn right at GPO, after 40 m (44 yd) turn right again onto Quay Street, entry to Quayside Shopping Centre is 120 m (130 yd) on the left-hand side (total distance of 156 m (170 yd)).), ☎ (071) 912 8447 (fax: (071) 912 8447), [16]. M-W 9:30AM-5:30PM, Th-F 9:30AM-7PM, Sa 9:30AM-6PM, Su noon-5.30PM. wraps, sandwiches, crepes, coffee, award winning ice-cream edit

• Eurobar, Stephen Street Car Park (Turn left at the GPO, cross Hyde Bridge. After 200 m (219 yd) opposite the County Library, at the side of the Bank of Ireland, enter Stephen Street car park on the right, Eurobar is on the left (total distance of 264 m (289 yd).), ☎ (071) 916 1788. Multi Bridgestone Award Winner. It's all about the coffee here, with Double Roasted Illy Coffee Beans, but only light snacks available to eat with your coffee. edit

• Java Riverside Café, 4 Rockwood Parade (Turn left at the GPO, walk 40 m (44 yd) and turn right down Rockwood Parade (alongside the river). Java is 230 m (252 yd) on right (total distance of 275 m (300 yd)).), ☎ (071) 914 9845 (fax: (071) 914 9845). M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM. Top quality hand-made sandwiches, wraps, Etc., and good coffee. Takeaways available. Busiest between 1PM-2PM edit

• Pepper Alley, Rockwood Parade (Turn left at GPO, walk 40 m (44 yd) and turn right down Rockwood Parade (alongside the river). Pepper Alley is 150 m (164 yd) on right (total distance of 195 m (213 yd)).), ☎ (071) 917 0720 (fax: (071) 917 0720). Busy sandwich bar, (especially at lunchtime) with some hot food also available. edit

Mid-range

• Poppadom Restaurant, 34 O'Connell Street (From the GPO, walk south down O'Connell Street, restaurant is 80 m (88 yd) on the left, Over Liber Bookshop), ☎ (071) 914 7171, [17]. Su-Th: 5:30PM-11PM, F-Sa: 5:30PM-midnight. Bridgestone best Indian Restaurant from 1999-2004, top quality Asian food, good mix of Indian, Thai, Indonesian, Etc edit

• Fiddler's Creek, Rockwood Parade (Turn left at GPO, walk 40 m (44 yd) and turn right down Rockwood Parade (alongside the river). Fiddler's Creek is 150 m (164 yd) on right (total distance of 195 m (213 yd))), ☎ (071) 914 1866 (restaurant@fiddlerscreek.ie, fax: (071) 914 1864), [18]. daily: lunch: noon-7:30PM; restaurant: 7PM-10PM; bar food: 5:30PM-9:45PM. Steaks, chicken, pasta dishes. Speedy, friendly service, busy especially at weekends. Separate menu also available at the bar. (Please note, e-mail address is NOT for bookings) edit

• Mardees, 25 Castle Street (From GPO, turn left, walk 40 m (44 yd) and turn right down Rockwood parade (alongside the river). After 140 m (153 yd) turn right onto Water lane. At the top of the Lane, turn left onto Castle Street, restaurant is 70 m (77 yd) on the right, over the Centra supermarket (total distance of 345 m (377 yd)).), ☎ (071) 914 7637. New restaurant, with small but interesting menu, bright decor, very friendly efficient staff. edit

• Bistro Bianconi, O'Connell Street (From the GPO, walk south down O'Connell Street, past Tobergal Lane on the left, restaurant is 150 m (164 yd) on the left.), ☎ (071) 914 1744, [19]. M-Sa: lunch: 12:30PM-2:30PM, dinner: 5:30PM-late. Award winning Pizza and Italian restaurant. Very friendly staff, owner Pat Grimes always on hand to assist with your choices. All pizzas baked in a traditional wood oven (visible from the street). Complete menu available as take-away from High Street branch; Phone (071) 914-7000. edit

• Café Bar Deli (The Leftbank), 15 rear Stephens Street (From the GPO, turn left, cross Hyde Bridge. Immediately after the bridge, enter the riverside walk (keeping the river on your right). Restaurant is on the left, over the Garavogue bar (total distance of 115 m (126 yd)).), ☎ (071) 914 0100 (sligo@cafebardeli.ie, fax: (071) 914 0104), [20]. W-SU: 6:00PM-10:00PM. Overlooking the Garavogue river, Café Bar Deli has some of the the best views in Sligo town. Serves good quality Mediterranean food, pizza, pasta, Etc. Staff always welcoming and friendly. Bookings not usually required, although large groups may need to call ahead. edit

• Lemongrass Restaurant, Clarence Hotel, Wine Street (From the GPO, turn right, pass Quay Street, and Clarence Hotel is on right, past entry to Wine Street Car Park), ☎ (071) 911 0023, [21]. Part of a chain of Asian restaurants, good value. Great for groups of friends or family, with plenty of large tables, and numerous platters on the menu, designed for sharing! edit

Splurge

• Coach Lane (Donaghy's Bar), 1-2 Lord Edward Street (From the GPO, turn right, and walk 300 m (328 yd) through three sets of traffic lights. Restaurant is over Donaghy's Pub, on the left-hand side of the road, just before the Inner Relief Road (N4 road) (total distance of 311 m (340 yd)).), ☎ (071) 916 2417. 5PM-10PM daily. Offers some unusual dishes (e.g., ostrich with marsala); lots of local produce, including steaks, lobster, salmon. Also plenty of salads, pasta and chicken dishes. Cooking style ranges from traditional to spicy and much in between. edit

Bars/Pubs

• Fiddler's Creek, Rockwood Parade (Turn left at GPO, walk 40 m (44 yd) and turn right down Rockwood Parade (alongside the river). Fiddler's Creek is 150 m (164 yd) on right (total distance of 195 m (213 yd))), ☎ (071) 914 1866 (jimmy@fiddlerscreek.ie, fax: (071) 914 1864), [22]. Very lively bar, especially at weekends. In-house DJ and live bands 4 or 5 nights a week, also show all major live sporting events on large screens. edit

• The Leftbank, 15/16 Rear Stephen's Street (From the GPO, turn left, cross Hyde Bridge. Immediately after the bridge, enter the riverside walk (keeping the river on your right). Restaurant is on the left, over the Garavogue bar (total distance of 115 m (126 yd)).), ☎ (071) 914 0100 (info@leftbank.ie), [23]. Large "Super-pub", nice relaxed atmosphere in the afternoon (especially on sunny weekends, with outdoor tables), and very busy live music venue later in the evening. edit

• McGarrigles, 11 O'Connell Street (From the GPO, walk south down O'Connell Street, bar is opposite Tobergal Lane on the right (total distance of 127 m (139 yd)).), ☎ (071) 917 1193.  edit

• McHughs, Grattan Street (From the GPO, walk south down O'Connell Street, turn left at the top of the street (200 m (218 yd)) onto Grattan Street, bar is on the right (total distance of 220 m (241 yd)).), ☎ (071) 914 2030.  edit

• Shoot The Crows, Market Cross, Grattan Street (Turn left at GPO, walk 40 m (44 yd) and turn right onto Rockwood Parade. After 140 m (153 yd) turn right onto Water lane. At top of lane, turn right onto Grattan Street, Bar is first on right (total distance of 282 m (308 yd)).), ☎ (071) 916 2554 (uisce@shootthecrows.ie), [24]. Old Sligo pub (founded 1876) with an eccentric past (not least where the name comes from!), long narrow pub, the music collection reflects the eclectic tastes of the owner, Ronan "Uisce" Waters, comprising of Latin, Soul, Motown, Jazz, Funk, Blues, Reggae, Punk, Afrobeat and Irish Traditional among others, and the most unusual front window you've ever seen.  edit

• The Stables (O'Hehir's), Wine Street (From the GPO, turn right, pub is on the left, about 90 m (98 yd).), ☎ (071) 914 2280.  edit

Nightclubs

• Envy Nightclub (NV), Teeling Street (Turn left at GPO, walk 40 m (44 yd) and turn right onto Rockwood Parade. After 140 m (153 yd) turn right ont oWater Lane. At top of lane, turn left onto Castle Street, and turn right after 120 m (131 yd) turn right onto Teeling Street, club is 70 m (77 yd) on the left (total distance of 468 m (512 yd)).), ☎ (071) 914 4721 (info@envy.ie), [25]. Tu-Su: 11:30PM-Late. With four bars and three dance floors, this is a busy club, especially catering to students of the near-by Institute of Technology, Sligo. €6-€12 depending on night.  edit

• Toffs Nightclub, J.F.K Parade (Turn left at GPO, walk 40 m (44 yd) and turn right onto Rockwood Parade. Walk the length of the parade, cross Thomas Street, club is on the right (total distance of 360 m (394 yd)).), ☎ (071) 916 1250. Th-Su: 11:00PM-Late.  edit

• Velvet Room Nightclub, Kempten Promenade (Turn left at GPO, walk 40 m (44 yd) and turn right onto Rockwood Parade. Walk the length of the parade, turn left after 200 m (219 yd), cross bridge, then immediate right onto Kempten Promenade. Club is on the left (total distance of 400 m (437 yd)).), ☎ (071) 914 4721 (info@velvetroom.ie), [26]. Sligo's newest Nightclub, on two levels, four bars, two dance floors, gears itself towards the twenty-something, more discerning clubber. edit