Margaret's Guidebook based on a lovely write up in the Irish Times by Fionn Davenport
Margaret
Margaret's Guidebook based on a lovely write up in the Irish Times by Fionn Davenport
Golf
Strandhill Golf Club
Golf Course RoadA spot of golf.
Surfing
Strandhill Surf School
Surfing for all.
Sligo Surf Experience
Shore RoadSurf schools
Food Scene
Visit to Shells (seafront; shellscafe.com), which has outdoor seating
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Shells Cafe
Visit to Shells (seafront; shellscafe.com), which has outdoor seating
ice cream from Mammy Johnston’s (mammyjohnstons.org) highly recommended –
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Mammy Johnston's
Shore Road ice cream from Mammy Johnston’s (mammyjohnstons.org) highly recommended –
Sligo Oyster Experience
10 Stephen StSightseeing
Want some more Yeats connections? Climb to the top of Dooney Rock, a limestone knoll on the southern shores of Lough Gill, about 7km southeast of Sligo town on the R287 and it’s a gentle 1.2km stroll (the lakeshore is dotted with little beaches and is a great spot for a swim).
There are gorgeous views of the lake from the top, including the pint-sized Innisfree, which alas you can’t actually arise and go to or explore the bee-loud glade, as per WB Yeats’s poem. But there’s something magical about the whole scene, especially at sundown: for added mysticism you can recite Yeats’s The Fiddler of Dooney and “dance like a wave of the sea”. You wouldn’t be the first.
Dooney Rock
Cleveragh DriveWant some more Yeats connections? Climb to the top of Dooney Rock, a limestone knoll on the southern shores of Lough Gill, about 7km southeast of Sligo town on the R287 and it’s a gentle 1.2km stroll (the lakeshore is dotted with little beaches and is a great spot for a swim).
There are gorgeous views of the lake from the top, including the pint-sized Innisfree, which alas you can’t actually arise and go to or explore the bee-loud glade, as per WB Yeats’s poem. But there’s something magical about the whole scene, especially at sundown: for added mysticism you can recite Yeats’s The Fiddler of Dooney and “dance like a wave of the sea”. You wouldn’t be the first.
Strandhill’s best hike, the 6km Queen Maeve trail that starts opposite Sligo Rugby Club and brings you to the summit of the 300m-high Knocknarea, crowned by the cairn that is believed to be the burial site of Queen Maeve herself (the site has never been excavated, despite speculation there might be a Newgrange-sized tomb here). Neolithic mysteries aside, the views from the top – of Benbulben, Rosses Point and the crashing Atlantic beyond – are wonderful. Just don’t touch the rocks!
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Queen Maeve's Grave
Strandhill’s best hike, the 6km Queen Maeve trail that starts opposite Sligo Rugby Club and brings you to the summit of the 300m-high Knocknarea, crowned by the cairn that is believed to be the burial site of Queen Maeve herself (the site has never been excavated, despite speculation there might be a Newgrange-sized tomb here). Neolithic mysteries aside, the views from the top – of Benbulben, Rosses Point and the crashing Atlantic beyond – are wonderful. Just don’t touch the rocks!
Mullaghmore
Surfing, great beachs, fishing boats and a famous castle
Cullenamore Beach
A beautiful child friendly beach close to the cottage.
Wellness
seaweed baths at Voya (voyaseaweedbaths.com) next door, which has seamlessly Covid-proofed its whole booking system to minimise in-person contact (online questionnaire, lots of plexiglass and a one-way system) while keeping the whole bath experience intact
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Voya Seaweed Baths
Shore Road seaweed baths at Voya (voyaseaweedbaths.com) next door, which has seamlessly Covid-proofed its whole booking system to minimise in-person contact (online questionnaire, lots of plexiglass and a one-way system) while keeping the whole bath experience intact
Consejos para la ciudad
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Art exhibits
The impressive collection of modern and contemporary art at the Model (themodel.ie) is worth the trip alone; this year it’s celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Jack B Yeats with a series of exhibitions that run right until the end of September.
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Sea Trails
You can deepen your Yeats knowledge with a guided walk courtesy of Auriel Robinson at Seatrails (seatrails.ie), or you can ditch the arts altogether in favour of a horseback ride on the beach or a themed walk around geology or the Spanish Armada. With multiple degrees and years of heritage experience, Auriel knows of which she speaks.
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Hargadon's pub
Treat yourself to a fine meal at the wonderful Hargadon’s (4/5 O’Connell Street; hargadons.com) – its uneven flagstone floors and roaring peat fires are everything an Irish pub should be.