So this is the summary page for stranded recommendations of things worth checking out in Sligo.  I’ll also tag each post with categories like walks or sligo so if you click on the categories on the bottom left you should get a shortcut to sligo things, or you might want to start with my Top 10 Things to Do in Sligo post.

If you want to get an up to date listing of things that are on head to stranded fave sligoevents for music/cultural listings, and whatsoninsligo for  general listings – the latter isn’t a very attractive site but it seems to do the job.

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The main places to check out for music/comedy/theatre/film/dance/art and what not are:

The Model - one of irelands leading contemporary arts centres which has music, film, exhibitions and great kids programmes, along with a great new restaurant from Conrad Gallagher. The Model is free in and has just undergone a pretty fantastic redevelopment so is worth going to see the building alone.  Check out their busy blog which runs along the main site with news and updates.

the factory - a contemporary theatre space, home to blue raincoat theatre company which also holds non-raincoat theatre, dance and music events

the hawkeswell theatre - the largest theatre in sligo with a busy programme of drama, childrens theatre, music and dance and a busy am-dram progamme

Cat and the Moon - local commercial gallery with a lovely craft/jewellery shop right in the centre of town. They’ve recently renamed the upstairs gallery as The Hamilton Gallery

If film is your thing The Model has a busy film programme of cultural cinema presented in association with the IFI. Info here>

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Other spots that often run music gigs are:

McGarrigles pub – on O’Connell St in Sligo. Has had a bit of a facelift in the past year and is a busy pub with a broad selection of gigs upstairs and trad sessions every Thursday at the moment. No site I can find but they’re on facebook

Barry’s of Grange – a brilliant pub and live venue about 20mins north of Sligo town. Regular trad and folk gigs are a speciality.

Tobergal Lane Cafe - this is a nice cafe/restaurant in the centre of town that also holds gigs upstairs as Tobergal Lane Club

Lots of the other pubs in Sligo have live music in them, best to follow your ears or check out sligomusic.ie which is a new test site of local listings and links. The local papers are good too and come out weekly; The Sligo Champion (Wednesdays) The Weekender (Tuesdays)

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Pubs:

For a great plain old pint try the terrific Hargadons on O’Connell St (snugs at the front are the most prized and the most packed), Not only do they rustle up a fine Guiness but they have a lovely selection of wine by the glass which comes from a proper wine bottle, and not one of the headache inducing mini-bottles, oh- and it comes in a proper wine glass too – more of that please.   Great lunch food and winner of Georgina Campbell’s Pub of the Year 2011.

For more “real” pints head to Connollys on Markievicz Road, or the old shop/pub side of Langs in Grange.

Strandhill is a world to itself and top pubs there are The Strand for lunch and night time shenanigans, The Venue for good pub dins with an ocean view. The Dunes (also in the top village) can be a great spot. Mostly a local crowd, and whatever surfers are staying in the Dunes B&B, it can vary from quiet pints to singing and dancing fun.

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Grub:

I say the best of the proper full on restaurant is Coach Lane.  It doesn’t hit the mark 100% of the time but when they do it’s amazing, and that’s most of the time. The wine list is great, the warm bread is fantastic, the fish is really good (when they lay off the heavy sauce) and I eat the Ostrich more times than I should.  Worth a try.

Conrad Gallagher has opened a new restaurant called Conrad’s Kitchen in the newly developed Model arts centre. I’ve been away for a few months so I haven’t had a chance to try it but have heard great things. They seem to do great combi deals with The Model’s film and events programme too.

If you want more casual dining, but great food, head for Tobergal Lane, or sister restaurant Osta on the waterfront- great for a sunny lunch. Lyons Cafe is a must visit for amazing irish brekkies and hearty self service lunches with homemade crumble. Old School charm with a clean edge.

Best coffee in town is from Cafe Arabica on the corner of Bridge Street. I love Cafe Victor but it’s teeny, so you musn’t go there between 12-2pm on a weekday or I won’t be able to get in! Also, I’m not telling you where it is, you’ll have to find it yourself.

One of the best Cafe’s in Sligo is actually in Strandhill - Shell’s Seaside Bakery. It’s full of home baked breads and cakes and has a perfect menu of tasty bits. Brunch on the weekend is a real treat and it’s location on the seafront is perfect for summer people watching.

Other good dining choices include Poppadoms (beautiful restaurant that is more on the creamy side of Indian cuisine than the hot side of things) and Sakura (Stephens Street Car Park) which is great for take away chinese.

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There are no end of great outdoor things to do in Sligo so I’ll get to these soonest. I’m talking walking up mountains (Benbulben or Knocknarea), getting to the beach (Streedagh, Mullaghmore,  Strandhill, Killaspugbrone, Culleenamore), wandering through a forest (Union Wood), finding a Waterfall (Glencar) a Magic Road or a Hidden Glen…

Have  little watch of this to whet your outdoorsy appetite: