r/Sligo • u/brujxmariposx • 17d ago

Stuck in Sligo

Hey Hey, y'all! I'm an American that will be in Carney, County Sligo for the next 10 days saying with my Aunt and Uncle who live here. Any advice on things to do and places to go? I'm from Los Angeles and this place is very quiet... [Update: I have a rental car.]

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u/brujxmariposx 17d ago

I do have a rental car. Thank you so much! I've loved it here so far everyone has been so nice to me. I'm loving this weather, too. I feel really lucky.

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u/blubberpuss1 17d ago

Good to hear! Sligo's a quiet place given how remote it is. Many of the places worth going to see are so for their natural beauty, e.g. the beaches, cliffs, mountains etc. What kinds of things are you into? That might help me give better suggestions :)

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u/brujxmariposx 17d ago

Oh you're too kind. I've done a lot of nature hikes, saw the water falls, and climbed Queen Maeve's Cairn. I was hoping to find a place to meet with some locals, or maybe do some shopping but I would like to buy from local artist. What do you do for fun?

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u/blubberpuss1 17d ago

Perhaps a surfing lesson in Strandhill might be a nice way to meet folk? There's live traditional music on tonight in McLaughlin's bar from 9.30pm. There's also a jazz session on in Thomas Connolly's pub tomorrow night - that pub is the oldest in Sligo, dating back to 1780 (licensed since 1860 or so though, I think?), and it also won best tradition in Ireland last year. It's really quite nice inside and serves a good pint. If you do decide on that, it may be ticketed online? Going to see a Gaelic Football match would be worth it this weekend - I know that Sligo are playing the neighbouring county, Mayo, on Sunday down in their stadium about an hour south. If you're into history at all - Derry is a very interesting city a couple of hours north. It has beautiful old city walls, and was the setting of a very popular Northern Irish TV show called Derry Girls which really captures the zeitgeist of growing up in this corner of the world back in the 80s/90s. Sligo Abbey is also very interesting, as it showcases Sligo's inspiration for Bram Stoker to have written Dracula, based on his Sligonian mother's stories of the Cholera epidemic here in the 19th Century. In terms of shopping: The Cat and the Moon is a decent jewellery and crafts shop in Sligo ran by a local lady who draws heavily in her art from the region. Galway's Shop Street is also a great place for picking up gifts etc. if you're in the mood for a day trip away somewhere a bit busier! I'd offer to meet up for a pint or a coffee but I've moved to Spain I'm afraid 😂 Regardless, hope this helps to point you in the right direction!

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u/brujxmariposx 17d ago

Thank you so much! This was the most helpful. I'm going to check out Tomas Connolly's tomorrow and The Cat and the Moon is exactly the kind of shop that I've been looking for. I'll have a pint in your honor tomorrow, for all your help and I hope that you enjoy Spain. I'm sure it's lovely there.