These are the top three places in the annual tidy towns competition in Ireland’s county Sligo
- 1st: Riverstown – A charming village acting as a southern gateway to Sligo’s adventure region, offering excellent fishing on the River Unshin and serene walks in the nearby Killykeenamen Wood. It’s a perfect, peaceful base for exploring Yeats Country.
- 2nd: Sligo Town – The vibrant cultural capital of the northwest, beautifully situated between Sligo Bay and the iconic Benbulben. Visitors are drawn to its rich literary connections to W.B. Yeats, the superb Sligo Abbey, and its lively music and cafe scene.
- 3rd: Coolaney/Rockfield – Locatedd at the foot of the Ox Mountains, this tidy village offers stunning hill-walking and cycling trails. It’s known for its strong community spirit, traditional craftsmanship, and as a tranquil spot for exploring Sligo’s rugged inland landscapes.
The awards ceremony for the Connacht counties in the Restaurant of the Year awards took place on Tuesday 8th April, at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Rosses Point, County Sligo. The Sligo winners were:
- Overall: Eala Bhán, Sligo
- Casual Dining: Shells Cafe
- Chef: Paudie O’Brien, The Driftwood
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Lyons Café
- Customer Service: Davis’ Restaurant & Yeats Tavern
- Employee Excellence Award: N/A
- Gastro Pub: Austies Pub & Kitchen
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Markree Castle
- Innovator: The Little Cottage Cafe
- Local Food Hero: The Food Trail Network
- Newcomer: Oak Moon Cafe
- Pub: Shoot the Crows
- Restaurant Manager: Declan Harrison, Harrison’s Bar & Restaurant
- Sustainable Practices: Honestly Farm Kitchen
- Use of Social Media: Hooked
- Wine Experience: Lyons Café
- World Cuisine: Stoked
Awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Restaurant awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Sligo:
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets– Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846– 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
Sligo is renowned for its poetic heritage and coastal scenery, with the Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery offering one of Europe’s oldest prehistoric sites. The Benbulben mountain provides striking hiking trails, while Strandhill’s beaches are ideal for surfing. Other attractions include the historic Lissadell House and its gardens. Sligo is Ireland’s 22nd largest county by size (1,796 square km) and seventh smallest by population (70,198). Population peaked at 180,886 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 50,275 in 1971. In terms of hospitality, Sligo is Ireland’s 17th most visited tourist county with around 133,000 international visitors per year.
2025 Irish Restaurant awards by county:
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
2024 Irish Restaurant awards by county:
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
