Sligo offers a mix of outdoor adventure, literature, and cultural experience. I still remember the first time I went to Sligo and saw the Benbulben mountain. It was magical.
From scenic landscapes to historical sites, this charming county offers something for everyone. With your kids, you can explore eagles flying, discover Benbulben adventures, enjoy Ballymote playground and so on! Whether you’re here for a short break or a longer adventure, every corner of Sligo offers something new.
This place is also cherished by Ireland’s most treasured poet W.B. Yeats. He mentioned Sligo as “the land of heart’s desire”. Now let’s see if this place can capture your heart too or not!
In this blogpost, we will help you make the most of your time in Sligo. Let’s start my guide of things to do in Sligo for families.
If you are planning to travel to Sligo on a rainy day, then these things will be the best to enjoy!
Zero Gravity Skatepark
If your family loves to skate, then you are in the right place! Sligo has the largest indoor skate centre in the North West of Ireland!
A local skater, Neville Dunbar created the “Zero Gravity” centre in 2015. This place is built with the finest timber and birch plywood. If your kid is in the beginners level, then no need to worry.
This skatepark is suitable for beginner, novice and professional skateboarders. You can also enjoy BMX-ing and rollerblading. You can rent all the gear you need at Zero Gravity and lessons are available on weekends.
Lessons starts at €25
Eagles Flying Centre
Eagles flying centre can be the best place to visit with children! This is situated in Sligo’s hill, with a large indoor display area.
The is home to over 100 eagles, hawks, owls, falcons and vultures. Not only this, it also has a petting zoo with guinea-pigs, rabbits, lambs, goats, donkeys and ferrets. You will get to watch “Bird shows” twice a day.
Cost of Family Ticket: €46
Vertigo Collooney
If your children are a little adventurous, then Vertigo Collooney can be the perfect spot for thrill seeking. Here, you can enjoy the high ropes adventure course, hurricane simulator and art climbing wall. The place has a well safety harness system for both children and adults!
Admission starts at €3
Waterpoint Aqua Park
Another special place for your kids can be Waterpoint Aqua Park. This park has an indoor heated pool with a 65-metre flume water slide!
If you are thinking about safety, then don’t need to worry. They have a separate kiddie’s pool for babies and toddlers, an inflatable obstacle course, Funzone activity centre and a climbing wall.
If your kid wants to have all the activities then ‘Fun Day Fridays’ has the best offer. In this, you can access all of the above activities for just €12.
Cost of Family Ticket: €46
Happy Days Adventure Play Centre
For rainy days, Happy Days Adventure Play Centre is the best option for traveling to Sligo.
The place has two separate soft play areas. One for babies and toddlers and another for older children. Kids can enjoy a variety of slides, ball pools and other fun activities. And if you feel bored, then you can relax in their cafe. There’s a cafe for adults from where you can keep an eye on your child.
Admission starts at €5
The Model Art Gallery
Sligo has a notable thing to offer. That is the The Model Art Gallery. This gallery holds the most outstanding public art collections in Ireland.
It has the Niland collection which presents a broad range of both traditional and contemporary works by Jack Butler Yeats and other artists. For children, they offer something special! The gallery often hosts events such as arts and crafts camps and workshops to get them inspired.
The admission is free!
Surfing in Sligo
Sligo can be called the heaven for surfers! The beaches of Strandhill, Streegah and Easkey get some of the best wind for surfing!
Also the way the coast is faced, it gets the best waves on the Wild Atlantic Way. People from all around the world come here to enjoy the taste of local surfing. They called it Ireland’s Surf Coast!
In the winter storm season, Mullaghmore attracts the big wave storm surfers. Even Mullaghmore held the record for biggest wave surfed until quite recently!
Besides, there is a good deal for your kids. The Strandhill Surf School in Sligo runs both adult and children’s surf lessons every day. Here, Lessons last for 2.5 hours and all necessary gear is provided. And if you are interested, then you can also enrol your child into their surf camp!
Cost of Family Ticket: €150
Seaweed Baths
Have you ever thought of taking a bath with seaweed? No, right?
The seaweed baths in Enniscrone will give you the unique experience while travelling to Sligo. Taking a bath in seaweed is actually a lot more refreshing than it might sound!
Also it is beneficial for your health! The seaweeds in water release mineral elements and vitamins that have natural anti-aging properties and moisturiser. And this will help you to get smoother skin, as well as helping the thyroid regulate metabolism, reduce eczema and repair damaged skin cells.
With the exfoliation treatment, you can also warm up with their herbal tea.
Devil’s Chimney
Devil’s Chimney is a treat to eyes! This is Ireland’s highest waterfall with a height of 150 meters. It lies on the border of County Sligo and County Leitrim, situated in the Dartry Mountains in the west of Ireland. It’s Irish name is Sruth in Aghaidh An Aird, which means “stream against the height”. Because when the wind blows from the south, the waterfall blows backwards up and over the cliff.
The best time to visit Devil’s Chimney is after a rainfall. Also Devil’s Chimney isn’t too far from the Glencar Waterfall, so it’s easy to see both on the same day.
Now all the activities up above are best to enjoy on a rainy day. For the summer time, these upcoming places can be worth visiting.
Northwest Adventure Tours
Want to explore Sligo’s breathtaking view through cycling? Then Northwest Adventure Tour can be your solution.
Here, you can have a guided cycling tour to catch the most beautiful hidden gems in the county. Your tour guide will show you the most picturesque tourist attractions in Sligo. Here your kids will get the chance to get closer with animals and Irish Flora and fauna.
Cost of family ticket €90
Boat Trip to Lough Gill
Boat trips in Sligo are best between July and September. From the town of Sligo to Lough Gill, there is a beautiful freshwater lake. You can enjoy an hour-long trip by cruise and witness the picturesque lake. In this tranquil setting, you will also have the opportunity of outdoor adventures like fishing and boating.
This lake also contains historical background. You can get the chance to connect and praise the lake from W.B. Yeats’ “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”.
Sligo Dark Tales Tour
If your kids love horror tales then Sligo has a surprise for you. Enjoy a different side of Sligo on an evening tour called “Sligo Dark Tales Tour”. Here, you will get to learn about Sligo’s dark past, Bram Stoker, the cholera epidemic that inspired Dracula! Sligo Abbey and Sligo Gaol is also worth to visit after dark. This will be a two hour guided tour with interesting facts about Sligo’s history leading up to recent years.
Glencar Waterfall
If you are a Yeat’s fan then you heard about this Glencar Waterfall too. In his “The Stolen Child” poem, he praised this waterfall.
This eye soothing Glencar waterfall is 50 feet tall. You can take a short walk through the forest on a nature trail to reach here. It can be the best thing to enjoy in Sligo at a free cost!
Yeats Grave in Drumcliff
Through visiting Yeats Grave, you can help to grow passion for literature in your child. With the help of literature, a kid can express themselves through poetry, can play with words, find balance and reconnect with themselves.
And Yeats poetry has the reference of these famous landmarks that you are enjoying in Sligo. The Lake Isle of Innisfree, Down by the Sally Garden and The Stolen Child has all of it as I previously mentioned.
This village was the last resting place of the Yeats.
You will also find Drumcliff village as a peaceful quiet place. There is a lovely cafe and tourist shop, selling woollen crafts, quirky cards and a wide selection of Yeats books.
The Monastic Island of Inishmurray
Inishmurray is a historically fascinating place! According to folklore, around the 9th century, the island was home of a thriving monastery. That time, it was invaded by Viking raiders looking for gold and other precious goods. This type of raid was pretty normal back to those days. But what was not normal is that the Sligo mainlanders fought back and successfully managed to barricade the island from the invaders. The vikings didn’t think of returning after that!
But before visiting the island, make sure it is open for tourists.
Ancient Megalithic Sites
Since the ancient megalithic time, people have been inhabiting the Coolera Peninsula and area around the Garavogue River. They have created monuments, tombs, cairns and other sites more than five thousand years ago. And these things are still living around the Sligo countryside which are older than the pyramids!
Take the giant cairn atop Knocknarea Hill for example. Or the megolithic tombs at Carrowkeel and Carrowmore. Though these ancient tombs are hard to reach but they are visible from the cairn atop Keashcorran Hill.
The famous “shelly place”
Do you know the meaning of “Sligo”? Have you ever wondered that this name actually means something?
To your surprise, Sligo’s name in Irish “Sligeach” means “shelly place.” From megalithic times, the people of Sligo relied largely on shellfish. And this place still holds the evidence to justify its name. Today, the Lissadell Mussels (and oysters) are famous both in Sligo and beyond.
The London chefs still consider these mussels’s delicacy best of all. So when you are in town, try not to forget to taste Sligo’s shell.
The cave of Diarmuid & Grainne
The cave of Diarmuid & Grainne is another Irish mythological legendary site. We all love Romeo and Juliet’s story right? This cave holds something like this!
According to legend, Diarmuid was one of the most skilled warriors of Fianna, and Grainne was the daughter of High King Cormac Mac Airt. Grainne fell in love with Diarmuid and asked him to elope with her. Diarmuid, bound by the code of honor, initially refused but eventually gave in to Grainne’s persistence.
Diarmuid and Grainne spent time on the run, pursued by Fionn and his warriors. During their flight, they sought refuge in various places, one of which was the Cave of Diarmuid and Grainne. That’s why this cave, like many locations in Irish mythology, is often symbolised as a place of shelter and secrecy.
Caving at Marble Arch Caves
Lastly, the Marble Arch Caves! You and your kids will definitely enjoy the underground adventure at Marble Arch Caves. This place is marked as the UNESCO Global Geopark that is located just a short drive from Sligo. Explore winding passageways, underground rivers, and impressive rock formations on a guided tour.
Sligo Food Trail
What about the food of Sligo?
Sligo is the best place to taste Ireland’s contemporary culinary culture. The Sligo Food Trail plays a role in Ireland’s newfound and growing culinary reputation. Here, a collection of chefs work together to focus on using fresh, local products to create intriguing, healthy dishes.
If you are up to brunch then the oceanfront Shell’s Cafe in Strandhill is worth visiting. For trying seafood, Eithna’s by the Sea in Mullaghmore is one of the best. And if you want vegan food, then Sweetbeat Cafe is for you.
From outdoor adventures to cultural experiences, Sligo offers endless opportunities for family-friendly fun. Whether you’re exploring ancient landmarks, hitting the waves, or simply enjoying a leisurely day by the beach, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in this scenic corner of Ireland. So pack your bags, gather the family, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure in Sligo!
