Visit

A newly designated coach bay has been introduced outside the historic Sligo Abbey, offering significantly improved access for visiting tourists and school groups.

This enhancement allows coach operators to conveniently drop off and pick up visitors just steps away from one of Sligo’s most treasured heritage sites. The new coach bay is a welcome development for tour providers, educational groups, and independent travel planners seeking easier access to the Abbey — a treasure of Sligo and one of the key highlights of the Wild Atlantic Way experience in the northwest.

Sligo Abbey, dating back to the mid-13th century, is a unique Dominican Friary known for its sculptured tombs, well-preserved cloister, and Gothic and Renaissance architecture. The site draws thousands of visitors each year, and this new infrastructure improves the visitor experience while easing logistical challenges for group travel.

Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Cllr Declan Bree welcomed the move as a key step in facilitating heritage-led tourism and improving the visitor experience in Sligo. “Sligo County Council were delighted to collaborate with the team at Sligo Abbey and help facilitate this improvement to the visitor experience in Sligo. We place great value on our heritage and want to encourage more coach and school tour groups to enjoy this fascinating place that plays such a central role in the history of Sligo”.

It is expected that the new bay will encourage increased inclusion of the Abbey in regional tour itineraries and school excursions.

For more information about visiting Sligo including all of the experiences available please visit www.sligo.ie/visit and use the brand new Ideas Engine tool to create your personalised itinerary.

The Irish Blue Flag Jury met on the 7^th February 2025, and nominated sites for consideration to the International Blue Flag Jury for evaluation on 10^th April 2025. The International Jury have awarded 2 Blue Flags and 4 Green Coast awards to Sligo for the 2025 season.

The awards were presented by Mr. James Browne T.D., Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, at a ceremony held in the Ravenport Resort, Wexford on Friday 16^th May 2025.

Following the consideration by the International Jury, both Rosses Point and Enniscrone were awarded Blue flag status and also Green Coast Awards, while Dunmoran Strand and Streedagh Beach were awarded Green Coast Awards.

In total Sligo County Council will be awarded 2 Blue Flags and 4 Green Coast Awards for the 2025 bathing season. These awards are a recognition of the high-quality of the resorts and bathing water in Co Sligo.

The Blue Flag is an international award that recognises beach excellence and water quality.  The Blue Flag Programme is operated in Ireland by An Taisce.

The Green Coast Award is a symbol of environmental excellence and has been established to acknowledge, promote, and protect the environment of our beaches. The award is for beaches which have excellent water quality, but which are also prized for their natural, unspoilt environment. These sites must be managed in partnership with the local community to be considered for the Green Coast Award.

The Leas Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Councillor Edel McSharry has welcomed today’s announcement.

“Today’s announcement of two Blue Flags and four Green Coast Awards for Sligo’s beaches is a wonderful recognition of our ongoing efforts to protect and enhance our natural heritage. We are particularly thrilled that Rosses Point and Enniscrone have achieved dual Blue Flag and Green Coast status, alongside the continued success of Dunmoran Strand and Streedagh Beach. These awards are a testament to the hard work of local communities, volunteers, and Sligo County Council staff in protecting and enhancing our beaches.”

Sligo County Council acknowledges the continued support of the local community groups throughout the county in the management and pride they take in their local beaches, and  will continue to work with these communities towards achieving the highest environmental standards at all our beaches during the 2025 bathing season.

An intensive bathing water monitoring programme will shortly commence for the 2025 bathing season. Water quality at Enniscrone, Mullaghmore, Rosses Point, Streedagh and Dunmoran beaches will be monitored at least fortnightly during the bathing season, and results of this monitoring will be displayed locally at each beach, and on the Council’s website.

Steeped in the natural beauty of County Sligo, Ireland, Hawk’s Rock represents the rebranding of Lough Gill Distillery, which was acquired by the spirits leader in 2022.

Leading global spirits company Sazerac, which owns and operates award-winning distilleries and homeplaces worldwide including Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky; Domaine Sazerac de Segonzac in Cognac, France; and Paul John Distillery in Goa, India, is proud to announce the renaming of its recently-acquired Irish Whiskey Distillery to Hawk’s Rock Distillery. Formerly known as Lough Gill Distillery, Hawk’s Rock will continue to produce and age Irish Whiskey under the watchful eye of Master Blender Helen Mulholland on the over 100-acre site located in County Sligo, Ireland, which includes the nationally listed historic landmark Hazelwood House.

The name change reflects Sazerac Company’s vision for the future of Irish Whiskey – the art and science of blending, innovation and respect for Sligo’s rich heritage. Named after a prominent outcrop in the Ox Mountains that inspired Nobel Prize winning poet William Butler (W.B.) Yeats’ play “At the Hawk’s Well”, Hawk’s Rock Distillery aims to become a global hub for Irish Whiskey, while offering a gateway to explore the rich traditions of Sligo and the surrounding region.

“The renaming of Hawk’s Rock Distillery marks a new, yet familiar, frontier for us,” says Sazerac President and CEO Jake Wenz. “Sazerac is known for its balanced approach to honouring tradition while embracing change in constant pursuit of crafting the world’s best spirits at our distilleries in America, India, Canada and France.  Our mission holds true for Ireland, and we are excited to reveal how we are blending time-honoured traditions with bold innovation to advance the art of Irish whiskey-making.”

Leading the Hawk’s Rock distillation team as Master Blender is Helen Mulholland, the first female Master Blender in Irish Whiskey history, Chair of the Irish Whiskey Association and a Whiskey Hall of Fame inductee. She and her carefully-selected team have been entrusted with leading the creation and blending of Hawk’s Rock’s innovative new-to-world Irish whiskey brands, the first of which will debut in June 2025.

Sazerac Company acquired Lough Gill Distillery in 2022, drawn by its historical significance and the cultural richness of Ireland. Since then, the team has upgraded and tripled its warehouse capacity, expanded production and is modernising the distillery, ensuring continued growth while maintaining its commitment to quality.

“This rebrand is just the beginning for Hawk’s Rock Distillery,” says Wenz. “Throughout the changes at Hawk’s Rock, our vision remains the same – creating a track record for the aging and blending of award-winning whiskeys – and this name change brings us one step closer to bringing that vision to life.”

While Hawk’s Rock Distillery is closed to the public during renovations, Sazerac has received planning permission to develop a future visitor experience in Sligo. To ensure an honest restoration of Hazelwood House, Sazerac has hired a Grade 1 Conservation Architect from Howley Hayes Cooney Studio to lead its restoration. The phased delivery of this plan is being established, and Sazerac looks forward to welcoming visitors in the future.

For more information, please visit hawksrockdistillery.com.

Sligo County Council is seeking a dynamic and creative provider to manage and elevate its “Visit Sligo” social media presence in 2025.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced social media agency or individual and involves comprehensive management of paid social media campaigns across platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok and Youtube.

We are passionate about showcasing everything our stunning region has to offer. From breathtaking landscapes and outdoor adventures to vibrant festivals and world class cultural experiences, Sligo is a destination that truly has something for everyone.

The successful provider will work with the Visit Sligo team at this exciting time and develop and deliver targeted campaigns across the main social media channels. These campaigns will focus on raising awareness of Sligo as a year-round destination and promoting specific festivals and events happening throughout the county.

The closing date for submissions is Wednesday 2nd April 2025 and the full details can be requested by email to amccormack@sligococo.ie