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The Sligo St. Patrick’s Festival is set to return this March with a vibrant programme of events, blending much-loved traditions with exciting new experiences for all ages. With the 2026 theme, “Legends Live Here”, the festival promises five days of celebration, culture and community spirit across Sligo town.

The Parade – March 17th

The centrepiece of the festival, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, returns on March 17th, following its traditional route through Sligo town. The parade will kick off at 12pm.

Family Fun & Cultural Highlights

• Sligo Rovers will be facing off against Shamrock Rovers on Friday 13 March in the Showgrounds. This is the one St. Patrick’s Festival event where wearing red is strongly encouraged over green!
• Music Generation Sligo will present a special showcase in a fully covered marquee at Queen Maeve’s Square on Monday 16 March, 6–8pm.This vibrant evening of live music will feature young musicians from across Music Generation Sligo programmes, including bands from the MGS Band Programme, a harp ensemble, youth and teen choirs (Sligo Youth Voices and Sligo Voice Collective), and 6th class students from Scoil Ursula, who take part in the Discovering and Performing Music primary school programme. The centrepiece of the event will be a special prequel performance offering audiences a first look at music developed through the Music Generation Sligo / Sligo Co Council Peace Plus project, Tuning into Social Inclusion, spearheaded by composer Stephen Doherty.
• After the parade on Tuesday 17 March from 2pm, families can enjoy the Shamrock Shuffle with Sligo legend Scruffy Duffy, featuring a kiddies’ disco and fun games.
• Sligo Abbey will open its historic doors for a special free family treasure hunt, complete with edible prizes, alongside a bespoke St. Patrick’s themed tour for history enthusiasts on Tuesday 17 March.
• The Avalon Centre will host a celebration of cultures from 2pm–4pm on Tuesday 17 March, with free entry for all.

Evening Entertainment & Trad Trail

As night falls, adults can enjoy live performances from Tumbling Paddies, One for the Road, and The Dublin City Ramblers in the Marquee in Queen Maeve Square.

A lively Trad Trail will run from Friday 13th to Tuesday 17th March, filling venues across town with traditional Irish music.

Free walking tours will take place on March 16th and 17th, with booking available via the official festival website.

A morning mountain hike hosted by North West Adventure Tours offers a unique start to your St. Patrick’s Day on March 17^th.

Accessibility for All

Through the Sligo NTE pilot, Accessoloo will operate in Queen Maeve Square from 11am to 10:30pm on March 17th, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the celebrations. The fully accessible unit includes a lavatory, ceiling hoist, adult changing table, grab rails, and space for a disabled person and their companions or assistants.

Supporting Sligo’s Festival Spirit

The Sligo St. Patrick’s Festival is made possible through the funding and support of Sligo County Council, Sligo BID, Fáilte Ireland, and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. A special thanks is also given to the voluntary Festival committee.

Ciara Sugrue, Head of Festivals and Events at Fáilte Ireland, said:

“Fáilte Ireland is pleased to support St. Patrick’s Festival Sligo. Sligo’s rich heritage and stunning coastal landscapes make it a perfect backdrop for this St Patrick’s Day celebration. The 2026 festival theme, ‘Legends Live Here’, highlights Sligo’s unique cultural legacy, offering visitors an authentic and memorable experience. Festivals and events like this showcase the very best of Irish culture, music, and entertainment, inspiring both domestic and international visitors to explore new destinations across the country. By investing in St. Patrick’s Festival Sligo, we’re strengthening Sligo’s position on the Wild Atlantic Way as a must-visit destination and helping to drive economic benefits for local businesses and communities across the county and wider region.”

With something for everyone – from history and heritage to music, family fun and cultural celebration – Sligo St. Patrick’s Festival 2026 is set to be an unforgettable celebration where truly, Legends Live Here.

The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD, and Northern Ireland Minister for Economy, Dr. Caoimhe Archibald MLA, have today announced the successful projects to receive capital investment funding under the Shared Island Coast-to-Coast Investment Scheme.

The Coast-to-Coast Investment Scheme is part of the Shared Island Tourism Brand Collaboration Project being delivered by Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland.

The announcement marks a significant milestone in the delivery of the project which aims to support the enhancement of visitor experiences and create synergies across the iconic Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coastal Route in the North West and North Coast regions.

A total of almost €2.7million was allocated under the Scheme to support the development and enhancement of existing visitor attractions and experiences across counties Donegal, Sligo and parts of Leitrim on the Wild Atlantic Way, as well as counties Derry and Antrim along the Causeway Coastal Route.

Following a competitive application process, a total of 13 projects have been approved by Tourism Agencies for funding across the two jurisdictions. The investments will enable comprehensive upgrades at the existing attractions and experiences including advanced interpretation, enriched storytelling, and substantial improvements to visitor experience infrastructure. These developments will strengthen the appeal of the attractions and the two iconic routes, while encouraging visitors to further explore the regions, extend their stay, and generate greater economic benefits for local communities.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD said:
“I am very pleased to announce funding to 13 projects to enhance visitor experiences along the Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coastal Route as part of the Shared Island Tourism Brand collaboration project being delivered by Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland.

Cross-border cooperation and connection between businesses is a powerful driver of mutual prosperity across both jurisdictions on the island. Through the Shared Island Initiative, we are working to enhance and enable these connections and grow the all-island economy, including through sustainable tourism.

I wish every funded project success and look forward to visiting the enhanced experiences across Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Derry and Antrim in the time ahead”.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD said:
“This announcement represents a tangible step forward in our commitment to all-island tourism collaboration through the Shared Island initiative. The successful projects under the Coast-to-Coast Investment will enhance the visitor experience at key attractions, helping to tell our shared stories in compelling ways.

This investment reflects the government’s commitment to balanced regional development, as set out in A New Era for Irish Tourism: National Tourism Policy Statement. By backing projects in every part of the island, we are ensuring that tourism growth delivers real benefits for local communities and helps build a more competitive, resilient and regionally balanced visitor economy for the future.”

Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Minister for the Economy in the Northern Ireland Executive, said:
“Tourism is an important economic sector for the north and one that I am committed to supporting. The opportunities that come from collaboration north and south, in developing our all-island tourism offering is central to this.

I welcome this funding to enhance some of our existing visitor attractions and experiences in Derry and Antrim, better connecting the Causeway Coastal Route and Wild Atlantic Way. The funding will help attract more visitors, who will stay longer and spend more, boosting our regional economy and supporting our local communities.”

List of Projects

Project	Location	Project Description	Total Awarded Sum
Derry Girls Experience	Derry City	Enhancement of the existing exhibition and the creation of a new digital experience to encourage visitors to engage with Derry Girls related sites, props, and experiences across the city with the aim of becoming ‘TV’s biggest behind the scenes experience.’	£250,000
Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre	Bushmills, Co. Antrim	AV elements of the visitor experience will be refreshed to enhance connection and engagement. Content will include greater storytelling focusing on both the folklore and geology of the Giant’s Causeway.	£250,000
Inishowen Maritime Museum	Greencastle, Co. Donegal	A new planetarium show will feature regional stories and aurora visuals over local landmarks. Interactive screens, multilingual tours, and holograms will enhance visitor engagement.	€232,911
Lough Gill Brewery	Sligo Town, Co. Sligo	A new visitor centre will celebrate Sligo’s craft beer, heritage, and natural beauty through immersive and sensory experiences. It will feature a taproom, exhibition spaces, and interactive, multilingual displays.	€112,000
Museum of Free Derry	Derry City	The development of a new interpretation which will add 20 personal stories linked to artefacts on display at the museum. The new interpretation will enhance the storytelling and personal stories which are integral to the museum’s approach.	£57,442
Oakfield Park	Oakfield Park, Raphoe, County Donegal	Vintage railway carriages will be restored to host interactive exhibits, VR experiences, and art displays. This will create a year-round, weatherproof attraction.	€294,611
The Courthouse, Bushmills	Bushmills, Co. Antrim	Creation of new immersive storytelling which will unlock the story and history of this important heritage asset. Includes new state-of-the-art interpretative displays, multilingual touchscreens, and inclusive design.	£103,257
The Gobbins,	Islandmagee, Co. Antrim	Introduction of new character-led interpretation in the Gobbins Visitor Experience, including a dynamic video wall and immersive storytelling space.	£200,000
The Model – Home of the Niland Collection	Sligo Town, Co. Sligo	The Model will present Jack Butler Yeats’ story through an immersive exhibition, film, and Toy Theatre, using creative storytelling to explore his life and art.	€177,732
The Rose of Innisfree	Co. Leitrim	The boat will be upgraded with audiovisual systems, electric engines, and improved accessibility. Visitors will enjoy themed stories and seamless travel links.	€180,556
The Workhouse	Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal	The Centre will update its exhibitions with interactive panels and multilingual audio tours to improve storytelling and accessibility for international visitors.	€239,040
The Yeats Society	Sligo Town, Co. Sligo	The Yeats Building will become a multi-sensory experience linking W.B. Yeats to Sligo’s culture and landscape. A VR tower room will offer animated panoramic views inspired by his work.	€186,014
Wild Ireland	Burnfoot, Co. Donegal	Wild Ireland will build an indoor education centre with multimedia features, offering immersive learning on the Celtic Rainforest using interactive and multilingual tools.	€269,000

Sligo Chamber of Commerce has officially opened nominations for their 2026 awards, celebrating excellence, innovation and enterprise across the region’s vibrant business community.

This year’s awards programme introduces an exciting new Tourism & Hospitality Award, recognising outstanding businesses that contribute to the growth, sustainability and global reputation of Sligo as a leading destination on the Wild Atlantic Way.

The Tourism & Hospitality Award is open to businesses of all sizes operating within the Sligo region and will celebrate enterprises that demonstrate excellence in tourism and hospitality while prioritising sustainability, community wellbeing and regional economic impact.

Judges will look for innovative approaches that support environmental stewardship, strengthen local communities and contribute to the promotion of Sligo as a world-class destination.

The award also aims to recognise indigenous businesses that have been established and are trading in the Sligo region, with clear potential for future growth and job creation, highlighting the important role of locally rooted enterprises in shaping the region’s tourism landscape.

Businesses, customers and members of the public are encouraged to submit nominations across all award categories, highlighting organisations that exemplify excellence, innovation and positive impact within the Sligo business community.

Nominations are now open and can be submitted via the Sligo Chamber of Commerce website here.

Atlantic Sheepdogs, one of County Sligo’s most cherished popular experiences, is celebrating an exceptional milestone after being named a Gold Award winner by CIE Tours for the eighth year in a row.

The prestigious award recognises Atlantic Sheepdogs as the highest-rated experience, based entirely on independently evaluated guest surveys completed by CIE Tours visitors. In 2025, the family-run farm achieved an outstanding 99.2% satisfaction rating, drawn from feedback from thousands of international guests.

This is the highest rating from any hotel, restaurant or visitor attraction that CIE engage with.

Located in the heart of rural Sligo along the Wild Atlantic Way, Atlantic Sheepdogs offers visitors an authentic insight into traditional Irish farming life, with live sheepdog demonstrations showcasing the remarkable skill, intelligence and bond between handler and dog. The experience has become a standout highlight for visitors exploring the west of Ireland.

Speaking following the announcement, the Atlantic Sheepdogs team said they were “blown away” by the continued recognition from guests:

“We can’t thank our visitors enough for such lovely recognition of our wee family, dogs, farm and business. To receive this award for the eighth year running, and with such an incredible rating, means the world to us. Go raibh míle míle maith agaibh. We’re really looking forward to welcoming many more guests during the coming season.”

The CIE Tours Awards are regarded as one of the most respected benchmarks in international tourism, with winners determined solely by verified guest feedback and assessed independently.

Atlantic Sheepdogs’ continued success highlights the strength of Sligo’s authentic, family-run tourism experiences and reinforces the county’s reputation for world-class rural, cultural and outdoor attractions.

For more information or to plan a visit www.atlanticsheepdogs.ie . You can plan the rest of your perfect Sligo trip with a personalised itinerary from the Ideas Engine at www.sligoe.ie/visit

Sligo will be presented as a world class destination at the upcoming Holiday World Show exhibition which is taking place at the RDS Simmonscourt this weekend.

This event is the main holiday exhibition in Ireland and over 25,000 people are expected to descend on the show to get inspiration for their travels and trips within Ireland this year.

Sligo will be strongly represented with the leading experiences and accommodation providers taking their place on the stand to engage directly with the trade and public over three days.

Sligo food and drink will be showcased with delicious samples being provided and representatives from the Sligo Food Trail there driving home the message that Sligo is heaven for lovers of good food and drink.

The particular focus for the Visit Sligo stand this year is the promotion of the incredible schedule of festivals and events taking place in 2026.

The Holiday World Show provides a valuable platform to promote Sligo to an audience actively planning short breaks and holidays, allowing Visit Sligo to showcase the diversity of experiences available right across the county, from coastal adventures and wellness escapes to family-friendly festivals, heritage and great food.

Attendance at this event forms part of ongoing efforts to support local tourism businesses, drive year round visitation and ensure Sligo remains front of mind as a compelling, accessible and welcoming visitor destination.

From left to right: Nadine Barrett (Sligo Folk Park), Rebecca Stevens (National Surf Centre), Mary Gaffney (Sligo Park Hotel), Vanessa O’Donovan (The Glasshouse Hotel and Sligo Food Trail), Alan McGoldrick (Rose of Innisfree Boat Tours), Elaine Scanlon (Ocean Sands Hotel), Cathaoirleach Sligo County Council Cllr Donal Gilroy, Mark Ballentine (The Riverside Hotel), William Britton (Northwest Adventure Tours and Éalú Lodge), Bernie Chambers (Radisson Blu Hotel), Johny Conlon (The Model), Vilma Meenan (The Clayton Hotel), Aidan McCormack (Tourism Officer, Sligo County Council), Aisling Quinn (Festival & Events Co Ordinator, Sligo County Council), John Dwyer (Coleman Irish Music Centre), Sandra Cunningham (Coleman Irish Music Centre).