Sligo

Sligo in Irish is Sligeach (say "SHLEE-gok"), meaning the place of shells, from the abundant shellfish in its tidal river and bay. The bay's entrance is blocked by three islands, Maguins and Coney near the south shore, and Oyster Island in the main channel by the north shore. So the tides are funnelled, twice a day rising and twice ebbing, as all the water in the bay rushes past these obstructions. That's hazardous for swimming but great for shellfish, which catch their food from the current.

By plane:

"I know that I shall meet my fate / somewhere among the clouds above" - an Irish Airman foresees the 2011 collapse of Sligo Airport, perhaps.

Best option is Dublin (DUB IATA), with good flight connections and onward public transport - Bus 23 runs direct from the airport to Sligo, see below.

You could also fly into Belfast or Derry and hire a car. Knock Airport is closer, 55 km south in County Mayo, but has few flights.

By train:

Trains from Dublin Connolly take 3 hr 20 min to Sligo via Drumcondra, Maynooth, Mullingar, Longford, Dromod, Carrick-on-Shannon, Boyle and Ballymote. There are 7 M-F, 6 Sa and 5 Sunday, see Irish Rail for timetables, fares and online tickets.

1 Sligo Railway and Bus Station are together on Knappagh Rd just west of town centre. The railway station is called MacDiarmada, for Seán MacDiarmada (1883-1916), a leading member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood executed for his part in the Easter Rising. The station has a ticket office staffed M-F 6:30AM-2:30PM, ticket machines and toilets. There is step-free access to the platforms.

By bus:

Expressway Bus 23 runs six times a day from Dublin Busáras, taking four hours to Sligo via Dublin Airport, Lucan, Maynooth, Mullingar, Longford, Dromod and Carrick-on-Shannon.

Expressway Bus 64 runs every two hours from Derry via Letterkenny and Donegal Town to Sligo, continuing to Knock village and airport, Tuam and Galway.

From Belfast take Goldliner Bus 261 to Enniskillen then change for Bus 64 or 458.

Bus Feda 964 runs twice a day from Galway via Tuam and Knock to Sligo, continuing to Donegal Town, Letterkenny and Gweedore. Bus 480 also runs twice a day between Donegal and Sligo.

Bus Éireann 458 runs every couple of hours from Enniskillen to Belcoo, Glenfarne, Manorhamilton, Glencar, Sligo, then west along the coast to Enniscrone and Ballina.

Local Link Bus 572 runs three times M-Sa from Drumshanbo to Sligo (70 min) and the university.

By road: