SO Sligo Event Guide - PDF

FESTIVAL SPONSORS 

We are indebted to our key supporter Sligo Leader Partnership for their backing in marketing 

Sligo as a food tourism destination, both for the Festival but also throughout the year:- 

Our key sponsor Connacht Gold has commited as lead sponsor for the 2011 festival 

(their involvement in 2010 was So important to us). 

They are sponsors of the Junior Masterchef competition. 

Fáilte Ireland are integral to supporting festivals throughout Ireland. Their support, both 

financial and from a marketing perspective, has been very important and very welcome. 

The tourism marketing body for Sligo are a key support to the festival, thank you to 

MARKETING SLIGO FORUM. 

We are delighted to announce important the media support of

Hello and welcome to the SÓ Sligo Food Festival. 

Sligo has a wealth of incredible food, and some 

amazing food producers who live and create in 

this region. Our emphasis is very much on a family 

festival, so “Something for everyone” is very much 

the order of the day. 

This year’s line up includes World Irish Stew 

competitions, Junior Masterchef competition, a 

New National Dish competition, a food village, 

cookery demonstrations, talks, tastings, food 

trails, farm walks, street entertainment and kiddie 

activities. Great value and themed dine outs are 

available. Plenty for music fans with gigs being 

hosted in pubs, cafés, restaurants and hotels. 

If you are visitor or lucky enough to live in this 

beautiful place, you will discover that Sligo is SÓ 

surprising, SÓ unique, SÓ Sligo. 

You are SÓ welcome, 

Margaret Heffernan 

Chairperson 

SÓ Sligo Food Festival 

WELCOME 

SÓ Sligo is delighted to 

announce that we are one 

of the first community 

festivals to develop 

a Smartphone App 

to connect visitors to 

SÓ Sligo to the myriad 

of events, gigs & fun. 

SÓ Sligo App available on the 

Android Market and iTunes App Store. 

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FESTIVAL MAP 

1 Shenanigans 

2 Johnston Court 

Shopping Centre 

3 Bistro Bianconi 

4 Fureys 

5 Kennedys 

6 Shoot The Crows 

7 Fiddlers Creek 

8 Mc Hughs 

9 Clarence Hotel 

10 Harp Tavern 

11 Garavogue 

12 Silver Apple 

13 Creperie Bretonne 

14 Café Fleur 

15 Belfry 

16 O'Neills - Mall 

17 Source Sligo 

18 Mc Garrigles 

19 Foleys 

20 Glasshouse 

21 Kates Kitchen 

22 Lyons Café 

23 Hargadons 

24 Tobergal 

Lane Café 

25 Koko Latte 

26 Café Mauds 

27 Sakura Restaurant 

28 Reidys Bistro 

& Wine Bar 

29 Grappa 

30 The Leitrim Bar 

31 Café Souperb 

32 Sligo Park Hotel 

33 Lily’s Café 

34 The Model 

35 The Velvet Room 

36 Osta 

37 Clarion Hotel 

38 Mc Cullaghs 

39 Colemans 

Electrical Shop 

40 Cafe Victor 

41 Ellens Pub 

42 Davis's Restaurant 

/ Yeats Tavern 

43 Radisson 

Blu Hotel 

44 Shells Cafe 

45 Trá Bán 

Restaurant 

46 The Venue 

47 Durkins 

48 Brennan’s Pub 

49 Roisin Dubh 

SÓ Sligo Festival Office, 

Johnston Court, O’Connell St, Sligo 

E: info@sosligo.com 

T: 086 1090675 

Parking 

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FOOD VENUE 

Wednesday 16th March 

from 1pm Davis's Restaurant 

@ Yeats Tavern 

Drumcliffe Tel: 071 91 63117 

Guinness & Oyster promotion for the 

SÓ Sligo festival. Award winning, 

family run restaurant, walking distance from W.B 

Yeats Tomb, under the shadow of Benbulben's 

majestic plateau. Daily Specials, Full a La Carte. 

5pm Silver Apple Restaurant 

Lord Edward Street Tel: 071 91 46770 

“50 mile” plate + glass of wine 

€15 Choose from dishes 

especially created for SÓ Sligo 2011 

sourced within a 50 mile radius of Sligo. 

5pm Bistro Bianconi 

O’Connell Street Tel: 071 91 41744 

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SÓ Sligo Food Festival Early Bird Menu. 

An amazing 3 Course meal for only €15.00. 

until 7pm Trá Bán Restaurant 

Strandhill Tel: 071 91 28402 

Early Bird Menu – €23.95 Set Menu 

Awarded Elite Membership of the 2011 

BIM Seafood Circle, Trá Bán offers the 

best in fine dining, specialising in fresh 

Seafood & Steak. Their menu features dishes made 

The eve of St. Patrick’s Day will coax 

us into the party mood with food & 

music events to whet the appetite 

for the action packed days to follow. 

with the finest local fresh produce, from both land & 

sea. The name Trá Bán is gaelic for “White Strand”, the 

beautiful unspoiled beach alongside the restaurant. 

7pm Source Sligo 

1/2 John Street Tel: 071 91 47605 

GOOD FOOD MADE EASY ‘New Ideas for 

Easy Cooking’ - Demo and Hands on 

workshop to unleash those cooking skills within. 

€40 per person. 

9pm Tobergal Lane Café 

Tobergal Lane Tel: 071 91 46599 

SÓ Sligo Food & Wine Quiz SÓ Sligo 

Food & Wine quiz in aid of St. John’s 

Garden Room Project and SÓ Sligo. 

€20 per table. 

10pm Hargadons 


The Swing & Soul 

Revue with Sinead 

Conway Hargadons has 

already established itself as a special venue where 

good quality home cooked food is served in a 

friendly atmosphere. They use organically produced 

food where at all possible. All food is sourced locally 

and Hargadons is proud to list its local suppliers on 

FERGUSONEVENTS

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it’s menu. Salads and 

vegetables are home grown at 

the owners new facility in Sligo. 

Georgina Campbell 2011 Pub 

of the Year. The Swing and Soul 

Revue promises to be a wonderful evening fronted 

by the amazingly versatile Sinead Conway. The 

Swing and Soul Revue, fronted by the amazingly 

versatile Sinead Conway and that human jukebox, 

Wexford man Dave Flynn. Get down with your bad 

self to the sounds of the Blues Brothers, Stevie 

Wonder, Tina Turner, Nina Simone, Etta James and 

even Riverdance with Dave's amazing rap as 

Gaeilge, and most of all: Don't Worry, Be Happy! 

10pm Shoot The Crows 

Castle Street Tel: 071 91 771193 

Cold Cuts & Hot Tunes This pub is 

legendary in Sligo - with fantastic 

music, great pints in a quirky and 

traditional venue. Celebrate St. 

Patricks Eve with a feast of 

complimentary traditional local 

fare, with many varieties of 

delicious smoked fish. 

10pm Fiddlers Creek 

Rockwood Parade Tel: 071 91 41866 

The Social Fiddlers Creek Bar 

and Restaurant offers a warm 

welcome, good food and excellent service for all 

who visit. A long established bar, proud of their great 

food and warm surroundings. The Euro Saver menu 

of 3 courses is just €14.99. Enjoy The Social, a top 

live band, fronted by one of 

Sligo’s leading musicians, 

Sean Mc Carthy. You can 

expect a lively night with 

Sean & the boys. 

FOOD VENUE 


10pm Garavogue 

Stephen Street Tel: 071 91 43825 

The Wizzards Of Sonik followed 

by DJ Graham Beautifully located 

on the banks of the Garavogue 

river, the Garavogue is a modern bar which also 

houses Kudos Bistro which offers pizzas, pastas and 

much more. The Wizzards Of Sonik are a Midlands 

based rock & pop covers band with years of 

experience on the gig circuit in both Ireland & 

Europe. The Wizzards aim to please all tastes in 

music & guarantee an unforgettable experience, 

incorporating the most up 

to date sound equipment & 

lighting effects. You can 

keep dancing till late to DJ 

Graham’s selection of uptempo 

tracks. 

www.sosligo.com 

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FOOD VENUE 


10.30pm The Clarence 

Wine Street Tel: 071 91 42211 

DJ Richard Durand Located in the 

centre of Sligo town, the Clarence is 

an original 19th century building 

added to a local list of buildings to 

be preserved in County Sligo. Although the outside 

retains its early 19th century appearance, the interior 

is anything but dated; a stunning fusion of the old 

and the new. Housing Sligo’s premier performance 

venue means there is always a buzz in the hotel that 

can only be experienced around live music. 

Have a bite to eat in the Italian restaurant 

‘Limoncello’ and enjoy a cocktail made by one of the 

mixologists in the front bar. DJ Richard Durand 

returns to The Clarence after two sell out 

performances in his last two visits to Sligo. Richard 

will be joined by Alex O’Rion as he is launching his 

new album Wide 

Awake. This is his first 

stop on his worldwide 

tour. Let’s make it a 

memorable one. 

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9pm McGarrigles 


Red Brick House followed by DJ 

Ash Young Described in Hot Press 

as, “A band that blends quality with 

some unapologetic commercialism” 

It’s the perfect mix for those who want to hear some 

quality homegrown indie rock and those who just 

want to dance. The group is made up of Sligo’s own 

Patrick Leydon, Les Finan, 

Peter Murray and Danny 

Young. All four are 

promising a truly epic night 

in the legendary venue that 

is McGarrigles. 

9pm Durkins 

Ballinacarrow, Co Sligo Tel: 071 91 30165 

Traditional Session. Enjoy an 

authentic Irish music session. 

10pm Fureys 

Bridge Street Tel: 071 91 43825 

The Lost Coats Fureys is one of 

the premier homes of music in 

Sligo. A traditional pub with a 

really happening atmosphere - lots more foodie 

events to come here over the course of the festival! 

The Lost Coats - HEALTH WARNING - this band 

contains members of Those Nervous Animals"... 

featuring Barry Brennan, Padraig Meehan, Tom 

Jamieson & Dave Carty... playing original TNA hits & 


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classic covers from the 70's, 

80's & 90's, guaranteed to 

funk up your nite! 

10pm Kennedys 


Eoin Troy & Guest Sitting on the 

banks of the Garavogue River in the 

heart of Sligo is T.J Kennedys. The 

entrance is very modern and 

continental in style, but when you step in you are 

stepping back a century. Enjoy Eoin 

Troy & Guest spanning rock to pop 

to blues in the relaxed and friendly 

atmosphere at Kennedys. 

10pm Harp Tavern 

Quay Street Tel: 071 91 42473 

Trad Session Natural stone floors, 

open brickwork and a cheerful log fire 

make this a cosy place for a drink, a 

chat or a session. At lunch time the pub offers a 

selection of sandwiches, while tea, coffee and 

snacks are available all day. Trad session with Kevin 

O’Brien (accordion) Harry Mc Gowan 

(flute) Sean Dwyer (guitar & vocals) - 

the best of Sligo and Leitrim Traditional 

Music interspersed with the odd story. 

10pm Shenanigans 


Live Band & DJ Enjoy this pre St. Patrick’s 

Day music special in this lively Bridge 

Street venue. 

MUSIC EVENTS 


10.30pm McHugh’s (Downstairs) 

Grattan Street Tel: 071 91 42030 

DJ Brendan Tierney 

Lively pub located in the 

centre of Sligo Town. Food is served during the day 

Monday to Saturday, an extensive 

and imaginative menu with 

something to suit everyone. Bop 

till you drop to this really lively DJ. 

10.30pm McHugh’s (Upstairs) 


Glenn Cal Singersongwriter 

Glenn Calis 

quickly making a name for himself on the Irish 

contemporary music scene. Although currently living 

in Sligo, Glenn was born & grew up on the north side 

of Cork city. On a recent return visit to his native 

town, he performed live on Cork’s 96 fm, where 

presenter Neil Prenderville described Glenn as… 

“having tremendous passion 

in his voice. He has real 

conviction… he has 

something special…the 

songs are superbly written & 

performed”. 


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FOOD VENUE 

Thursday 17th March 

From 9.30am Breakfast by the Beach 

Shells Cafe 


SÓ Sligo Breakfast Club at Shells Cafe. Join 

us for breakfast after your beautiful walk 

along Strandhill beach. Local produce, 

wholesome ingredients all made with love! There is 

only one place to have breakfast this weekend and 

that's at Shells Cafe on the beachfront in Strandhill. 

All breads are home made, the coffee is organic and 

expertly made, together with local 

produce this makes for an awesome 

breakfast experience! Shells Cafe is 

celebrating St Patrick’s Weekend with 

Dr. Seuss Green Eggs & Ham! All Dr. 

Seuss breakfasts come with a free 

glass of pure, fresh Shells Orange 

Juice when you mention SÓ Sligo! 

11am ‘Count Me In’ Cafe Mauds 

Quayside Shopping Centre Tel: 071 91 28447 

Cafe Mauds are delighted to 

launch our new calorie 

counted menu in conjunction 

with RTE’s Operation Transformation. Our new look 

menu will be launched on Friday 18th March @ 11am 

in Cafe Mauds with complimentary mimosa and a 

whopping 20% off all the calorie counted items all 

weekend! 

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St. Patrick’s Day - Let’s Party! 

A special family welcome to Sligo for St. Patrick’s 

Day when the town & county come alive with 

festivities & celebration of all that is special in our 

food & culture. Soak up the atmosphere where 

all Só Sligo venues will greet you with incredible 

rates & the warmest of welcomes. The Sligo 

St. Patrick’s Day Parade will start at Mail Coach 

Road at 12 noon & travel through the town centre, 

finishing at Pearse Road. This is the 41st year 

of the parade, the largest parade in the North West. 

12 noon onwards SÓ Sligo Festival Market 

Stephen’s St Car Park / Rockwood Parade 

Delicious and inspired foods from 

throughout the North West will be 

available each day during the 

festival at the artisans market 

centrally located in Sligo town. 

1pm+ Silver Apple Restaurant 


“50 mile” plate + glass of wine 

€15 Choose from dishes 

especially created for SÓ Sligo 2011 

sourced within a 50 mile radius of Sligo. 

1pm The Glasshouse Hotel 

Sligo Tel: 071 91 94300 

Graham Monaghan Relax and enjoy 

this local talented artist playing many 

popular tunes. Enjoy a bite to eat at 

The Kitchen restaurant. To become an AA Rosette 

winner a restaurant must offer food prepared with 


’s 

r 

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care, understanding and skill using good quality 

ingredients, this is what you can expect at The 

Kitchen, a proud AA Rosette winner. 

1.30pm Creperie Bretonne 

Teeling Street 

Jackk & Jones with SÓ Food 

Crepe Special - Rock. From 

savoury to sweet, this ecelectic duo 

are the perfect accompaniment to a delicious crepe, 

made with SÓ much love. Jackk & Jones is a new 

duo of Leon Mooney on guitar/harmonica & Leslie 

Jones on mandolin. They play an eclectic mix of folk, 

rock & country with a 

traditional bluegrass twist. 

This is a high energy show 

drawing on influences from 

the Appalachian Mountains 

integrated with songs from 

Neil Young to Steve Earle. 

2pm Café Fleur 

O’ Connell Street Tel: 071 91 44406 

Hannah & Megan Duffy - Trad 

After the excitement of the parade, 

come and celebrate your Irishness 

with a feast of Irish stew while you listen to the 

melodic sounds of Hannah and Megan Duffy, two 

talented traditional Irish fiddle players in the relaxing 

setting of Café Fleur. Hannah and Megan come from 

a family stepped in tradition 

and have performed and won 

numerous awards at Fleadh 

Ceol na hEireann. 

FOOD VENUE 


2pm The Belfry 

Thomas Street Tel: 071 91 61250 

Comhaltas Traditonal Music 

Session with Irish Menu Serving a 

delicious traditional recipe lunch 

Menu-all day, this Trad Session will 

feature young musicians from the 

Fred Finn Branch of Comhaltas 

Ceoltoiri Eireann. The branch was founded in 1987, in 

memory of the renowned fiddle player from Kilavil. 

The branch has produced many fine young musicians 

who have gone on to achieve the highest accolades 

in feiseana, fleadhanna, Siamsa Gael Linn Music 

Competitions etc. 

From 5pm Sakura Oriental Restaurant 

Stephen St Tel: 071 91 49833 

For the last eight years, Sakura 

Oriental Restaurant has 

provided Sligo with an exciting 

Asian fusion of Thai, Chinese and Japanese cuisine 

winning many restaurant awards. The menu caters 

for every diners needs with a vast selection of dishes 

including Curries, Soups, Seafood and Duck while 

there are also some great vegetarian options. The 

head chef has been perfecting Asian cuisine for the 

last 15 years and uses only the freshest ingredients 

to create an exciting oriental experience. During the 

SÓ Festival, enjoy Chinese music with a very special 

offer menu. 


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FOOD VENUE 


pre 7pm Trá Bán Restaurant 


Early Bird Menu – €23.95 Set Menu Awarded Elite 

Membership of the 2011 BIM Seafood Circle, Trá 

Bán offers the best in fine dining, specialising in fresh 

Seafood & Steak. Their menu features dishes made 

with the finest local fresh produce, 

from both land and sea. The name 

Trá Bán is gaelic for “White Strand”, 

the beautiful unspoiled beach 

alongside the restaurant. 



Trad & Folk Session & Food - 

Fiddlers Creek bar and 

restaurant is situated in the 

heart of Sligo town. A warm welcome, good food & 

excellent service await all who visit. A long 

established bar, proud of their great food and warm 

surroundings. Enjoy traditional Irish lunches and A La 

Carte menu served from 1pm. Watch Cheltenham 

Races live all day on TV. 

2pm Garavogue 


Philip Duffy, Declan Courell & 

Colm Regan - Beautifully located 

on the banks of the Garavogue 

River, the Garavogue is a modern bar and is home to 

Kudos Bistro offering pizzas, pastas & much more. 

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For the day that is in it, sit back and enjoy a pint of 

Guinness & Traditional Irish Stew thanks to Dale & his 

Kudos staff for €10. Colin Regan is an accomplished 

and stylish accordion player hailing originally from 

Dublin. He is a talented musician with a strong and 

melodic style of playing. Philip Duffy is recognized as 

one of the finest fiddle players in the country. Originally 

from Tubbercurry, he has a fluent and rhythmic style. 

Declan Courell from Co. Mayo plays DADGAD tuning. 

His punchy & contemporary backing helps to drive the 

music. Declan’s repertoire of songs include 

compositions by Bob Dylan, Neil Young as well as 

influences from country music & folk music. 



Traditional Irish Music - Enjoy St. 

Patrick’s Day special in this lively Bridge 

Street venue. A great place to stop after 

the parade to hear 

local musicians in a lively 

session. There will be a 

selection of good food served 

in this very relaxed 

atmosphere. 


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3.30pm Mc Hugh’s 


Glenn Cal - Lively pub 

located in the centre of 

Sligo Town. Food will be served during the day from 

an extensive and imaginative menu with something 

to suit everyone. Singer-songwriter Glenn Cal, is 



in Sligo, Glenn was born and grew up on the north 

side of Cork city. On a recent return visit to his native 

town, he performed live on Cork’s 96FM, where 

presenter Neil Prenderville described Glenn as…” 

having tremendous passion in his 

voice. He has real conviction… he 

has something special…the 

songs are superbly written and 

performed”. 

6.30pm Bistro Bianconi 

O’Connell St Tel: 071 91 41744 

Grainne McCarthy & Kevin 

Healy - Soul Folk Blues. Soul 

food that won’t give you the blues! Grainne is 

passionate about singing and has performed many 

times at open mike nights both here and in Spain. 

Kevin has played in rock bands for years and is a 

member of The Antics, a successful four piece band 

based in Carrick-On- 

Shannon. The two musicians 

started gigging together 

about a year and a half ago 

and their music includes 

soul, folk, blues and pop. 

FOOD VENUE 


8.30pm Source Sligo 

John Street Tel: 071 91 47605 

Kieran Quinn & Dave Flynn - Jazz & Tapas. Enjoy 

a selection of wonderful food treats while listening 

to resident pianist Kieran Quinn who has quickly 

made the Thursday night ‘Source Sessions’ into a 

hugely popular event on the Sligo music calendar. 

This week’s guest is Wexford’s Dave Flynn, the 

superb vocalist and guitarist with whom Sligo 

audiences will be familiar from his appearances in An 

Evening With Sgt Pepper in 2010. Expect acoustic 

blues and some surprises! They will play in the wine 

bar situated on the 2nd floor, 

where you can enjoy 

beautiful wines produced 

from Sources own 

vineyards in the Languedoc 

region of France. The 

Restaurant on the ground 

floor showcases the best 

local produce available in 

Sligo and the North West. 

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MUSIC EVENTS 


1pm Fureys 


Spraoi Fureys is one of the premier 

homes of music in Sligo. A 

traditional pub with a really 

happening atmosphere. Spraoi (Winners of the 

Siamsa Gael Linn Competition 2009) have a new and 

distinctive approach to traditional music with great 

harmonies and dynamic arrangements of both old 

and new compositions. Unique to the group is the 

explosive African-influenced percussion playing of 

Paddy Hazelton. Niamh Farrell’s voice is recognized 

as potentially one of the most promising in the 

traditional idiom. The rich tones of the Irish harp are 

brought to this group by Elsa Kelly. Jos and Ted 

playing accordion, piano, 

banjo and guitar are the 

“rhythmical powerhouse of the 

group with their most 

imaginative instrumental 

arrangements”. 

Music Magazine 

The Irish 



Jazz Ladds 

Natural stone floors, open 

brickwork and a cheerful log fire 

make this a cosy place for a drink, a chat or a 

session. At lunch time the pub offers a selection of 

sandwiches, while tea, coffee and snacks are 

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available all day. The Jazz Ladds 

are Sligo’s longest established 

band. Though originally known 

as a traditional jazz band, they 

now include in the programme 

Latin American (Salsa etc.), 

Blues, Country and even the odd 

old time waltz, when required. The Jazz Ladds 

feature a 5 piece band, i.e. Trumpet, Tenor 

Saxophone, Clarinet, Harmonica, Lead Guitars, 

Bass, Rhythm Guitar, Drums and four members also 

feature on vocals. St. Patrick’s Day after the parade, 

the only place to be is The Harp Tavern - for an 

unforgettable afternoon’s entertainment in the 

company of Sligo’s own Jazz Ladds - The best 

Dixie/Trad band in the world. 

2pm & 6pm Kennedys 


Comhaltas Trad Music Session 

Sitting on the banks of the Garavogue 

River in the heart of Sligo is T.J 

Kennedys. The entrance is very modern & continental 

in style, but when you step in you are stepping back a 

century. Enjoy brilliant young musicians from 

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, who have achieved high 

accolades in feiseanna, fleadhanna, Siamsa Gael Linn 

Music Competition both here & abroad entertaining 

you in a great session after the parade. 

At 6pm Kennedy’s will host Gerry Harrington & Colm 

Regan. Gerry Harrington is from Kenmare, Co. Kerry, & is 

now living in Ballintogher, Co. Sligo. His fiddle style is 


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predominantly that of Sliabh Luachra. Gerry is a highly 

respected musician who has made several other 

recordings, including collaborations with Eoghan 

O’Sullivan, Charlie Piggott, Nancy Conescu & Peter 

Horan. He has just recorded a solo album “At Home”. 

Colm Regan (Accordion) is a talented & stylish musician, 

of Sligo roots, hailing originally from Dublin & now 

residing in Co Leitrim. Colm has played extensively at 

home & abroad and is glad to be back playing in the 

West. This lively set will have your feet tapping long into 

the evening. 



Tucan 

Beginning life as a mild mannered 

two piece (Donal Gunne & Pearse 

Feeney), they now have two new 

members, Paul Wherly & Keith Kelly. When playing 

live, the new additions combine with acoustic 

instrumentalists Gunne & Feeneys relentless energy 

and expertise with fat bass lines & atomic drums. 

This exciting Irish band will be followed by DJ 

Tommy Clarke at 10pm to dance the rest of the 

night away to a great 

mix of tunes in a happy, 

relaxed atmosphere. 

MUSIC EVENTS 


4pm O’Neill’s 

The Mall Tel: 071 91 41286 

Kell - Kell have gained a reputation as one of 

the finest Celtic-Rock fusion bands on the 

London-Irish circuit. This collection of 

musicians, including an All-Ireland Champion fiddle 

player and a multi-award winning mandolin player, 

have been described as energetic, eclectic & playing 

‘with a total disregard for the safety of their 

instruments’. Their set covers songs from artists as 

diverse as Elvis, The Pogues & 

Steve Harley, while their music 

always maintains a heart of pure 

Celtic rhythm & soul. 

7pm McHughs 


DJ - As it’s St.Patrick’s Day, 

come & enjoy this early disco set. 

7pm Shoot The Crows 


Rick Epping & Phillip Duffy & 

Guest. Philip Duffy is recognised as 

one of the finest fiddle players in the country. Hailing 

from Tubbercurry, Philip is also a 

member of Sligo’s well known 

“Dartry Céilí Band”. Rick Epping 

has been playing harmonica since 

his early childhood in California & 

has been playing Old Time, Blues & 

Irish music since his early teens. 


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MUSIC EVENTS 


9pm Sligo Park Hotel 

Pearse Road Tel: 071 91 90400 

Innisfree Céilí Band - Sligo Set 

Dancing. In 2008, the Innisfree 

Céilí Band became the first céilí band from the North 

Connacht region to win the coveted All-Ireland 

Senior Céilí Band competition at Fleadh Cheoil na 

hÉireann. Influenced by the legacy of the highlydeveloped 

musical environment of North Connacht, 

the Innisfree Céilí Band 

comprises a generation of 

musicians who grew up 

playing together, fusing 

individual skill through a 

shared stylistic impulse, to 

produce a distinctive and 

mature musical voice. 



Audio 3 followed by DJ 

Graham. The resident band 

Audio 3 will be playing all the 

top chart covers live on stage 

at 10pm followed byDJ 

Graham playing all 

the hits until late. 

14 

10pm Foleys 


Seamus Hernon & 

Rodney Lancashire 

Seamus Hernon is a native 

of Gurteen, Co. Sligo and has been playing the flute 

since he was six years old. His main influence and 

tutor was his father PJ Hernon the renouned 

accordion player. Rodney 

Lancashire is from Cootehill, Co. 

Cavan & plays bouzouki, 

mandolin, banjo & concertina. He 

has recorded CD’s with Mactire. 

10pm Kennedys 


Live Music 

Enjoy a great evening while 

being entertained by Sligo’s 

finest musicians. 


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An action packed day (and night) as the 

weekend continues with food inspired 

events throughout Sligo. Enjoy the 

Open Air Food Festival Market 12-6pm. 

From 10am KoKo Latte 

25 Quayside Shopping Centre Tel: 071 91 57826 

KoKo Latte’s Chocolate Tastings. Delicious 

and glorious chocolates to be discovered in 

our chocolate tastings throughout the day. 

10am Junior Masterchef Final 

St. Angela’s College, Clogherevagh, Co. Sligo 

Sponsor Connacht Gold 

Enjoy the excitement of the 

Junior Masterchef Final where talented students will go 

all out to impress the Só Sligo Judging Panel. The 

students will compile a menu of their choice, comprising 

of a starter, main course and dessert for two people. 

11am Teddybears’ Picnic 

Sligo City Library 

Sponsored by Cafe Mauds This 

free event is aimed at children aged 

under 5. Bring the little ones and 

their favourite teddy along for a fun 

storytime, followed by a yummy 

picnic lunch courtesy of Sligo 

Library and Cafe Mauds. 

11am Kiddies Make-it-Bake-it-Eat-it Pizza 

Community training centre, Cleveragh. 

5 of Sligo’s top Pizza Restaurants will teach children 

how to make, bake, and best of all, EAT a pizza. 

Places strictly limited and must be pre-booked 

through Festival office. 

FOOD VENUE 

Friday 18th March 



Delicious and inspired foods 

from throughout the North West 

will be available each day 

during the festival at the 

artisans market centrally 

located in Sligo town. 

1-2pm Painting with Vegetables 

Level 4, Quayside Shopping Centre (in front of NEXT) 

Sponsored by Total Produce 

Watch the kids get creative 

with some brightly-coloured 

paints & fantastic shapes 

made from their favourite 

vegetables. We bet there’ll be many a 

masterpiece created with aubergine dinosaurs, 

courgette spaceships & potato lovehearts! 

Davis's Restaurant @ Yeats Tavern 


St Patrick’s Art Competition. Draw a 

Patricks day themed Picture and win 

fabulous art prizes. Under 5 

competition, Under 8 competition & Under 12 

Competition. Entries must be received by Sat 19th 

March at 6pm. All entries will be on facebook from 

7pm Sat 19th March to Sun 11 am 

20th March. You can vote for your 


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favourite picture on facebook. SÓ get 

on to Davis’s Restaurant fan page and 

vote for your favourite. Prizes and 

judging will take place on Sunday 

20th at 11.45am. 

3pm KoKo Latte 


KIDS FREE EVENT: Dip & Twirl 

Grab a marshmallow, twirl 

it in chocolate from our 

cascading fountain, decorate with 

your favourite toppings & enjoy! 

3.30pm Lyons Café 


Louisiana Joyride with SÓ Sligo 

Food Specials - Delicious home 

cooked food and if like your music raw, drenched in 

whiskey and set to a funky country beat then this trio 

are full of surprises and not to be missed! 20% off 

the breakfast menu for SÓ Sligo Food Festival. 

Louisiana Joyride is comprised of Orla Lynch, Owen 

McNulty and Russty Li-Nesbitt 

(formerly of the Jim Armstrong 

Band). They have attracted a lot 

of attention since forming in late 

2008, reaching No.1 on the NI 

chart with their first single 

‘Whiskey’. They have played 

several sets in festivals all over Ireland. 

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4-5pm Reidy’s Bistro & Wine Bar 


Cook Fish with Reidy’s, Cooking with Shellfish. 

Masterchef Ger Reidy shares his own recipes & skills 

of shellfish and seafood cookery. Free admission to 

all demonstrations but places are limited to 20 

people per demo. SÓ Sligo Festival Specials at 

Reidy’s feature dishes from local food producers 

available daily from 5pm. All usual menus also 

available - open for lunch & dinner. 

from 5pm Sakura Oriental Restaurant 




provided Sligo with an exciting Asian fusion of Thai, 

Chinese and Japanese cuisine winning many 

restaurant awards. The menu caters for every diners 

needs with a vast selection of dishes including 

Curries, Soups, Seafood and Duck while there are 

also some great vegetarian options. The head chef 

has been perfecting Asian cuisine for the last 15 years 

& uses only the freshest ingredients to create an 

exciting oriental experience. During the SÓ Festival, 

enjoy Chinese music with a very special offer menu. 

5pm Yeats Tavern 


Hannah & Nell Kelly & Friends – Trad. A la Carte 

menu available until 9.30pm. Panini and snack menu 

also available. Lunch specials are traditional Irish 

dishes, Irish stew, fish pie, shepherds pie & bacon 


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cabbage at €10.90 (12pm to 3pm). Hannah Kelly 

(concertina) & Nell Kelly (fiddle) are two cracking 

young trad musicians from Rathcormack Sligo. They 

were winners of the all Ireland Duet competition in 

2007 & Nell is the current u12 All Ireland Fiddle 

champion. They play a range of 

great music including many Sligo 

style compositions as well as 

newly composed tunes “driving 

music of the highest quality”. 

5pm The Clarence 


Italian Dinner & Live Music Ticket. 

Three course Italian Dinner at Limoncello 

& ticket to Live Music Event for €25. Dinner will be 

served from 5pm - 10pm. Doors open for gig at 10pm. 

6pm Hargadons 


Ultan Conlon & Band – Folk. 

Good quality home cooked 

food is served in a friendly atmosphere. Hargadons 

use organically produced food where at all possible. 

All the food is sourced locally and they are proud to 

list their local suppliers on their menu. Their salads 

and vegetables are home grown at the owner’s new 

facility in Sligo. Enjoy Ultan Conlon’s performance at 

6pm - ”The most impressive Irish 

debut since Damien Rice’s O” 

according to The Evening Herald 

& Hotpress’s Olaf Tyaransen. An 

influential figure in Ultan’s life was 

the late John Martyn whom he 

supported several times. 

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6pm Fureys 


Spanish Evening with Felip 

Carbonell & Jim Meehan – Tapas 

by Café Arabica. Born in Mallorca, 

Felip Carbonell is a self taught guitarist, mostly 

influenced by the Catalan songwriter movement, 

flamenco & rumba styles. He worked in different 

bands in Spain during the 80s & 90’s before he moved 

to Ireland in 1998. He’s currently recording & touring 

as an integral part of the band NoCrows amongst 

several other musical projects. Jim Meehan is an 

experienced guitarist who plays with equal facility in 

Jazz & Trad settings. He has had an enduring musical 

partnership with Felip Carbonell over the past decade. 

He is featured as a guest 

artist with the Michael 

Waters Jazz Quartet in 

the Derry City Jazz 

Festival later this year. 

6pm Kennedys 


Feel Good Friday – Aoife Grennan & 

Complimentary Finger Food. Aoife 

Grennan lives in Strandhill, Co. Sligo. She has been 

gigging in Sligo from the age of 16, starting in 

McLynn’s Pub. She has also played gigs 

alongside her Dad, popular musician 

Gerry Grennan and in a session with 

singer /songwriter Paul Brady. 


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Early Bird Menu – €23.95 Set Menu. Awarded Elite 



Seafood & Steak. Their menu features dishes which 

are made with the finest local fresh 

produce, from both land & sea. The name 

Trá Bán is gaelic for “White Strand”, the 

beautiful unspoiled beach alongside the 

restaurant. Trá Bán was the original name 

for what is now known as the sea front. 

7pm The Venue 


Steak Night and Live Music. Friday 

night is Steak Night at The Venue. 

Enjoy a complimentary glass of 

housewine with every steak ordered 

& live music the front bar. According to 

MyGuideIreland.com “The food is marvellous, the view, 

spectacular: a dining experience not to be missed & not 

soon forgotten.” 


1/2 John St. Tel: 071 91 47605 

Wine, Dine and Demo 

Celebrate the best of Sligo’s 

seafood, shellfish & meat dishes €50. 

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7.30pm Silver Apple Restaurant 


Bouchon – Food. Expect conviviality, 

authentic Lyonnaise dishes, wines from 

Rhone expert, Simon Tyrrell 3 courses - €25. 

8pm Bistro Bianconi 


Hanneke Laura - Hanneke 

Laura is a Dutch 

singer/songwriter. Her style is a mixture of artists like 

Jewel, Tori Amos & Joni Mitchell – with a taste of 

Irish folk. Being magically attracted to the purity of 

acoustic music in Ireland she was a regular visitor to 

the country for years before moving here. 2007 saw 

the release of her first CD Silence of the Winds. At 

the start of 2009 she 

accompanied well-known artist 

Perry Blake for a few acoustic 

shows in The Netherlands & 

Ireland. She is currently 

promoting 

Storybook. 

her new CD, 


1/2 John St. Tel: 071 91 47605 

Threeplay – Jazz. Eddie Lynch (piano), and Eddie 

Mc Farlane (guitar) have played on the jazz scene in 

the North West for years. Both hail from Donegal and 

have played together in various formats. This 

included their well known residency in Sligo, where 

visiting musicians such as Louis Stewart, Mike 


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Neilsen, Richie and Michael 

Buckley have joined them on 

stage. They will play in the 

Wine Bar situated on the 2nd 

floor, where you can enjoy 

beautiful wines produced from 

Source’s own vineyards in the 

Languedoc region of France. Also a 

selection of the wonderful evening food treats 

created by their chefs will be available. 



Seafood Buffet with Bughouse 

Swing Band. A sumptuous feast 

of the freshest Atlantic fish, 

prepared by our expert chefs. 

Then dance the night away to the 

big band sounds of the Bug House Band. €20 per 

head. The Bughouse Band is a 5-piece jazz band 

that boasts an international line up of Mark Murphy 

piano, Ireland., Karl Burthom, guitar, GB., Stan 

Burns, sax, Ireland, Patrick Cerghetti, double base, 

France and Tony Travers, drums, Ireland-Cuba. 

The band play an exciting mix of jazz standards, 

swing, blues and latin, by well known jazz musicians 

like Duke Ellington, 

Herbie Hancock, Count 

Basie, Jobim and 

Brubeck to name a 

few. This has proved 

hugely popular at their 

recent residency in 

Markree Castle and 

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concert performances. The diverse musical 

background of the band members reflects in their 

arrangements and style. 



Live Music with Special Guest. You 

can enjoy a Three Course Italian Dinner 

at Limoncello prior to gig for €25 which 

includes your ticket. Price for gig only tickets are 

only €10. Doors open for the gig at 10pm. 


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MUSIC EVENTS 


6pm Ellens Pub 

Maugherow, Co Sligo Tel: 071 91 63761 

Traditional Session with lots of local talent. 



The Voodoos followed by DJ The 

band have recently returned from 

London after recording in a top facility 

with producer Ian Davenport and 

many believe that The Voodoos are the next big 

thing. Famous in their locality for unbelievable on 

stage energy and catchy tunes that have the crowd 

involved within minutes. They 

have spent the last year playing 

in the tourist area of 

Alicante/Murcia in Spain and 

have now returned to Ireland. 

9pm Brennan’s Pub 

Tubbercurry, Co Sligo Tel: 071 91 85116 

Traditional Session with lots of local 

talent. 

9.30pm Roisin Dubh 

Gurteen, Co Sligo Tel: 071 9182100 


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9.30pm Durkins 

Ballinacarrow, Co Sligo Tel: 071 91 30165 




Sinead Conway & The Odd 

Couple – Jazz. Sinead 

Conway is one of Ireland’s 

most versatile vocalists. Equally at home performing 

classical arias, jazz ballads or rocking out a lá Tina 

Turner, Sinead always puts smiles on faces and 

makes other singers green with envy! Her repertoire, 

like her vocal range, spans eras, her style makes 

everything sound fresh and new. Sinead has been 

working with Kieran Quinn, Eddie 

Lee and Ken McDonald, a 

jazz/lounge trio collectively 

known as The Odd Couple, for 

several years and they 

complement Sinead’s vocals 

perfectly with their sometimes 

smooth, always funky grooves. 

10pm Kennedys 


Finbar Magee & Terry Conlon – 

Folk/Country. From Armagh, Magee 

spent his formative years in rock music 

with the likes of Gus Isodore (Kiss From The Rose). 

After devoting time to medicine he returned to music 

as a stress antidote. His songs soon became 

recognized as high calibre; an elixir of Folk/ Country 


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with wit and sensitivity. Terry Conlon 

has toured the world in the 80s and 

90s with Thatch. He is a top class 

accordion player, brilliant story teller 

and an all round entertainer. 

10pm Belfry 


DJ Ciaran Carty. Ciaran has spent more 

than half his life entertaining the club 

loving public both in Ireland and abroad. 

He uses his fast music knowledge like a 

weapon of mass dance floor destruction. 

Ciaran is the ultimate party starter. 

10pm Foleys 


Declan Folan, Junior Davey & 

PJ Hernon - Traditional. 

Complimentary bowls of Irish stew served on the 

evening while you enjoy Declan Folan on fiddle. 

Declan hails from just outside Gurteen and is 

regarded as a fine exponent of the Sligo style. He is 

an All-Ireland Champion fiddle player and is enjoying 

wide acclaim as a concert and session musician. 

Junior Davey on bodhran is a five-time All-Ireland 

Champion who has retired from competition. He 

hails from near Gurteen in South Sligo and is a 

wonderful musician and compelling performer. 

Davey’s family has a deep rooted affiliation with Irish 

traditional music coming from an area rich in 

traditional music known as ‘Coleman Country’. P.J. 

Hernon a Galway man now living in Sligo is a gifted 

button accordion player. P.J. is a former member of 

the legendary traditional 

group “Shaskeen”. 

MUSIC EVENTS 


10pm Glasshouse Hotel 

Swan Point Tel: 071 91 94300 

In House DJ Dance the night away to 

this up tempo evening. 



Aviator followed by DJ – Rock 

Pop. Aviator is a Sligo based 

band who started out in June 

2005 playing all types of music to 

suit everybody’s taste. If its rock, 

pop, charts, classics, 50’s, 60’s, 

70’s, 80’s, 90’s or 00’s you want, 

then you’ve got it! 



Gerry Grennan & Eoin Troy – Folk 

Country Blues. Two heroes of Sligo 

folk, swing rhythm and blues giving a 

different twist to all those tunes you know and love. 

This eclectic mix of songs by many well known 

artists will include classics from Neil Young, Paul 

Brady, Bruce Springstein, J.J Cale, John Martyn. 

Eoin Troy on guitar and vocals, and 

Gerry Grennan on guitar, vocals and 

mandolin. Sean and the staff will 

be serving pizza for the SÓ Sligo 

Food Festival. 


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MUSIC EVENTS 




White Water followed by DJ 

Mark Cunning. Whitewater are a 

four piece Rock/Pop covers band with four chart 

singles to date. The band has established itself 

throughout Ireland touring the length and breadth of 

the country. They play all the latest hits as well as 

classic pop and rock. So sit back and enjoy a pint of 

Guinness and Traditional Irish Stew for €10 thanks 

to Dale & his Kudos staff . Followed by i102-104’s 

very own Mark Cunning one of the west’s if not 

Ireland’s best up and coming radio DJs. 

10pm The Leitrim Bar 

The Mall Tel: 071 91 43721 

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DJ Con & Crew. This venue is very 

popular for all the students in town & this 

DJ set will match your taste in music. 

10pm Mc Cullaghs 


Easy Rider & The Venusians - Rock 

& Blues. Easy Rider & The Venusians 

are a punchy 7 piece Rock and Blues band, playing 

classic covers guaranteed to get everyone on their 

feet. With set lists including songs by BB King, John 

Mayall, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Freddie 

King, Easy Rider create a timeless sound that’s 

based on solid tunes and great talent. Originally a 4 

piece band comprising of guitar/vocals, keyboard, 

bass and drums, Easy Rider were joined by a trio of 

backing singers for a headlining gig at the Dromahair 

Festival in 2010. The gig went 

down so well that the trio 

remained, to bring a beautiful 

depth of sound (and undeniable 

glamour) as the Venusians. 

10.30pm Shoot The Crows 


The Screamin’ Bluecats - Rockabilly. 

The Screamin’ Bluecats, a dynamic 

three piece rockabilly band, based in Galway have 

just released their debut album “Too Hot To Rock N’ 

Roll”. Formed in 1997 the band set out to recapture 

the raucous and energetic 

sounds of the 50’s rock ‘n’ roll, 

and their blistering live 

performances have thrilled 

audiences north and south of 

the country. 

10.30pm McHughs 

Grattan Street Tel: 071 9142030 

DJ Brendan Tierney. Live and 

interactive fun filled night with DJ 

Brendan for all the latest chart tunes 

and a vibrant atmosphere. 


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An action packed day (and night) of 

competitions, events, walks, demonstrations 

and artisan markets. Plan your Saturday 

to make the most of the abundant 

SÓ Sligo Festival offerings! 

8.30am Lyons Café 


Breakfast Club with Strange Things 

at 11am - Join Sligo’s popular 

breakfast venue for a selection of home cooked 

food ranging from full Irish to vegetarian to French 

toast & maple syrup. Consistently good food with 

20% off the breakfast menu for the SÓ Sligo Food 

Festival. You can then enjoy the wonderful sound of 

Strange Things at 11am. Strange Things are a duo 

featuring Declan Courell on Guitar/Vocals & James 

Gogarty on Mandolin/Vocals. Strange Things were 

formed in the early 1990s in the UK & performed in 

many venues in the Essex region. After a break of 

twenty years this group has reformed for the Sligo 

SÓ Sligo Food Festival. Strange Things perform a 

range of their own compositions as 

well as compositions penned by Neil 

Young, Paul Brady, Christy Moore, 

Steve Earle, The Pogues, as well as 

songs from the folk genre. 

9am Sligo Farmers’ Market 

with a SÓ twist IT Carpark, Ballinode 

“Proud supporters of the SÓ Sligo Food Festival”. 

Visit the largest out-door Farmers Market in the 

region hosting a wide range of fresh, local, seasonal, 

organic, and artisan produce at the family friendly 

location. Come and meet the producers 

during the Festival when events will 

include food tastings, demonstrations 

& family entertainment. 

TOUR 

FOOD VENUE 

Saturday 19th March 

9.45am Seaweed Identification Walk 

Strandhill 

Learn about edible seaweeds 

and seaweeds for cooking, the 

garden and cosmetic use. 

Johnny Waters from the Irish 

Seaweed Kitchen will lead the 

Seaweed Identification Walk. This year, with the full 

moon for March, low tide is at 11.30 am so the ideal 

starting time is 9.45am for registration with a 10 am 

sharp start. Seaweed walk tickets must be 

purchased in advance from Trá Bán Restaurant, 

Strandhill, or SÓ Sligo Festival Office, Johnston 

Court Shopping Centre, Sligo Price €10.00 per 

person or Family Ticket €25.00 

Gentle reminder, please bring your wellies and a 

weatherproof jacket or similar. Trá Ban Restaurant 

has a lunch special with a marine theme, a bowl of 

their superb chowder with their special breads for 

€10.00, a meal in a bowl. The chef, Cedric is also 

dispensing some of his cookery magic with a special 

SÓ Sligo cookery demonstration. You could then 

enjoy a singularly unique experience……A 

SEAWEED BATH IN STRANDHILL. Voya Seaweed 

Baths are entering into the Festival spirit by offering 

at reduced rates the most relaxing experience you 

have ever experienced. Bus Eireann will operate 

special fares on their schedules from Sligo Bus 

station to Strandhill return for €5.00. 


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KoKo Latte’s Chocolate Tastings. 

Delicious and glorious chocolates to be 

discovered in our chocolate tastings 

throughout the day. 



FREE Tea Tastings. Refresh your pallet 

and enjoy something out of the ordinary 

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with tastings of assorted teas from KoKo 

Latte’s 40+ range of loose-leaf varieties! 3 for the 

price of 2 on all 100g bags of loose-leaf 

tea to take home. 

10.30am-5pm Source Sligo 

1/2 John St. Tel: 071 91 47605 

Catch, Cook and Learn. All aboard the 

Fishing Boat at Rosses Point, fish with the 

experts and return to the Source Sligo cookery 

school to cook your catch! €95 

10.30am Source Sligo 

1/2 John St. Tel: 071 91 47605 

Dave Langford, Irish Potatoes. 

Workshop by this recognised expert on 

Growing & Cooking Irish Potatoes €10 

TOUR 

AM The Failte Ireland New 

Irish National Dish Final 

St Angela’s College, Clogherevagh 

In celebration of Irish food 

and the talent of our people 

and the glorious ingredients that are natural to us, 

amateur and professional chefs will vie to create a 

new signature dish for Ireland. The aim of this 

competition is to create a new Irish national dish, 

suitable for service in the regions deluxe restaurants. 

11am Visit to Coopershill 

House Deer Farm 

Fascinating tour to see the deer raised at this Deer 

Farm, set in the grounds of Coopershill House, 

Riverstown, Co. Sligo. Beautiful period residence, 

set in rolling parklands, a wonderful opportunity to 

see these gorgeous animals in a natural setting. 

Coopershill House has just achieved an entry in the 

Bridgestone Guides 100 Best Places To Stay and 

with an award-winning Restaurant to pamper 

tastebuds also. There will be opportunities to 

purchase pates, smoked venison etc. Can we 

recommend also the beautiful vinegars, all made by 

Coopershill award-winning chefs? Warning:- do 

NOT plan your trip wearing your designer shoes!! It’s 

a working farm, so, be prepared for a little mud! On 

our way home, we will stop at the 

new Food Fayre Village in Collooney 

where dynamic chef Maggie will 

meet us with delicious tastings of 

Venison from Coopershill Deer Farm, 

tastings of Gilligan’s beef 


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TOUR 

and absolutely gorgeous white and black puddings - 

all produce organic and delicious. While there, have 

a delicious coffee and scone from The Gourmet 

Parlour Coffee Shop and deli at specially reduced 

Festival prices. Those of you who LOVE OLIVES will 

think that you went to Olive Heaven! Tour departs 

Markievicz Road bus stop (opp Ulster Bank) at 

11.00am & returning lunch-time @ 1.30pm. Tour 

Price €15.00. Kiddies under 7yrs €5.00 Tickets must 

be purchased in advance from the Festival Office. 

11am A visit with the Brothers Yeats 

Guided tour through the Yeats Country to see for 

yourself, first hand, exactly what inspired the Nobel 

Prizewinning poet William Butler Yeats to write his 

magic. Live the view as you look across to where 

“The wind has bundled up the clouds high over 

Knocknarea” or the “Stolen Child” at mysterious and 

beautiful Glencar Lake to mention just a few of the 

sites which inspired one of Sligo’s most famous 

sons. Complete this magical journey with a visit to 

the Iconic Model Niland Galllery and see a sight 

which not many will be privileged see, one of the 

biggest exhibitions of the works of the “other Yeats 

brother”, Jack B Yeats. This is probably one of the 

most comprehensive collections of Jack Yeats works 

on exhibition in the world and has been loaned to the 

Gallery by collectors, from around the world. This is 

a unique and never to be repeated opportunity. The 

tour of the collection will be guided by staff of the 

Gallery. While there, seize an opportunity to sip a 

coffee in the new Conrad’s 

Kitchen Restaurant recently 

opened by Michelin starred 

chef, Conrad Gallagher. Your 

wonderful afternoon finishes 

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here in the centre of town, within walking distance of 

all the fun of the SÓ Sligo Food Festival, with enough 

time before your evening dine-out experience to 

wander through the Food Village. Coach departs 

Sligo Bus station at 11.00am. Tickets must be 

purchased in advance from the Festival Office. 



Delicious and inspired foods from the 

North West will be available each day 

throughout the festival at the artisans 

market centrally located in Sligo town. 

12 noon Café Victor 

JFK Parade Tel: 071 91 40440 

Special Afternoon Tea with 

Classical Music. Enjoy this 

afternoon special with homemade scones, served 

with whipped cream and local jam. Celebrate the 

food festival Ritz style with all sorts of 

tasty delights in tiny portions. There 

will also be a classical music 

performance by Isabelle Fahy at 1pm. 


1/2 John St. Tel: 071 91 47605 

Ultan Conlon. The Restaurant in Source 

showcases the best local produce available in 

Sligo and the North West. Daily Lunch Special 

includes a lunch platter Special for 


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FOOD VENUE 


€13.50 served from 12pm - 5pm. Platter includes 

one soup and one main dish. Both are served 

together. Enjoy Ultan Conlon’s performance at 1pm 

- ”The most impressive Irish debut since Damien 

Rice’s O” according to The Evening Herald & 

Hotpress’s Olaf Tyaransen. An influential figure in 

Ultan’s life was the late John Martyn whom he 

supported several times. Martyn was so impressed 

with Ultans songwriting that he 

requested to record one of 

Ultan’s tracks with him and his 

previous band Ultan John. The 

resulting track ‘Really Gone’ was 

sadly Martyn’s final release 

1.30pm Café Souperb 

Johnston Court Tel: 071 91 4774 

Louisiana Joyride. Café Souperb 

serves a selection of delicious 

homemade soups, quiches and freshly made 

sandwiches, together with homemade desserts, 

scones and cookies. Louisiana Joyride is comprised 

of Orla Lynch, Owen McNulty and Russty Li-Nesbitt 

(formerly of the Jim Armstrong Band). LJ have 

attracted a lot of attention since forming in late 2008, 

reaching No.1 on the NIchart with 

their first single ‘Whiskey,’ 

followed by the successful launch 

of their first EP, ‘The Journey 

Through,’ in Nov 2009. 

Widespread media interest has 

resulted in several live radio sets 

26 

on BBC Radio Ulster, KCLR, Raidio Failte and 

Feilefm, and interviews with Hotpress Magazine, 

ATL, CultureNI and The Big List – all detailing the 

bands explosion onto the Irish alt-country scene. 

2pm World Irish Stew 

Championships Final 

St Angela’s College, Clogherevagh 

Sponsored by: 

Our inaugrural competition last year 

attracted worldwide publicity and 

in 2011 we are seeking to give 

the Irish Stew the recognition it 

deserves. Join us to see this 

fascinating competition in action. 

2pm Glasshouse Hotel 


Taste of Sligo Cookery 

Demonstration. The Glasshouse 

acclaimed chef will cook four dishes 

(two meat and two fish dishes) upstairs in The View 

Bar comprising completely of local Sligo produce. 

2pm-5pm KoKo Latte 

@ the Só Sligo Festival Market Tel: 071 91 57826 

Krispy Bun Making - CHILDRENS 

EVENT. Go mad with a mixing bowl & a 

wooden spoon and 

make your own Belgian Chocolate 

Krispy Buns, complete with your 

favourite edible decorations! €1 

contribution. 


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TOUR 

2pm Lily’s Café 

Yeats Building, Hyde Bridge Tel: 071 91 42693 

Hanneke Laura – Folk Singer. Lily’s will be 

serving a SÓ Special Homemade Burger 

with Chips & Salad. Hanneke Laura is a 

Dutch singer/songwriter. Her style is best described 

as a mix of the sounds of artists like Jewel, Tori 

Amos & Joni Mitchell - with a taste of Irish folk. She 

has played at several festivals in The 

Netherlands & Ireland over the past 

few years and in 2009 accompanied 

well-known artist Perry Blake for a 

few of those shows. She is currently 

promoting her new CD, Storybook. 

2.30pm Visit to Organic Centre 

Rossinver Tel: 071 98 54338 

Anyone who has an opportunity to visit this World 

famous centre should never pass it up. This is a 

unique spot in the beautiful heart of Co. Leitrim. This 

centre has ‘grown’ and ‘grown’ over the years. A 

visit here will make the most hardened “antigardener” 

want to go home and try to grow all the 

wonderful vegetables and herbs seen here. Hans 

and Gaby make this place come alive as they walk 

you around the various gardens their enthusiasm is 

infectious! Sample delicious coffee and cakes in the 

restaurant under a spectacularly different grass 

roofed restaurant with plenty of opportunities to buy 

your spring seeds, plants and gardening tools. Don’t 

be surprised if you feel that the 

whole place has a slightly familiar 

look to it; this is where the famous 

chef Neven Maguire shops for his 

herbs and vegetables!! Do you 

FOOD VENUE 


want any further recommendation?! Tour departs 

Markievicz Road bus stop (opp Ulster Bank) at 

2.30pm. Tour Price: Adults €20.00. Kiddies under 7 

years €5.00 Family ticket €30.00. (Does not include 

refreshments). Tickets must be purchased in 

advance from the Festival Office. 

2.30-5.30pm Come to The Street Party 

O’Connell Street 

Entertainment for All the Family The street will be 

closed to traffic and open to fun all afternoon. There 

will be live music and dance all afternoon. Top class 

traditional musicians & the best of Sligo’s dancers 

are sure to keep the party mood up tempo & you will 

be encouraged to join in. So bring your dancing 

shoes. Pizza rolling competition with Dale of Kudos. 

Pizza and pasta cook out by Bistro Bianconi. 

2.30pm Grappa 


Celtic Flare - Traditional. Connacht Trio 

champions Celtic Flare musicians Nell 

Kelly (fiddle), Hannah Kelly (concertina), 

& Aine Martin (harp) play sweet traditional music with 

a distinct Sligo style. The girls note ‘we have been 

playing Irish music since we were able to first blow 

into a tin whistle, arranging 

and performing our wonderful 

traditional music has been so 

much fun’. 


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FOOD VENUE 


2.30pm Garavogue 


6 Nations Rugby Finale with Burger & 

Beer Promo. Scrum down for some serious 

rugger with great food all day and a burger & pint 

promotion for €10 with thanks to Dale and his Kudos staff 

in the Garavogue. They have the Six Nations final matches 

with Scotland v Italy @ 2:30pm Ireland v England @ 5pm 

& France v Wales @ 7:45pm. For the night owls they have 

DJ Graham back in from 10pm until late. 

2.30pm Johnston Court 

O’Connell St, Sligo 

Silver Apple Workshop - dips & 

marinades. Workshop at Johnston 

Court by celebrated chef Louise 

Kennedy. Louise will demonstrate how 

to make funky dips, pesto and 

marinades. You will also be able to 

taste these delightful dips with some of 

her homemade bread. 



Cook Fish with Reidy’s, Cooking methods and 

recipes for cooking with flat fish. Masterchef Ger 

Reidy shares his own recipes & skills of shellfish and 

seafood cookery. Free admission to all demonstrations 

but places are limited to 20 people per demo. SÓ Sligo 

Festival Specials at Reidy’s feature dishes from local 

food producers available daily from 5pm. All usual 

menus also available - open for lunch & dinner. 

28 



Early Bird Menu – €23.95 Set Menu. Awarded Elite 



Seafood and Steak. Their menu features dishes 

which are made with the finest local fresh produce, 

from both land and sea. The name Trá Bán is gaelic 

for “White Strand”, the 

beautiful unspoiled beach 

alongside the restaurant. 

Trá Bán was the original 

name for what is now 

known as the sea front. 

4pm Café Fleur 


Sarah Crummy & Hugh O’Neill. 

Sarah Crummy is a 

singer/songwriter from Sligo town 

who plays piano and guitar. She has won midlands 

final of ‘stars in yer eyes’ and won the coveted Our 

Schools got Talent this year. She covers many songs 

from a range of genres and also plays some of her 

own original songs. Hugh O’Neill since winning 

RTE’s talent show ‘Class Act’ a few years ago, has 

been balancing a life between school, writing and 

recording. He has a talent beyond his years. Don’t 

miss the chance to see 

both these rising stars. 


S 

4pm Kennedys 


Charity BBQ for friends of Sligo 

General Hospital - 

Rugby International. Get behind 

the pack at this fundraising BBQ 

while enjoying the rugby 

international of Ireland vs England. 

4.30pm Shenanigans 


Famous Threesome for International 

Rugby. Check out this threesome of 

drinks and food while enjoying the rugby 

in this relaxed and friendly atmosphere. 

4.30pm The Belfry 


SÓ Sligo Food Gourmet Baskets for 

International Rugby. Enjoy the 

International Rugby in the atmospheric 

Belfry with their delicious complimentary 

SÓ Sligo Food gourmet baskets. 

4.30pm Shoot The Crows 


Guinness Stew for International 

Rugby. Scrumptious complimentary 

bowls of Guinness stew and 

homemade brown bread will be 

served during the rugby match. 

All produce local & home grown. 

FOOD VENUE 


4.30pm McHughs 

Grattan Street Tel: 071 9142030 

Special Sligo SÓ Food Bar 

Bites & International Rugby. 

Enjoy the Six Nations mixed grill & the bar bites 

between the games. 

from 5pm Sakura Oriental Restaurant 




provided Sligo with an exciting Asian fusion of Thai, 

Chinese and Japanese cuisine winning many 

restaurant awards. The menu caters for every diners 

needs with a vast selection of dishes including 

Curries, Soups, Seafood and Duck while there are 

also some great vegetarian options. The head chef 

has been perfecting Asian cuisine for the last 15 

years and uses only the freshest ingredients to 

create an exciting oriental experience. During the SÓ 

Festival, enjoy Chinese music with a very special 

offer menu. 



Irish Rugby International with Zoltan. 

Watch England take the hits as Ireland 

crank it up. Turn up the heat, it’s spicy 

Mexican and Ireland v England. Great Mexican food 

will be served all day. Zoltan (previously of the 

Violets) will perform directly after the 


29

FOOD VENUE 


Ireland versus England game. This will be a rhythmic 

fusion of reggae, funk, blues, rock and world music. 

6pm The Venue 


Seafood Day! Excellent choice of local seafood on 

the a la carte menu – lobster,crab claws mussels and 

much more. Live music in front bar. According to 

MyGuideIreland.com “The food is 

marvellous, the view, spectacular: a 

dining experience not to be missed 

and not soon forgotten.” 

6.30pm Hargadons 


The Screamin Bluecats - 50s 

Rock & Roll. Hargadon’s 

serve good quality home cooked food in a friendly 

atmosphere up until 9pm. They use organically 

produced food where at all possible. The food is 

sourced locally and Hargadons is proud to list its 

local suppliers on their menu. Their salads and 

vegetables are home grown at the owner’s new 

facility in Sligo. The Screamin’ Bluecats, a dynamic 

three piece rockabilly band, based in Galway 

(Ireland) have just released 

their debut album “Too Hot To 

Rock N’ Roll”. Formed in 1997 

the band set out to recapture 

the raucous and energetic 

sounds of the 50’s rock ‘n’ 

30 

roll, and their blistering live performances have 

thrilled audiences north and south of the country. 

7pm Sligo Park Hotel 

Pearse Road Tel: 071 91 90400 

Jazz Dinner with Threeplay 

Enjoy this amazing evening in the 

Hazlewood Restaurant with a four star dinner and 

complimentary glass of champagne while listening 

to this top class jazz duo. Eddie Lynch on piano and 

Eddie Mc Farlane on guitar have played on the jazz 

scene in the North West for 

years. Both hail from 

Donegal and have played 

together in various formats. 

“Threeplay” create a popular 

sound of easy listening, 

mainstream jazz. 

7pm The Glasshouse Hotel 


Raw Chocolate and Rugby 

Between the rugby matches enjoy 

Raw Chocolate who are a blend of 8 

voices, based in the hills of Lovely Leitrim. 

Combining contemporary and original songs, the 

group brings a unique edge to “a capella” singing. 

With songs on the setlist from musicians such as 

Feist, Bob Dylan and Iron & Wine, as well as 

songwriters Amy O’Hara and Tony Tyrrell, Raw 

Chocolate add their own distinct sound. This set will 

be followed by a DJ. 


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7.30pm Fiddlers Creek 


Louisiana Joyride. You can enjoy 

a great meal in the Fiddlers 

Restaurant and if you like your 

music raw, drenched in whiskey and set to a funky 

country beat then this trio are full of surprises and 

not to be missed. Louisiana Joyride is comprised of 

Orla Lynch, Owen McNulty and Russty Li-Nesbitt 

(formerly of the Jim Armstrong Band). They have 

attracted a lot of attention since 

forming in late 2008, reaching 

No.1 on the NIchart with their 

first single ‘Whiskey’. They have 

played several sets in festivals 

all over Ireland. 



Taste of Britany & The JPTrio. Enjoy 

Breton style sea food dishes with dessert 

and glass of wine €20. Described as ‘the 

new cutting edge of fused traditional music’ by 

Martin O’Connor, The JPTrio are an inventive and 

fresh new group. All three musicians are founding 

members of Spraoi. 

Heavily influenced by jazz 

along with Irish music the 

group is unique and 

exciting fusing both 

genres and creating a 

brand new sound. 

FOOD VENUE 




African Party followed by DJ 

Pedro. A delicious African Buffet (a 

tapestry of food from across the 

continent) with live African Music 

and dance followed by Afrobeat DJ Pedro. €20 per 

person. One of Irelands original community samba 

bands Samboeire play groves that make you want to 

move your feet, mixing well-known Brazilian rhythms 

with flavours of Cuba and Africa creating one big, 

funky live sound. 


1/2 John St. Tel: 071 91 47605 

Nicola Cleary and Felip Carbonnell. 

Internationally renowned musicians Nicola 

Cleary on violin and Felip Carbonell on Spanish 

guitar create an appetising programme of classical 

and South American music for this special event. 

The duo creates a very atmospheric sound, as 

pleasant to your ears as melted chocolate is to your 

palate. They will play in the Wine Bar situated on the 

2nd floor, where you can enjoy beautiful wines 

produced from their very own 

vineyards in the Languedoc 

region of France. Also available 

will be a selection of the 

wonderful evening food treats 

created by the chefs at Source. 


31

MUSIC EVENTS 


8pm The Model 

The Mall Tel: 071 91 70933 

Mike Neilsen Quartet - A new exciting acoustic 

quartet assembled by guitarist Mike Nielsen, the 

group brings together some of the finest musicians 

on the scene today: Boston born vocalist Ellen 

Demos; clarinetist, Brendan Doyle and percussionist 

Shane O’Donovan. The music, composed by the 

leader, is innovative and comprises an eclectic mix 

of musical influences from jazz, classical, rock and 

traditional cultures. Their new CD, Acoustic Sound 

Recipes, was critically acclaimed in the Irish Times: 

“Guitarist Mike Nielsen’s fine quartet marries jazz 

with Indian, Caribbean, Jewish and African idioms to 

create a fascinating hybrid ” 

9pm Radisson Blu Hotel 

Ballincar Tel: 071 91 40008 

Collette Sheerin & Friends. ‘Take 

your Colours’ is the sparkling, 

shimmering debut album from Offaly–born, 

Sligo–based musician Collette Sheerin. This album is 

a musical breath of fresh air and possesses a purity 

that sets it apart from an ocean 

of current releases. Shane 

Reynolds will be joining her on 

guitar and banjo. Shane is from 

Sligo and has been playing 

guitar for years. Anna Houston 

will also be playing with them 

on mandolin, cello and banjo. 

32 



This Side Up – Hip Hop/Rap. “This 

Side Up”,are an all original Hip Hop 

group hailing from the badlands of 

Sligo. They rock funky fresh west 

coast (of Ireland) rhymes over head 

nodding homemade beats. From the 

true hip hoppers to the converted 

sceptics everybody enjoys watching 

This Side Up raise the roof. 



Finbar Magee and Terry 

Conlon. These two South 

Armagh artists performed together recently on 

BBC’s Blas Ceol.. Terry (formerly of “Thatch”) has 

toured all over the world. He appeared on TV several 

times on BBC’s “Shamrock, Rose and Thistle”. An 

outstanding accordion player, and a dynamic wit! 

Finbar won several song 

writing competitions 

including Armagh’s Joe 

O’Toole Song Competition 

in 2010. “… a superb mix 

of humour, social comment, 

and wonderful ballads – 

Lynne Anderson, Music 

Coordinator, 

Music Festival. 

Montrose 


S 



DJ-Ciaran Carty. Ciaran has spent 

more than half his life entertaining the 

club loving public both in Ireland and 

abroad. He uses his vast music 

knowledge like a weapon of mass dance floor 

destruction. Ciaran’s the ultimate party starter! 



The Voyeurs. THE VOYEURS are Clíona Walshe and 

Colm McLoughlin on vocals, Brendan McGowan and 

Nicky O’Boyle on guitar, Feargal Walshe bass and 

Shane Whelan on drums. This North 

Mayo band play a wide variety of 

rock covers from The Pixies to 

Florence & The Machine and from 

The Rolling Stones to Pearl Jam. 



DJ Des Mc Aleer-Dance 

Music. Des Mc Aleer of Ocean 

FM plays a mix of chart hits. His 

mix is of the greatest hits of all time from a library of 

42,000 songs and videos. 

10pm O’ Neill’s 

The Mall Tel: 071 91 41286 

Jackk & Jones. Jackk and Jones is a new 

duo of Leon Mooney on guitar /harmonica 

and Leslie Jones on mandolin. They play an 

eclectic mix of folk, rock and country with a 

traditional bluegrass twist. This is a 

high energy show drawing 

on influences from the 

Appalachian Mountains 

integrated with songs from 

Neil Young to Steve Earle. 

MUSIC EVENTS 




DJ Princess – Dance Music 

Pop disco – a students’ favourite. 



Nighthawks. This classic two piece 

plays country covers. 

Aidan and Donal always 

play a lively night at the Harp. Songs 

from Mick Hanly to The Eagles. 



DJ Graham. All you night owls 

will enjoy DJ Graham. 

10pm Foleys 


Seamus Hernon & Rodney 

Lancashire – Traditional. 

Sample the best of Irish Craft Beers while enjoying 

the music of Seamus Hernon, a native of 


33

MUSIC EVENTS 


Gurteen County Sligo who has been playing flute 

since he was six years old. His main influence & tutor 

was his father PJ Hernon the 

renowned accordion player. 

Rodney Lancashire is from 

Cootehill County Cavan & 

plays bouzouki, mandolin, 

banjo & concertina. He has 

recorded CD’s with Mactire. 

10pm The Leitrim Bar 

The Mall Tel: 071 91 43721 

DJ Con & Crew. This popular student 

venue will be rocking the night away. 

10pm Kennedys 


Kell. Kell have gained a reputation as 

one of the finest Celtic-Rock fusion 

bands on the London-Irish circuit. This 

collection of musicians, including an All-Ireland 

Champion fiddle player and a multi-award winning 

mandolin player, have been described as energetic, 

eclectic and as playing ‘with a total disregard for the 

safety of their instruments’. Their set covers songs 

from artists as diverse as 

Elvis, The Pogues and 

Steve Harley, while their 

music always maintains a 

heart of pure Celtic 

rhythm and soul. 

34 

10.30pm McHugh’s 


DJ Sean Brown. Climax to your 

SÓ Sligo weekend, Sean will have 

u up off your seat till late. 



Patrons Party with Resident DJ 

Tommy Finan. Tommy and the lads will 

give you a night to remember in one of 

Sligo’s favourite night spots with three floors and an 

eclectic mix of music. 

11.30pm The Velvet Room 

Kempten Promenade Tel: 071 91 44721 

Velvet Room Nightclub. Velvet 

Room for style and sophistication. 

The Nightclub boasts four bars, 

two dance floors and a state of the art sound 

system. It brings a new era to nightlife in Sligo. With 

an impressive exterior looming over the Garavogue 

and a lusciously designed interior, the Velvet Room 

has proved incredibly 

popular with their 

many guests so far. It 

also caters for Hen 

and Stag parties. 


S 

No sign of slowing down, the SÓ Sligo 

Festival kicks into action with events, from 

BBQs and street parties to lazy Sunday 

afternoon lunches and brunches. 

10.30am Source Sligo 

1/2 John Street Tel: 071 91 47605 

Food of our Forefathers. A refreshing foraging 

walk and talk, demonstration and tasting as our 

forefathers would have experienced. €15 



Delicious and inspired foods 

from the North West will be 

available each day throughout 

the festival at the artisans market 

centrally located in Sligo town. 

12 noon Garavogue 


Snags & Stubbies BBQ. 

To round off your 

weekend Dale and the Kudos staff are 

putting on a BBQ with “Snags & 

Stubbies” between 12pm and 4pm with 

bottle’s of Selected Erdinger all from €4.00. 

12 noon Tobergal Lane French Street Party 

A little corner of France in Sligo, join this Street Party 

for Barbeque, Street Theatre, Music, Face Painters 

and more. 

FOOD VENUE 

Sunday 20th March 



The Jazz Ladds - Jazz. Lunchtime 

jazz session with the Jazz Ladds - 

now in their 15th year playing at the 

Harp Sunday Sessions, they just get better with age. 

Their talents and enthusiasm are really remarkable. 

Long may it continue. Though originally known as a 

traditional jazz band, they now include in the 

programme Latin American (Salsa 

etc.), Blues, Country and even the 

odd old time waltz, when required. 

The Jazz Ladds feature a 5 piece 

Band, i.e. Trumpet, Tenor 

Saxophone, Clarinet, Harmonica, 

Lead Guitars, Bass, Rythm Guitar, 

Drums and four members also 

feature on vocals. 



Growing your own organic vegetables 

A talk by Dermot Carey head gardener of 

Lissadell house, followed by delicious lunch 

with fab vegetarian options and 

glass of wine €20. Creating 

special dishes using local 

produce sourced within 50 miles 

of Sligo, served until 10pm. 


35

FOOD VENUE 


1pm Clarion Hotel 

Clarion Road Tel: 071 91 61250 

Hanneke Laura – Folk. Hanneke Laura is a Dutch 

singer/songwriter. Her style is a mixture of artists like 

Jewel, Tori Amos & Joni Mitchell - with a taste of Irish 

folk. Being magically attracted to the purity of 

acoustic music in Ireland she was a regular visitor to 

the country for years before moving here. 2007 saw 

the release of her first CD Silence of 

the Winds. At the start of 2009 she 

accompanied well-known artist Perry 

Blake for a few acoustic shows in The 

Netherlands & Ireland. She is currently 

promoting her new CD, Storybook. 



Lazy Sunday - Jazz with The JPTrio. 

Lazy Sunday afternoon Brunch at 

Tobergal Lane Cafe, Jazz with The 

JPTrio, Newspapers and of course a delicious menu 

of all the best brunch dishes. Described as ‘the new 

cutting edge of fused traditional music’ by Martin 

O’Connor, the JPTrio are an inventive and fresh new 

group. All three musicians are founding members of 

Spraoi. Heavily influenced by jazz 

along with Irish music the group 

are unique and exciting fusing 

both genres together creating a 

brand new sound. 

36 

3pm Mc Hugh’s 


Jazz Brunch with Kieran 

Quinn & Eddie Lee. 

Pianist Kieran Quinn has been creating quite a stir in 

the Sligo music scene in recent years. One of Sligo’s 

busiest musicians, he appears regularly in several 

guises: as musical director with several shows, 

including the brilliant “An Evening with Sgt Pepper”; 

as solo pianist and with his bands The Swing and 

Soul Revue and The Odd Couple. His jazz 

treatments of pop hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody 

and Pianoman show he is an arranger of real talent 

and is equally at home 

performing rock and soul 

classics. Experienced 

double bassist Eddie Lee 

accompanies Kieran for a 

special afternoon session 

of smooth jazz & pop 

standards. 

4pm Koko Latte 


Ultan Conlon. Sit back and enjoy a glass of 

wine with complimentary nibbles and tasty 

homemade dips and bread whilst taking in 

the cool sounds of Ultan Conlon in the comfortable 

surrounds of the KoKo Latte lounge. Ultan’s recent 

single ‘The Universe Tune’ soared to No 6 in the Irish 

charts last year and Ultan has been gigging non-stop 

as a solo artist since. An influential figure in Ultan’s 


S 

life was the late John Martyn. He has played at 

various festivals, most 

recently The Hard Working 

Class Heroes festival and The 

Electric Picnic. “The most 

impressive Irish debut since 

Damien Rice’s O” according 

to The Evening Herald & 

Hotpress’s Olaf Tyaransen. 

4pm Osta 

Hyde Bridge Tel: 071 91 44639 

The Williams Sisters - American Folk. 

The Williams Sisters are a Sligo based 

musical duo who have just begun to 

surface in the local music scene. American born 

songwriters Mara (guitar) and Rebecca (piano) 

heavily employ the use of harmony in their music, 

capitalising on the haunting sounds created when 

their two voices blend. With influences ranging from 

Sufjan Stevens, Alison 

Krauss and Regina 

Spektor, The Williams 

Sisters have a unique 

sound that subtly fuses 

American folk with 

different genres of pop 

music throughout the decades. 



Cook Fish with Reidy’s, Cooking methods and 

recipes for whole fish cookery. Cooking with 

Shellfish. Masterchef Ger Reidy shares his own 

recipes and skills of shellfish and seafood cookery. 

Free admission to all demonstrations but places are 

FOOD VENUE 


limited to 20 per per demonstration. SÓ Sligo 

Festival Reidy’s Food Fair Festival dishes from local 

food producers available daily from 5pm. All usual 

menus also available - open for lunch and dinner. 

From 5pm Sakura Oriental Restaurant 



Oriental Restaurant has provided 

Sligo with an exciting Asian fusion of Thai, Chinese 

and Japanese cuisine winning many restaurant 

awards. The menu caters for every diners needs 

with a vast selection of dishes including Curries, 

Soups, Seafood and Duck while there are also some 

great vegetarian options. The head chef has been 

perfecting Asian cuisine for the last 15 years and 

uses only the freshest ingredients to create an 

exciting oriental experience. During the SÓ Festival, 

enjoy Chinese music with a very special offer menu. 



Early Bird Menu – €23.95 Set Menu. Awared Elite 



Seafood and Steak. Their 

menu features dishes which 

are made with the finest local 

fresh produce, from both land 

and sea. The name Trá Bán is 


37

FOOD VENUE 


gaelic for “White Strand”, the beautiful unspoiled 

beach alongside the restaurant. Trá Bán was the 

original name for what is now known as the sea front. 



“La Grande Table”. Join us at 

one very long table for a relaxed 

convivial meal of local produce 

prepared by Head Chef Floriane 

Beghin served with a feast of 

entertaining party pieces by 

some of our famous and not so famous local talent 

(you’d never know who you might be sitting beside!) 

Booking essential €20 per person. 

38 



Sunday M.A.S.S - Mad Acoustic 

Sunday Session. People are 

flocking to Sunday M.A.S.S. at 

McGarrigles every Sunday at 8pm. 

Local musicians from different genres meet with their 

instruments and Jam. The four core musicians invite 

special guests every 

week to join in. There 

is no set list, so the 

night is full of musical 

surprises for the 

M.A.S.S. goers and 

musicians alike. 

9.30pm Fureys 


Fuze Box – Rock, Traditional Irish, 

Scottish and Jazz. “Fuzebox” are 

an eclectic band that “fuses” 

traditional Irish music with contemporary rhythms. 

These accomplished musicians have played many 

different styles of music over the last number of 

years. The group is influenced by Rock, Traditional 

Irish, Scottish and Jazz 

genres. Fuzebox features; 

Sean Carroll - Accordion / 

Low Whistles, Declan Courell 

- Guitar / Vocals, Dave Carty - 

Bass, Tom Jamieson - Drums 

/ Percussion. 


S 

10pm McHugh’s (Downstairs) 


DJ Scruffy Duffy - 

Disco/Chart Hits. Scruffy 

is without a doubt one of the most experienced and 

professional DJ’s in Ireland. From his highly 

successful karaoke shows in the 

Canary and the Channel islands, he 

has established himself as one of 

the most influential and respected 

entertainers of his profession. 

10pm McHugh’s (Upstairs) 


Glenn Cal - Lively pub 

located in the centre of 

Sligo Town. Food will be served during the day from 

an extensive and imaginative menu with something 

to suit everyone. Singer-songwriter Glenn Cal, is 



in Sligo, Glenn was born and grew up on the north 

side of Cork city. On a recent return visit to his native 

town, he performed live on Cork’s 96FM, where 

presenter Neil Prenderville described Glenn as…” 

having tremendous passion in 

his voice. He has real 

conviction… he has 

something special…the 

songs are superbly written 

and performed”. 

MUSIC VENUE 


Janet Devin, Amateur Champion 

Janet Devin, 45, beat ten finalists to become the 

world’s first amateur Irish stew champion. Mrs. 

Devin emerged the winner thanks to the marblesized, 

gluten free dumplings that topped her stew. 

The main ingredient of mutton was cooked slowly 

for two hours along with the vegetables. The special 

ingredient that gave an extra kick of flavor was 

bundles of herbs – rosemary, parsley & thyme. 

Dumplings were made from flour, herbs, parmesan 

cheese and buttermilk, topped with grated cheddar. 

INGREDIENTS 

Stew: mutton, onions, potatoes, carrots, stock, as 

well as handful of rosemary, parsley & thyme 

Dumplings: Flour, mixed herbs, parmesan cheese 

& buttermilk, and they are topped with grated 

cheddar cheese 

METHOD 

1. Coat the mutton in flour, fry briefly in a pan and 

transfer to round earthenware pot. 

2. Add onions, potatoes, carrots, rosemary, 

parsley and thyme as well as the stock 

3. Slow cook at about 140C for up to two-and-ahalf 

hours 

4. Blend the dumpling mixture in a bowl until you 

get a thick consistency and roll to marble size 

5. When it is cooked, place dumplings in it, top 

with grated cheddar and grill for 20 minutes. 


39

Friday 18th March... 

11am Teddybears’ Picnic 

Sligo City Library Tel: 071 91 42212 

Sponsored By: Cafe Mauds 

Age Group: Children under 5 

Charge: FREE 

Bring the little ones and their 

favourite teddies along for some a 

fun storytime, followed by a yummy 

picnic lunch courtesy of Sligo Library & Cafe Mauds. 

1-2pm Painting with Vegetables 


Sponsored By: Total Produce 

Age Group: Under 10s 

Charge: FREE 

Watch the kids get creative with 

some brightly-coloured paints 

and fantastic shapes made from 

their favourite vegetables. We bet there’ll be many 

a masterpiece created with aubergine dinosaurs, 

courgette spaceships and potato lovehearts! 

3-5pm Dip & Twirl @ KoKo Latte 

Unit 25, Quayside Shopping Centre 

Sponsored By: KoKo Latte 


Charge: FREE 

40 

Grab a marshmallow, twirl it in 

chocolate from our cascading 

fountain, decorate with your 

favourite toppings and enjoy! 

Saturday 19th March... 

2-5pm Krispy Bun Making 

KoKo Latte Stall 

@ SÓ Sligo Food Festival Market 



Charge: €1 Contribution 

Go mad with a mixing bowl & a 

wooden spoon and make your 

own Belgian Chocolate Krispy 

Buns, complete with your 

favourite edible decorations! 

12.30pm Vegetable Model 

Making Competition 


Sponsored By: Total Produce 

Age Group: 5-8yrs, 9-12yrs & 12-16yrs 

Charge: FREE 

Ever seen Mr.Fennel Head or Mrs Baby Leek? Or 

perhaps the car of the future, Model Suede X1, or the 

next generation space-rocket featuring rocket 

lettuce as its jets when taking off?! Get creative with 


S 

the kids and have them design and 

make their own vegetable sculpture 

or collage for a chance to win one 

of 3 great prizes sponsored by 

Total Produce. Entries must be 

received by 12.30pm for prize-giving 

at 1pm. (All entries to remain on display 

for the duration of Saturday 19th March, and may be 

collected if desired, at 5.30pm). 

Sunday 20th March... 

2pm Mad Hatter’s Tea Party 

Mezzanine Level, Quayside Shopping Centre 

Sponsored By: Cafe Mezzanine, KoKo Latte 

& Quayside Shopping Centre 


Charge: FREE 

Kiddies, wear your favourite hat and best party outfit 

and be a ‘Mad Hatter’ at this festive event where 

there will be party games, prizes from KoKo Latte, 

and best of all yummy party food, courtesy of Cafe 

Mezzanine. Take home an Easter Bonnet Making Kit 

and application form, sponsored by Quayside 

Shopping Centre, for the upcoming 5th Annual 

Easter Bonnet Parade on Easter Saturday! 

12.30pm Krispy Bun Making 

Competition @ KoKo Latte 

Unit 25, Quayside Shopping Centre 


Age Group: 10-16 years 

Charge: FREE 

Do you love Belgian Chocolate Krispy buns? Think 

you know a great combination of ingredients that 

make the best Krispy bun ever? KoKo Latte are 

looking for a brand new and original recipe to add to 

their current 7 varieties available in store and you 

could be in with the chance to win a fab, chocolatefilled 

goody hamper, and have your recipe added to 

the list in KoKo Latte if you’re the winner of our 

competition! Simply submit your recipe (containing 

your contact details) along with two muffin-sized 

samples any time over the course of the SÓ Sligo 

Food Festival (up to 12.30pm on Sunday 20th 

March), and you could be in with a chance to win. 

Winner will be announced 

at 3pm on Sunday 20th 

March. The only rules are 

that the recipe must 

include Rice Krispies and 

chocolate! Good luck! 


41


in Tír na Nóg Healthstore, Grattan St. 

from 11am 

Sprouts and wheatgrass the new 

superfood with Gaby Wieland 


Coleman’s Electrical Shop, Stephen St. Sligo 

Chocolate Demonstration 

Cookery Demonstration 

by Maire Dufficy, Bord Bia 

from 12 noon 

Sprouts and wheatgrass the new 

superfood with Gaby Wieland 

at the farmers market 

Taking Smaller Steps - Reducing the 

Carbon Footprint in Beef Production 

by Maggie Haylin, Gilligan Meats. 

42 

Cheese Making 

Gaby Wieland 

Gaby, a Naturopath, Herbalist 

and cooking instructor has been 

making cheeses and growing 

herbs for over 20 years. 

Craft Butchers of Sligo 

Donegal Rapeseed Oil Company. 

Learn more about Rapeseed Oil from neighbouring 

Donegal. Rapeseed Oil has 11 times more Omega 3 

than olive oil. Crops are grown by specially selected, 

individual, small farm holdings dispersed throughout 

the county. www.donegalrapeseedoil.blogspot.com! 


Coleman’s Electrical Shop, Stephen St. Sligo 

Donegal Rapeseed Oil Company 

Learn more about Rapeseed Oil from 

neighbouring Donegal. Rapeseed Oil 

has 11 times more Omega 3 than 

olive oil. Crops are grown by specially 

selected, individual, small farm holdings 

dispersed throughout the county. 

www.donegalrapeseedoil.blogspot.com. 


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16th to 20th March 

‘Fine Felted Food’ Art Exhibition 

@ Tobergal Lane Cafe 

Tobergal Lane Cafe regularly shows charcoal drawings from local artist Heidi 

Wickham, however, in a departure from this ( and especially for the Food 

Festival ) , Heidi has created an amusing selection of vegetables on plates 

using the ancient technique of turning sheep wool into fabric. Definitely organic 

and home-grown at the kitchen table , these should give everyone from felters 

to foodies an appetite for the unusual.. 


43

CONTACT DETAILS 

44 

SÓ Sligo Festival Office 

will be open in Johnston Court, O’Connell St, Sligo 

for the duration of the Festival March 16th - 20th. 

Opening Hours 

Wednesday 9.00am - 6.00pm 

Thursday 9.00am - 8.00pm 

Friday 9.00am - 8.00pm 

Saturday 9.00am - 6.00pm 

Sunday 12.00pm - 6.00pm 

Other opening times to be advised soon 

All enquiries, please 

email info@sosligo.com or telephone 086 1090675

SO Sligo Event Guide - PDF

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