A mixture of heritage and modernity makes Thomas Connolly one of the best pubs in Sligo. Check out all the information you need to know before you pop in for a pint.
The Thomas Connolly on Markievicz Road is the oldest pub in Sligo and one of the oldest in Ireland. Its story dates back to the late 1700s and includes visits from Irish politicians of historical significance.
Its history alone makes it a place worth visiting, but the Thomas Connolly of today is very much a pub with 21st-century ideas. So, read on as we break down the key information you need to know about this Sligo pub.
Ireland Before You Die’s top tips for visiting the Thomas Connolly bar:
- As with almost every Irish pub, try the Guinness. You won’t regret it.
- Thomas Connolly stocks over 160 (and counting!) Irish, Scotch, Japanese, and Bourbon whiskies. Try to coincide your visit with one of their fantastic whiskey-tasting events.
- Arthú Whiskey worked with the pub to produce three distinct whiskies available in the pub and online.
- The bar also serves up the best of the best in Irish craft beers. A collaboration with Sligo-based Lough Gill Brewery bore the excellent Thomas Connolly IPA and Thomas Connolly Red Ale.
- Thomas Connolly hosts live music of different genres five nights a week, including a Sunday trad session.
Interesting facts about the Thomas Connolly bar:
- The Thomas Connolly pub is the oldest public house in Sligo.
- The bar opened in 1780. Though the main entrance is now on Markievicz Road, the original entrance was on the parallel Holborn Street. The Markievicz Road end was originally living quarters.
- The pub opened during the height of Sligo’s maritime trade. This led to the opening of a grocer’s shop at one end of the pub, locally renowned for its tea, sugar, and whiskey.
- Thomas Connolly acquired the pub in 1890, which also marked the year in which Connolly became Mayor of Sligo.
- The pub’s history includes a visit from Irish politician Charles Stewart Parnell.
- It recently won the Irish Restaurant Awards’ Pub of the Year Award in both the All-Ireland and Connacht categories.
What’s nearby
Food: WB’s Coffee House (café), The Kitchen Restaurant (modern European), Eala Bhan (local seafood), Bridgefoot House (local, artisanal).
Drink: Hargadon Bros, Lillie’s Cocktail Bar, The Snug, Earley’s, Furey’s, Rendezvous.
Hotels: The Glasshouse Hotel, Sligo City Hotel, Riverside Hotel.
Other attractions: Yeats Society Sligo, WB Yeats statue, Sligo County Museum, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Your questions answered about the Thomas Connolly bar
When is Thomas Connolly open?
The latest opening hours for Thomas Connolly are as follows:
Monday to Thursday, 12 pm-11:30 pm
Friday and Saturday, 12 pm-12:30 am
Sunday, 12:30 pm-11 pm
How old is Thomas Connolly bar?
Thomas Connolly is one of the oldest traditional bars in Ireland. There has been a pub on the premises since 1780.
Need to know anything else?
You can get in touch with the Thomas Connolly bar using the following information.
Address: 1 Markievicz Rd, Abbeyquarter North, Sligo, F91 HC04, Ireland
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://thomasconnollysligo.com/
Phone: +353719194920
IB4UD Guides to Sligo
READ: the 5 best bars in Sligo
READ: the top 20 things to do in Sligo
READ: the 5 best restaurants in Sligo for foodies
