Rosses Point, Sligo – An Essential Travel Guide for 2025

Rosses Point is a tiny seaside town at the entrance to Sligo Bay, just west of Sligo. The town sits on along the Wild Atlantic Way, with social media regularly featuring images of its beautiful sandy beach. The area is popular with swimmers due to the beach in nearby Strandhill being too dangerous for paddling. So why was the famous Irish poet William Butler Yeats so inspired by this little haven?

Read on to find out!

Public Transport: Rosses Point sits just 8km from Sligo Town, which itself connects to many parts of the country via MacDiarmada Train Station.

You could catch an expensive taxi to the town from Sligo but we recommend getting the S2 Bus instead for under €2 each way. This bus also takes you to Strandhill, meaning you can pay a visit to both beaches on your trip.

The local specialty here is seafood landed at nearby Killybegs. For €20, Austies Pub and Kitchen serves the best fish and chips around in our opinion. It’s a great choice if you are looking for casual dining and their homemade Guinness Bread is a real treat. You can also grab a seat outside for gorgeous views of Coney Island and Oyster Island.

The centrally located Yeats Country Hotel offers yummy European and Irish dishes in its Elsinore Restaurant, accompanied by great views over the County Sligo Golf Club. For something more casual check out the snack menu in their winery bar, with its toasty open fires. Unfortunately the Yeats Country Hotel is currently closed but is expected to reopen soon, so keep your eyes peeled!

Until then, The Driftwood Restaurant fills the gap as it serves up slow-cooked meat and fish dishes that will tickle your taste buds. This place, which is also a B&B, is an absolutely stunning setting to enjoy some food or a drink. It is fast becoming our new favourite eatery in town!

Check out our Killybegs Travel Guide

Hot Beverages: Being a small town, Rosses Point is not blessed with many cafes. We always go out of our way to make a stop at the quaint Little Cottage Cafe, which certainly makes up for the lack of quantity. They offer delicious snacks and coffee, hand-in-hand with impressive views of Sligo Bay. Open daily from 9:30am to 4pm, there does tend to be a queue at times. It’s definitely worth getting in line to kick the feet up in front of their beautiful fire though.

Alcohol: You won’t find nightclubs in this quaint area but Harrys Bar offers a brilliant Irish pub atmosphere. It delivers beautiful views over Coney Island and Oyster Island, though your eyes will already be distracted admiring the trinkets that adorn it’s walls. Don’t expect a party atmosphere here, but you won’t find anywhere better for a relaxing pint!

The above mentioned Austies Pub as a boozer represents simplicity at its finest. The bar is dotted with memorabilia and the beer garden is a great place to kick back on a hot summer’s evening after a dip at the beach.

The beautiful Rosses Point Coastal Walk treats you to views of Oyster Island and Coney Island as it traverses the coast. The most unusual site along this trail is the Metal Man beacon, a brightly coloured cast iron statue of a Royal Navy officer. At 4km long, this scenic stroll is not very strenuous and can be completed in 75 minutes.

Start at the Church of Ireland and follow the path past the Sligo Yacht Club and back to your starting point, soaking up the vistas. We recommend making the walk a little longer by venturing onto both of the beaches as you come to them.

Rosses Point Coastal Walk Visitor’s Information

At 2km long Rosses Point Beach is a sandy paradise for children and adults alike. Gentle waves mean these waters are more suited to paddleboarding than surfing, unlike nearby Strandhill. The beach is dog friendly, once you clean up after your four-legged companions. Public toilets are available, but get here early if you wish to get parking anywhere close to the beach on a hot summer’s day.

Check out our Strandhill Travel Guide

In the height of summer the town lights up with the laughter of children and families playing on the beach. Evenings bring a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, more suited to enjoying a few beverages than a wild party night. To make the most of Rosses Point you should appreciate the simplicity here, while soaking in the tranquility of the surrounding area.

Life here is more family orientated than nearby Strandhill which is visited by its own international surfing community. The whole buzz here is centered around the beach rather than the sleepy town. The place really comes unglued during the Wild Atlantic Shanty Festival in June, but for the rest of the year those seeking a more upbeat vibe can make the short trip to lively Sligo.

Golfers will love the 18-hole links course at the County Sligo Golf Club. The course stretches along the sea and, although green fees are very steep at €320, it’s worth it for the scenery alone. Although accepted that Royal County Down boasts the best front nine and Ballybunion the greatest back nine in Ireland, it is quite possible that County Sligo Golf Club holds the finest eighteen holes in the country!

Book a Tee Time at County Sligo Golf Club

Plan your visit to Rosses Point for June to coincide with the pirate-themed festivities of the Wild Atlantic Shanty Festival. This fun event sees sailors compete in boat races along the Atlantic coast, whilst the local pubs transform into lively stages for sea shanty performances.

The Wild Atlantic Shanty Festival is a tremendous family experience with activities tailored for all age groups. There are interactive workshops and engaging storytelling sessions, as well as local vendor stalls selling crafts and tasty food. A particular highlight on the festival’s final day is the fancy dress event. Get involved by coming prepared with your most creative costume!

Nearby Coney Island can easily be visited by car or by boat and actually gave Coney Island in New York its name. The name comes from the Irish for ‘rabbit’, because of the amount of the furry creatures that live there. It’s famously known for having incredible secluded beaches, and just one permanently residing family!

We recommend driving to Coney Island which is only possible at low tide when the strand is exposed. The main route is a 5km drive via Cummeen Strand, but be sure to note the tide times. Locals have plenty of horror stories of people getting stranded on the island overnight!

Check Tide Times for Coney Island

You can catch a boat excursion to Inishmurray Island when the weather permits. This peaceful island has been uninhabited since the 1940s, making it is a haven for all sorts of animals, flowers and seabirds. Bring your binoculars!

You can visit the remnants of a 6th century monastic settlement on the island. The settlement is complete with beehive huts, much like those famously found on Skellig Michael off the coast of Kerry. The whole island is less than 1 square kilometre, so it doesn’t take very long to explore!