It’s almost as if Sligo’s landscape has been sculpted with activity in mind. The Atlantic offers endless opportunities. Surfers lap up her pristine rollers at breaks like Strandhill, Easky, Enniscrone and Streedagh. On windy days, kitesurfers and windsurfers take over, zipping along at great speeds. And calm weather is the time for divers to set forth from Mullagmore Harbour to be wowed by treasures like delicate flower-like anemones and conger eels. Lessons are widely available for anyone who would love to give one of these sports a go.

The delights of ‘the big blue’ are however not the sole preserve of those willing to dive right in. You could take a boat trip and go seal, dolphin and bird watching, or even try big game angling and pit your wits against giant bluefin tuna or shark.

If that sounds a bit extreme, you could always start fishing for the smaller fellas on one of Sligo’s glorious rushy lakes like Loughs Gill, Arrow or Gara.

And Sligo won’t disappoint if you like to have your two feet planted firmly on the ground. It also offers impressive mountains like Benbulben and Knocnarea, excellent golf courses, way-marked ways for those on foot or two wheels, rolling green hills, magical woodlands and quiet country lanes. Walkers, golfers, horse riders and cyclists will easily find their own special treasures.