A Great Bed and Breakfast in Sligo, Ireland

The picturesque, quaint little town of Sligo, Ireland should definitely be a stop on your itinerary when you visit the Emerald Isle.  I arrived there by bus from Londonderry around noon on a weekday last June and took the short walk from the bus and train station into the town center.  In keeping with my usual modus operandi, I did not have a hotel reservation, so I asked a couple of locals who I passed on the street if they knew of a good bed and breakfast nearby.  Without hesitation they enthusiastically pointed out McGettigan’s An Cruiscin Lan just a few blocks away.  That turned out to be a great recommendation and within a very short time the friendly proprietor, Liam McGettigan, had me checked into a nice room with shared bath that cost $58, including a wonderful full Irish breakfast.

All the Comforts of Home

An Cruiscin Lan is an Irish (Gaelic) term meaning ‘The Full Jug’.  The Bed and Breakfast has a total of 10 rooms, including 4 ensuite and 6 standard rooms, with a mix of single, double, twin and triple accommodations.  Each comfortably appointed room has a television and a tea and coffee tray.  In addition, with special arrangements An Cruiscin Lan can accommodate groups of up to 20 guests.  The facility has Wi-Fi internet signal and guests are able to log on to the internet from the computer in the common lounge area.  For those traveling with a rental car or camper, the ample, free parking on site will be a special attraction.

A Ride to Drumcliffe

Liam gave me some suggestions on what to see in town and also told me how to catch the bus going out to Strandhill Beach on the nearby Atlantic coast.  When I asked him the best way to get to the poet William Butler Yeats’ gravesite outside of town, he offered to give me a ride!  As it turned out, he was going to be driving right past it on his way to pick up a trailer and said he could drop me off on the way and then pick me up on the way back.  This gave me just the right amount of time to explore the gravesite, St. Columba’s Church, the Celtic High Cross and the Round Tower of an ancient monastery at Drumcliffe.  I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, especially chatting with Liam, who, as a lifelong resident of the area, was able to point out interesting things along the way and tell me a lot about the history of County Sligo.

Meets All of My High Standards

McGettigan’s An Cruiscin Lan Bed and Breakfast met all of my criteria for a great place to stay…and more!  It was clean, comfortable, safe, well-located and a good value for the money.  And if that wasn’t enough, the friendly atmosphere and wonderful host and hostess made it a real pleasure to stay there.  At breakfast the next morning I got to meet Liam’s wife, Geraldine, and by the time I was heading out the door to catch the bus to Galway I felt like I had made some new friends.  For anyone planning a visit to Ireland, I can’t think of a better way to be introduced to the friendly Irish people than to stay at McGettigan’s An Cruiscin Lan Bed and Breakfast in Sligo.