Doing Business In Sligo

Sligo has always been a center for business in the region and several developments over the past twenty years have further strengthened the area's attraction for the international business community.

Industrial Estates:

The IDA (Industrial Development Authority) was founded to help promote industry in Ireland. Back in the 60's and 70's "advance" plant and factories were built across rural Ireland and the government handed out tax breaks and incentives to any company that would move into one of these plants for ten years. Unfortunately, many companies did just that, and moved out after the ten year honeymoon was over. The end result was a network of well developed industrial estates (now referred to as Business Parks) that were ready for business, but had few tenants.

It wasn't until the Celtic Tiger roared across Ireland in the 1990's that the country truly benefited from much of the infrastructure that was already in place. Today, IDA Ireland is the primary government agency with responsibility for the promotion of foreign direct investment into Ireland and the development of the existing base of overseas companies.

Formerly known as the Finisklin Industrial Estate, today's Finisklin Business and Technology Park is now home to a plethora of manufacturers, service companies, and other businesses. The park has a total of 135 acres offering a range of property solutions including factory and office premises for sale or lease at highly competitive rates. For more information, contact the Sligo IDA office at phone: 353 71 915 9710.

Roads:

Anyone who was around in the 1970 and 80's remembers the drive from Dublin to Sligo was a time consuming and arduous trip. The 135 mile trek often took between three and four hours because of poor road conditions and having to pass through numerous small villages along the way. Ireland's entry in the the E.E.C. (now known as the E.U.) provided a wealth of funds that were used, in the main, to improve Ireland's infrastructure.

The building of the N4 motorway, although still not 100 percent complete, has done much to improve the travel time between Dublin and Sligo. It now takes about 2 1/2 hours to make the journey from Dublin to Sligo and work still continues on several stretches of the road. When finally complete, the commute from Sligo to Dublin should be somewhere closer to a little over two hours, a huge improvement over the past.

Air Travel:

Sligo Airport:

Located in Strandhill, Sligo's airport was initially home to a handful of private planes in 1983. Over the next 25 years, the airport grew to welcome over 100,000 passengers a year to the land of Yeats. 

Constructed in one of the most beautiful spots in Ireland: overlooking the sea and in the shadow of Knocknarea, the airport has a limited runway length, but had provided several flights a day to and from Dublin. Sadly, in 2011, the government withdrew its financial support of the Sligo regional airport and it no longer carries commercial flights, the last ones left in July, 2011. So, to fly into Sligo the closest link is now Knock airport.    

Ireland West - Knock Airport:

The opening of Knock Airport in 1986, the dream of Monsignor James Horan, finally brought the promise of International air travel to the West of Ireland. Knock Airport provides a wide array of international flight options and is located only thirty eight miles from Sligo town.

The airport was built specifically to welcome large commercial flights from overseas and has a runway long enough to land a Boeing 747.

Rail:

Sligo's Railway station was first opened in and is located in the heart of town, just a short distance from O'Connell Street. In 2011, there are about 8 trains a day to Sligo from Dublin.