Weekender

Ruth Monahan’s Sligo

I am dreaming-awake of walking on Streedagh beach at home in Sligo, when all this is over.

Nestled under Benbulben, the kids will run through the marram grass dunes and we will walk right to the end, looking out at Inishmurray Island.

We usually stay with one of our sets of parents.

We are blessed that both homes are right beside the sea.

On the first night, it’ll be Friday-night steak in my parents’ house.

My mum is an amazing cook and Dad is always generous with his wine.

An ideal Saturday is a venture into town for coffee in Kate’s Kitchen,

the purchase of fantastic food from Tir na nOg and Cosgrove’s, and a visit to Cait & I and Liber bookshop.

Then we will head to Strandhill for a walk with family.

Sometimes we get time to surf at Blue Rock, and the kids have lessons from Perfect Day Surfing, so we’re full of adrenaline as evening draws in.

On Saturday night, we’ll meet friends for food in Knox

and for drinks we’ll move between Hargadons for music, and Connollys for the catch-ups.

Sunday morning is a dip in Rosses Point

where you can dive off the pier at full tide and swim in the natural sea pool there.

Then it’s over to Shells in Strandhill for an amazing brunch

and to buy food for Sunday dinner back in Dublin.

Ruth Monahan is co-owner of Appassionata Flowers, now open in Cornelscourt, D18. To order, tel: (01) 611-2444, or email cornelscourt@ appassionata.ie; for more info, see appassionata.ie