Sligo - 301 marks, up 16 on 2016

The city finally broke the 300-mark barrier this year. The relationship with Sligo County Council “appears to be unusually productive.” Judges said “A concerted and expensive long-term renovation scheme on the part of the Local Authority and other bodies was needed, as well as private investment. Sligo’s landmark buildings impressed, as did the landscaping, natural habitat along the Garavogue and The Greening of Sligo awareness event. Structures in Wine St Car Park were a mix of “smart and tawdry.” A Connaughton Road site “needs attention.” “Traffic flow was appalling” during roadworks and judges wondered if there was “a case for a high-level bridge as in Waterford or a tunnel as in Limerick?” Sligo impressed with ongoing improvements and positive developments far outweighing the negative.