JSN and CHRIS OLAVE: BEARS WILL REGRET TRADING FIELDS

My former employer had several plants in and around Sligo and Donegal and I've been there on business a few times.  Sligo is a beautiful Irish village.  The old city is right on the river, and it opens up on a small bay on the North Atlantic.  The Riverside neighborhood has pubs, cafes and restaurants right on the river.  You are in for a real treat.  I can't remember any f the names of the places.  But there was a wonderful music scene in the pubs.

I couldn't remember the other village was Donegal and not Galway.

We were on real working trips.  A team of anywhere from 4 to 8 folks would go over to implement major software updates, network changes, etc.  We would typically put in 9- or 10-hour days and then go out to dinner and a "nightcap".  Or as our Irish colleagues would say, "out for a long drink".  So, my memories are somewhat hazy.

But I distinctly recall two pubs where they would have musicians who would perform somewhat informally (like a jam) and pass around the hat for payment.  As I recall the performances were quite good and for the money we would drop in the collection, the value was nothing short of outstanding.  I've been trying to get my wife to go there for a week or so as I have former colleagues who would happily show us around (especially if I were to treat a dinner or two).  But she has never been one to hang out in a pub.

You probably dont have the time but south and southwest are not to miss, especially Cork & Cliffs of Moher