Tread Softly is a biennial festival celebrating new work by artists living in the North West of Ireland. Taking place across Sligo and the surrounding area, the festival brings together exhibitions, installations, live art, podcasts, talks, guided walks and public engagement events.
This year’s programme offers visitors the opportunity to experience Sligo’s landscape, history and mythology through a diverse range of artistic projects and events.
Earthly Basin of Attraction by Rebecca Jobson explores the layers of County Sligo’s monumental landscape through painting, print, installation and textiles.
Stone, Sky, Syllable is a series of talks with Pádraig Meehan and guests Isolde Carmody, Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich and Leo Enright.
Battle of Moytirra, a live art event by artist, storyteller and illustrator Wayne O’Connor, takes place at City Hall from Monday to Friday during the festival.
Commissioned by Tread Softly in 2024, Monk, a film by Bettina Seitz exploring the monastic settlements of Inishmurray Island, will be shown at The Old Schoolhouse in Mullaghmore, Holy Hill Hermitage in Skreen and Abhainn Studio in Enniscrone.
Professor Sean Golden continues his podcast series Shifting Borders of Memory, featuring conversations with Cathy Jordan, Harry Keaney, Gregory Daly and Heather Laird.
Constellation, an installation by Walker and Walker, can be experienced at Sligo Youth Theatre on Quay Street.
The festival also features two public engagement projects: Imprints, with sculptors Barra Cassidy, Seamus Dunbar and Bettina Seitz, and Meitheal, a large-scale event inspired by a 5,600-year-old stone carving discovered in a passage tomb at Carrowkeel.
A series of guided walks through Sligo’s physical and mythological landscape.
Mon 24 Aug⏐11am⏐Streedagh Beach⏐Eddie O'Gorman
Tues 25 Aug⏐11am⏐Doorly Park⏐Michael Bell
Wed 26 Aug⏐11am⏐Aughris Head⏐Jacinta Gormley
Thurs 27 Aug⏐11am Hazelwood⏐Beatrice MacDonald
Fri 28 Aug⏐11am Knocknarea ⏐Robert Hensey
Learn more about the Tread Softly Walks
Make the most of your visit by exploring Sligo’s vibrant arts and cultural scene. The Model, Sligo is home to a programme of exhibitions, events, gallery tours and creative activities, making it a must-visit destination for art and culture lovers.
Alongside Tread Softly, visitors can discover Sligo’s galleries, historic sites, live music and cultural attractions throughout the town and surrounding area.
Make Sligo Park Hotel your base while exploring Tread Softly and the wider cultural scene in Sligo.
After a day discovering exhibitions, guided walks and installations, return to the comfort of the hotel and enjoy spacious accommodation, excellent dining and complimentary parking.
Located close to Sligo town and perfectly positioned for exploring the Wild Atlantic Way, Sligo Park Hotel is an ideal base for a cultural break in Sligo.
Plan your Tread Softly visit and discover art, landscape, history and culture across Sligo this August.
