OUR TYPE SLIGO

County Sligo has an abundance of beautiful shopfronts and signage found throughout its towns and villages. During the economic and social recovery from the 1850s onwards there was a conscious development of streetscapes, which facilitated the traditional shopfronts still visible across the county today. Buildings that were previously used for residential purposes began to incorporate the family business on its premises. It was common to see the business operating on the ground floor, with the family name displayed proudly above the shopfront, and the family living on the floors above. An example of this can be seen at Wherly Brothers and J. Harte in Sligo town, and Dwyer’s in Ballymote. Shops also began to repurpose grand old buildings, for example Henry Lyons and Co. Ltd. in Sligo town, presenting us with the uniquely Irish streetscapes we find today.

 As part of Our Type Sligo the following collection of shopfronts and stories have been collated over the past few months as part of Creative Ireland and Sligo County Council initiative.