Costa Del Carrick on Shannon

The sun has been shining and it’s been hot, which has been nothing short of a miracle these days. I was starting to think we wouldn’t get a summer. We took a little spin to Carrick on Shannon, just for a change of scenery and a look around.

It’s a really lovely town and with the outdoor dining and music playing from the restaurants it had a holiday vibe about the place. It was very busy too which is great to see, the only downside are the roadworks but that seems to be quite standard these days.

We escaped the sun and had a look around The Dock Art Centre, I love visiting this place, it’s a beautiful building and there’s always something different to see. The Leitrim Design House is also worth a visit to find unique gift ideas made by Irish artists and crafts people.

The one dilemma with Carrick on Shannon is where to eat. There are so many fantastic places you’d really need a week to check them all out. This time we just had cake and coffee in Coffey’s, this place has been here for years and was probably one of the first we ever visited. It’s been recently painted so it looks lovely and the value for money is the same as it always was.

I popped into The Oarsman to check out their new artisan food shop. It’s a great way to use the bar area as indoor dining isn’t allowed at the moment. They do have a fab outdoor dining area though – booking is advised. You’ll be spoilt for choice with all the fabulous products including breads, pastries and more. I bought pesto, crackers and cakes (of course cakes!)

I also visited Tegi’s Tea Room, this is Carrick on Shannon’s newest café and it’s absolutely gorgeous. So many sweet and savoury treats to choose from and a great selection of herbal teas and juices too. I’m looking forward to when indoor dining is back as they do afternoon tea and that’s my hobby 😉

We had a look around the shops in the town, I got a couple of lovely things in the NCBI charity shop and I met Lola – who I’m friends with on Facebook but only met her in real life yesterday.

I also visited The Costello Chapel which at just 16×12 feet is the smallest chapel in Ireland. Edward Costello built it as a memorial to his wife in the late 1800’s and it contains their coffins. You will find the chapel on the main street just opposite the town clock.

No visit to Carrick on Shannon is complete without taking a walk along the river and watching the boats go by. There’s also a gorgeous biodiversity garden, it’s an absolute credit to the people who maintain it.