Who are we
everything you want to know about us
Eala Bhán Restaurant is situated in the heart of Sligo town, The Land of Hearts Desire.
Eala Bhán offers the best in fine dining, specialising in fresh produce.
Our menu features dishes which are made with the finest local fresh ingredients. Our offerings are based entirely on market availability, and we focus on simplicity, seasonal preparations and regionally inspired dishes. Eala Bhán offers a menu that lives and breathes right along with our seafood, meat and vegetarian dishes. All of our local seafood is hand-selected and artistically prepared to perfection. All of our steak cuts stand tall with the superb flavour of aged beef that is cooked to your liking. So… Relax… and enjoy all that Eala Bhán Restaurant has to offer.
The name Eala Bhán is gaelic for “White Swan”. These beautiful birds can often be seen from the two main windows of the restaurant and often frequent the beautiful stretch of the Garavogue river that runs alongside the restaurant.
Sligo’s Irish name Sligeach – meaning shelly place – allegedly originates from the abundance of shellfish found in the river and its estuary and from the extensive ‘shell middens’ or Stone Age food preparation areas in the vicinity. The river (now known as the Garavogue ‘rough river’) was also called The Sligeach. The Ordanance Survey letters of 1836 state that “cart loads of shells were found underground in many places within the town and indeed underneath this restaurant. This whole area, from the river estuary at Sligo, around the coast to the river at Ballysadare Bay, is rich in marine resources which were utilised as far back as the Mesolithic period.
The county of Sligo is also known as Yeats County. The poet and Nobel laureate William Butler Yeats spent much of his childhood in northern Sligo and the county inspired much of his poetry. Yeats said, “the place that has really influenced my life most is Sligo”. On a summers evening it’s a joy to watch the sun set while strolling along the river which has an abundance of wildlife. On a winter’s night, cosy up to a loved one and listen to the wind whistle down over the river as the moon light bounces and reflects off the torrents.
ABOUT ANTHONY
As a passionate Sligo native, family man and restauranteur, Anthony’s true love is showcasing local and seasonal produce in an artistic environment.
Anthony is ” THE NORTH WEST’S ULTIMATE FOODIE” and in March 2019 was awarded “LOCAL FOOD HERO” for Sligo & Connaught.
In 2019 Anthony was also awarded a Business ALL STAR award and recognised as a thought leader in the food industry here in Ireland. Since then he has recently in 2021 taken on the exciting new role of Chairman of Sligo Tourism.
He dedicates his time tirelessly to being a champion of Sligo and the Wild Atlantic way, working closely with Failte Ireland to power the local food and tourism revolution in the Northwest.
Having previously held the position of chairman, Anthony is now also on the board of the Sligo Food Trail, which has been energetically and effectively putting the dynamic food culture of the beautiful city of Sligo on the culinary map of Ireland. He is also past President of the Restaurant Association of Ireland.
Anthony is a restaurateur, in his benchmark Eala Bhan fine dining restaurant (recently awarded best seafood venue), as well as his newest addition, Hooked, winner of many awards and recognitions also, the latest being included in the top 100 restaurants in Ireland and winning “ Best Casual Dining” in Connaught.
Anthony would like to continue to inspire others and dedicate time to communicating, globally, the wonderful culture and produce that we have here in the Wild Atlantic Way.
Sligo is a wonderful foodie destination and by working closely with fellow businesses Anthony aims to drive more tourism to the county.
Anthony’s passion for promoting and safeguarding the food industry in the Wild Atlantic Way is further fulfilled through his latest venture ‘Taste of Sligo Food Tours’ a foodie tour of Sligo’s finest food and beverage venues with a tasting variety to suit many demographics. Visitors are also given an insight into the background of the local businesses involved.
Tours are customised for corporate groups, tourists and special occasions offering 2 hours 30 minutes of culinary delight.
List of Suppliers to Eala Bhán
Dathi O’Dowd,
Mullaghmore Albatross, Donegal – Fish and Shellfish
Sherlocks Tubbercurry – Beef & Lamb
Sligo Farmers Market – at the IT Sligo
Benbulben Craft & Food Market
BD Foods
Kelly’s of Newport, Co. Mayo
Brendan Feeney – JBC Meats, Rosses Point
Kevin Cosgrove, Market Cross, Sligo
Le Fournil, Sligo – French Bakery
Lets Organic Centre, Sligo