Airport Transfers

Delegates traveling on either of the following flights will avail of bus transfers to Sligo on Friday morning and back to Knock on Sunday morning.

Unconference Preparation

In Unconference sessions, speakers and attendees interact and learn from each-other, with discussions that develop in a conversational style. This means you'll be participating in the dialogue! To learn exactly what goes into a session, and be prepared to participate, read the tipsheet and watch the video below.

Sonorplex

At this year’s Summit we’re providing a powerful, new interactive service to enhance the learning experience for our attendees. SonorPlex enables delegates to bookmark key moments during presentations, then review these exact moments in the video recordings after the event.

To use this service (included free in your delegate package) please register in advance. At the event, you can use any connected device (phone, tablet, or laptop with email access) to access Sonorplex.

Adventure Activities

Sligo is known as Ireland’s adventure capital. For years the people of Sligo have been exploring the hills, mountains and waters of the county. More recently the rest of the world is beginning to wake-up to all that Sligo has to offer. To add an extra dimension to the Firefly Summit and to push you out of your comfort zone (just a little), we’re inviting you to experience first hand Ireland’s adventure capital on the Saturday afternoon of the Summit.

Surfing

The surf that breaks on to the beaches of Sligo are renowned world-wide as some of the best Europe has to offer. Mullaghmore in north Sligo has attracted the best big wave surfers on the planet in recent years. But don’t worry, we won’t expect you to tame Europe’s biggest waves on Saturday, instead you’ll experience the fun of surfing in the smaller waves at Strandhill beach.

Stand Up Paddleboarding

If you like the idea of surfing, but not the crashing of waves, then stand up paddleboarding (SUPing) is for you. Lough Gill is only a few short kilometers from Sligo town. It is the lake which features the famous Lake Isle of Innishfree, made famous by the W.B. Yeats poem. Delegates will experience the unique sensation of gliding over the lake water, separated from the water by only the thickness of an oversized surfboard. As you take in the natural beauty of the lake, make sure you don’t fall into the drink.

Knocknarea Hike

The most popular activity, as chosen by Summit delegates, is a hike up the historic Knocknarea. The hill stands 1,037 feet in height and is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the county with the prominent cairn of Queen Meave located at the summit. As you take in the spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, Sligo bay and back towards Sligo town and North Leitrim your hiking efforts will be rewarded with an Irish coffee and some smoked salmon on brown bread! Oh Joy!

Seaweed Baths

We know surfing, SUPing and hiking may not be everybody’s cup of tea, so for those delegates who are seeking something a little more relaxing we are offering seaweed baths. Voya Seaweed Baths are located on the seafront at Strandhill and offer one of the most positively relaxing experiences possible. Bathing in a hot bath of seaweed is an incredible experience that soothes muscles, promotes skin regeneration and combats the effects of aging [not that you look old].

Golf

County Sligo Golf Club at Rosses Point is the jewel in the crown of the numerous world class links golf courses in Ireland.

The course boasts one of the most scenic locations in Ireland perched on cliffs that tower over three expansive beaches overlooking the Atlantic. The panoramic mountain and ocean views are spectacular but they pale in comparison to the stunning scenery provided by Benbulben, an enormous limestone rock formation that the area is known for.

Besides the great views, the golf course offers an excellent challenge. The traditional links layout, designed by Harry Colt, utilizes the natural contours of the dune-covered landscape rather than moving large amounts of earth during its design. The end result is a course filled with dramatic undulations, elevated tees, and raised plateau greens.

Sligo

Sligo is a melting pot for creatives; the county has one of the highest populations of artists and film-makers per capita in Ireland and we at Firefly draw upon this sense of creativity in curating the Firefly Summit 2017.

The Summit is as much a celebration of the podiatric profession as it is a celebration of the very best Sligo it has to offer. The county offers a unique destination, an untapped dramatic backdrop of Benbulben, glimmering beaches, rolling green hills, and magical woodlands, with unsurpassed leisure activities and state-of-the- art business facilities. Few places in Ireland could rival Sligo as a destination for leisure or business with such facilities quite literally on our doorstep. A perfect location for the Firefly Summit.

Across the weekend of the Summit, delegates will experience first hand all that Sligo has to offer as we step out into the wilds. As you surf, stand up paddle board, hike, golf or relax in Voya's seaweed baths we hope you connect with friends new and old and create memories that endure.

The Model is the venue for the Summit's educational programme. A leading centre for contemporary art and home to Sligo's municipal art collection, The Niland Collection that features works by Jack B. Yeats.

Sligo town is a bustling hub of fine cafés and restaurants, you will get to experience the best of the town's culinary offerings when you return to The Model on Saturday evening following you afternoon of adventure activities.

We are is exceptionally proud to be located in Sligo and we invite you to explore, learn, share and play in its surrounds.