“Solace Café provides a safe, informal, welcoming space for people to sit and reflect, chat and connect with others, seek guidance, or talk in confidence one to one, peer to peer,” according to Sinead Casey, Operations Manager, Solace Café, speaking at the recent official opening of the new Sligo facility by Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler TD.
Sinead added how the staff at the new facility “bring their own lived experience of mental health struggles to their role relating to and supporting others, providing hope that things can get better and informing the way the service is run. Solace Café is a flexible, person-centred service that is here for the whole community.”
Solace Café offers a free, confidential out of hours non-clinical mental health service for adults aged 18 and over in the Sligo Leitrim area. The service is facilitated by and based at Cornerstone (formerly Sligo Social Services) Retreat House, The Lungy, Sligo, and funded by the HSE West and North West.
It is one of five pilot services nationwide and is part of the Crisis Resolution Services which along with the Crisis Resolution Team provide rapid assessment and intensive support to adults experiencing mental health crisis. Services offered include crisis intervention and crisis prevention. This is provided through an informal safe space that is part of the community and social landscape, where people will feel comfortable seeking help when times are tough.
The café opens Thursday to Sunday from 5pm to 10.30pm. People who come to the Solace Café will be able to learn about coping strategies and access a range of supports – including one-to-one, peer, psychosocial and recovery supports. When appropriate, Café staff will assist people by signposting them to other relevant mental health and well-being services locally.
Addressing the gathering at the opening event, Minister Butler said she was “delighted to open the café which offers a warm, secure space for anyone who is struggling with their mental health or is experiencing difficult times. This includes those caring for loved ones, who may be in need of support with their mental wellbeing. This is a vitally important service to help people cope with the pressures and strains of everyday life.”
John Fitzmaurice HSE IHA Manager Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal, West Cavan said explained how the service has been “going from strength to strength since opening its’ doors in October 2024. With over 150 appointments attended since January 2025, the service is providing help and assistance to so many within the Sligo Leitrim area.”
The project further underlines the HSE commitment to the development of mental health services for younger people. Through the HSE Corporate Plan it is stated that priorities include the implementation of “Improvement Programmes, including those relating to the Child and Youth Mental Health Action Plan, to increase timely access to clinically effective and standardised mental health services, ensuring earlier intervention and Emergency Department alternatives.”