Sligo
Highlights of County Sligo
ATTRACTIONS QUICK LINKS
TOWNS & CITIES QUICK LINKS
Sligo (Sligeach)
The County Museum and Arts Gallery, the Yeats Memorial Building and Sligo Art Gallery all pay tributes in various ways to the various members of this precociously talented family.
A major literary event each year in Sligo is the Yeats International Summer School, which includes readings, lectures and performances of WB Yeats work.
Benbulben
Towering over the vistas of much of the County Sligo country side is Benbulben Mountain, an unusual flat top mountain formed during the Ice age. Anyone wanting to climb Benbulben is advised to stick to the south face of the mountain as the north is much more dangerous and difficult due to high winds and steeper climbs. Under Benbulben was one of the last poems written by William Butler Yeats.
Carrowkeel Passage Tomb Cemetery
In the south of County Sligo, spread across a number of hills on the Bricklieve Mountains, are the 14 Neolithic passage cairns that make up the Carrowkeel Passage Tomb Cemetery. Carbon dating places the carins at between 3400 to 3100 BC making them older than the Pyramids of Giza.
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
Approx 5km (3 miles) from Sligo town is one of the biggest megalithic tomb burial grounds in Europe. Some of the monuments found here are up to 6,500 years Old and the site contains stone circles, passage tombs, dolmen tombs and standing stones.
Knocknarea – Maeve’s Cairn
A giant 60 foot unexcavated cairn lies atop Knocknarea mountain outside Sligo town. Dating back 5,000 years this tomb is said to be the final resting place of the legendary Queen Maeve of Connaught who is said to have been interred standing upright so she could face her enemies.
Lough Gill
William Butler Yeats famously wrote about the Island of Innisfree in Lough Gill in his poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”. Lough Gill flows through two counties, County Sligo and County Leitrim, but the majority of the Lake is on the Sligo side. Boat trips are available to tour the 8km (5mile) Lough Gill and fishing trips and bird watching tours are also popular.
Sligo Abbey
The ruins of the mid 13th century Sligo Abbey (also known as The Convent of the Holy Cross) can be found in Sligo Town. Visitors will be able to see carvings on tombs, the cloister and a fantastic example of a finely sculptured stone alter. A large number of headstones can also be viewed onsite as the Abbey used to be the burial ground for the town of Sligo.
Sligo County Museum
Sligo County Museum located on Stephen Street in Sligo town is home to an interesting collection of exhibits ranging from the rich history of Sligo to the Yeats Room which is dedicated to the famous poet and Nobel prize winner William Butler Yeats.
Drumcliffe
Drumcliffe is a small town at the foot of Benbulben mountain Located approx 8 minutes drive from Sligo town. Originally a monastic settlement founded by St Colmcille, Drumcliffe is now most famous for being the final resting of William Butler Yeats.
Rosses Point
Rosses Point is a seaside village located approx 8km (5 miles) from Sligo town. One of the highlights is the 18 hole Championship Links Course – Co Sligo Golf Links but there are also other attractions such as 2 beautiful beaches, quality restaurants and friendly pubs.
Sligo
Sligo town is the county town of Sligo and the largest town in the north west of Ireland. Located at the mount of Garavogue River the town is an ideal base for touring in the area. Sligo town has a strong musical tradition and friendly people, other attractions include, Sligo Abbey and Sligo County Museum.
