County Sligo

Irish name for Sligo is Sligeach. County Sligo is situated on the West coast of Ireland and is within the province of Connaught. Sligo is widely regarded as one of Ireland's most beautiful counties and it's breathtaking mountain views, crystal clear lakes and long sandy beaches are famous the world over. County Sligo is 400,000 acres in area, making it the 16th largest county in the country. It is bordered by Leitrim, Roscommon and Mayo and by the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Sligo has a population of 18,000 and is the second city of the provence of Connaught. Man's presence here extends back over 7000 years and with over 4500 sites in Sligo alone document evidence of his tenacity and allegiance to this place abounds. The area was productively farmed as long ago as 5000 b.c. spending winter months at the sea shore living on oysters, mussels and other shell fish. At Carrowkeel, Creevykeel and many other sites substantial evidence of his burial practices and life patterns remain.

County Sligo's beautiful scenery was an inspiration for Yeats, who is buried at Drumcliffe Churchyard, under loaf-shaped Benbulben Mountain. The lakes of Sligo, with their still waters and wooded islands, are truly spectacular, and form a striking contrast to the county's rugged uplands. The imposing Neolithic cairn on the summit of Knocknarae, known locally as Queen Maeve's grave, is a striking landmark. At Carrowmore, you'll find the largest Megalithic cemetery in Ireland.

Sligo’s scenic coast has some excellent surfing beaches, including Strandhill, Rosses Point and Enniscrone, also popular for their golf courses. Lissadell House, once home to Countess Markievicz, is a good family attraction, with a lovely beach nearby. The magnificent sweep of Streedagh beaches holds in it's sandy depths the oaks of three Spanish Armada ships which were thrown ashore during the violent storms of 1588. Captain de Cuellar, with the help of the O' Rourkes of Breffni, survived and told his epic tale in a book that remains one of the key sources for historians of Spain's saddest hour.

The painter Jack Butler Yeats and his brother, poet William Butler Yeats, spent much time in Sligo as youths. The poet died in France and was buried there due to the outbreak of WWII. After the war, in 1948, his body was finally taken back to Sligo and reinterred in Drumcliff.

The mountain areas provide the most spectacular scenery in County Sligo and have major potential for activities such as sightseeing, mountaineering, hill walking and pony trekking. A significant portion of Sligo's land area is occupied by forests which are open to the public. Woodlands include Slishwood, Union Wood, Lough Gill Forest, Ben Bulben Forest, Collooney Forest and Lough Talt Forest.

Sligo's lakes give the county a special identity with lakes like Lough Gill, Lough Arrow, Lough Gara, Glencar Lake, Lough Talt and Lough Easkey. The 150 mile coastline of County Sligo is a major resource. The traditional resorts of Mullaghmore, Rosses Point, Strandhill and crone have long attracted many visitors. There are magnificent beaches at Dunmoran and Streedagh and many similar beaches dotted along the coast with excellent surfing facilities at Strandhill and Easkey.

Sligo Airport is part of a network of Regional Airports which serve the coastal areas of Ireland, linking the North West region directly with Dublin and overseas destinations.

Sligo Town, County Sligo:

The capital of County Sligo is an attractive town with good bars and restaurants, theatres, art galleries and delicatessens. Sligo is the largest town in the north-west, with a heritage going back 6,000 years.

Its name literally translates as 'the place of shells' - the town's prehistoric residents had a huge appetite for shellfish, and the remains of the unfortunate crustaceans can be found buried all over the area. Sligo town makes a good base for a range of activities - horse riding, golfing, walking, cycling, fishing and water sports are all very popular.

Coney Island, Co. Sligo:

Accessible by land at low tide, it is believed locally that its more famous namesake in New York was named after the irish island by a Sligo sea captain. The mud flats provide water feeding grounds for the Brent goose, as well as wild duck and waders.