Sligo Information

We have separated the information into town, country, and general information sections

Sligo County:

• Sligo County
• Events
• Places of Interest
• History
• North Sligo
• East Sligo
• South Sligo
• West Sligo

Sligo Town:

• Sligo Town
• Sligo Town Events

General Information:

• Sports
• Walks
• Map
• Accommodation
• Getting There
• Imprint

Northern Sligo

Exploring to the north of Sligo Town

Rosses Point (An Ros) R291 northwest of Sligo
The Rosses is the name given to the peninsula which overlooks the north side of Sligo Harbour. Rosses Point is not only home to the County Golf Club and Sligo Yacht Club, but also is one of Sligo’s Blue Flag beaches. The village is in a wonderful location, looking across Oyster and Coney Islands towards Maeve's Cairn on Knocknarea, whilst the golf course and lovely sandy beaches look out towards the Atlantic.

There are facilities for camping and caravanning on the edge of the village. A regular bus service runs to Sligo Town. The restaurants and bars on the main front are well known in the area for their fresh seafood dishes.

Lovely walks can take in the area and there is a short walking path laid out along the Strand and beach/golf course area. The path leads past the old lifeboat station with the sculpture of the waiting woman and the Pilot House at Deadman’s Point overlooking the metal man which has been showing the way in the channel for boats and shipping since 1821. It is possible to look across to Oyster Island with its small light house with the odd small craft moored nearby.

Further information: www.rossespoint.net

Drumcliff (Droim Chliabh) N15 north of Sligo in the direction of Donegal
The village is situated almost at the foot of Benbulben, but is probably better known as the final burial place of WB Yeats. He is buried in the graveyard of St Columba Church where his great-grandfather was rector.

Drumcliff church and visitors centre are located next to each other. The church is built on the site of a sixth century monastery founded by St Colmcille and was an important monastic site of the early Christian period. In the graveyard can be seen one of the best preserved Celtic High Crosses from the ninth century, with carvings on both the east and west side depicting biblical stories.

Across the main road is the remains of the bottom of the Round Tower, which dates from the tenth/eleventh century and would have been an integral part of the monastic settlement. It is the only one that is known to have existed in Sligo. Teach Bán Nua Artists Gallery is located beside the church.

Car parking is available beside the churchyard. Next to the visitors' centre is a small café and crafts shop.

Lissadell House and Woods
Lissadell House was the home of the Gore Booth family from 1834 - 2003. The most famous of this family were Countess Constance Markievicz and her sister Eva Gore Booth, a poet and social worker. This was the family home and was frequently visited by the Yeats brothers and others artists. Located on the Atlantic coast with the Dartry mountains and Glencar Lake and Waterfall within easy reach, it provided inspiration for many. At the waterfall there are parking facilities and public toilets. A short ten-minute walk along a prepared path leads to the base and viewing area of the waterfall (50 ft). The last section is with steps, but before this is not bad for buggies and wheelchairs. The walk is well worth the effort - even on a day of bad weather the light patterns through the green leaves and waterfall give it a magical feel.

The Walsh family now owns the estate and they have opened up a lot of the 400-acre estate to the public. The house has collections by various artists and poets as well as a special section with a below-stairs look at the estate which in its heyday employed some 200 people. The house and renovated Victorian kitchen garden and alpine garden are open to the public with tours available. Various courses are also on offer.
Group tours are possible throughout the year.
Open: March-end of September
Further information www.lissadellhouse.com
Tel: 071 9163150
Lissadell Woods stretch towards the Atlantic Ocean and were once part of the estate. A nature trail leads through the mainly deciduous forest.

Grange
Drivers use this small village as a start for a drive through the Glennif Horseshoe. Grange itself offers many opportunities for riding and even riding holidays. Trekking is also available in the immediate area. All levels of rider are catered for.
When? April – mid November
Tel: 071 91 66152

Not far from Grange along the coast is Streedagh Point. It was off here in 1588 that three of the foundered wrecks were found and identified in 2001/2. It was already known that such wrecks existed as a historical eyewitness account already existed in the diary of Captain Cuellar, a wreck survivor.

Cliffony (Cliafuine) N15 north of Sligo
The village is located overlooking Mullaghmore and Donegal Bay. It is known for the tombs and burial chambers of Creevykeel, which is the site of one of the best-preserved Court Tombs in Ireland. Archeologists regard it as a place where prehistoric rituals were performed. The areas around the village are known for their bird life and flora. Bunduff Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary has a lot of migratory winter birds.

Mullaghmore (An Mullach Mór) off N15 north of Sligo
Both Mullaghmore and Cliffony are in the far north of the county. Mullaghmore village is in a lovely cove setting. The small harbour reaches into Donegal Bay and the Atlantic and provides mooring for many different small craft. The beach arching around the bay is a blue flag beach and Mullaghmore on a small scale is still a traditional fishing village.

Boat trips are organised into the bay and to Inishmurray. Deep-sea angling can be organised under charter by a number of operators who can also provide equipment and tuition (the main season runs from April - October). The fishing in the area is varied and includes mackerel, dogfish through to blue shark and blue fin tuna.

Other possibilities in the area include birdwatching with a couple of bird sanctuaries in the vicinity. Diving, dolphin-watching, golf and water sports are also popular.

Cassiebawn Castle, built in 1874 by Viscount Palmerston, can be seen on the skyline. It is still in private hands today and not open to the public.

Inishmurray (Inis Muirígh)
This island is some 6km off the northwest coast of the county in Donegal Bay. The history of the island revolves around the early Christian monastic settlement established by St Molaise in the 6th century, the remains of which are still to be seen today. In the past it was also used as a traditional burial place by some of the communities on the mainland. It has been uninhabited since 1957. Today it is known as a wildlife and bird sanctuary.

The island is accessible by boat. A number of boat companies organise trips to the island from Rosses Point and Mullaghmore, as well as from Sligo Town (summer only).