Maritime county in the province of Connacht in the West of Ireland. On our tours of Ireland we usually pass through on the way from Galway to Enniskillen. It is a bit of a hidden gem.
Sligo, covering an area of 709 square miles, has a population of approx 60,000.
Bordered on the East by Leitrim , on the West and South by Mayo , and on the Southeast by Roscommon , Sligo is famous for its natural beauty.
The county’s most celebrated natural site include the mountains Ben Bulben , at the foot of which the poet William Butler Yeats is buried in Drumcliff churchyard , and Knocknarea , which is claimed to be the burial place of the mythic Queen Maeve of the legend Tain Bo Cuailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley). Ben Bulben is certainly a must see attraction.
In the West of the county lie the Ox Mountains and in the Southeast the Curlews.
Principal rivers are the Sligo , the Arrow , the Owenmore , and the Esk , and lakes include Lough Gill , Lough Arrow , and Lough Colt.
The name Sligo itself is derived from the Irish Sligeach , meaning river of shells , is believed to refer to the large number of shellfish in Sligo Bay.
Until the seventeenth century , the county was dominated by the O’Connor family.
The poet W. B. Yeats , who spent part of his childhood in his grandfather’s substantial home in Sligo , was greatly influenced by the county’s stunning landscape and its folklore.
Important archaeological sites include the passage-graves at Carrowmore and Carrowkeel and a monastic site at Innishmurray, which was founded in the sixth century.
Rosses Point , just outside Sligo town , has a famous golf links course.
The main towns in the county are Sligo town , the county capital , Collooney , Ballymote , and Tubbercurry.
The county enjoys a reputation for traditional Irish music , and the distinct Sligo style is exemplified in the recordings of Michael Coleman.
Coney Island lies in the bay off Sligo town ; the name was also given to a famous section of Brooklyn in New York City.
Yes ….. dont miss Sligo on your Ireland tours.
