County Sligo

The poet W. B. Yeats is buried beneath the bare table mountain of Benbulben, and his epitaph is among the best-known lines in Ireland. A trip to County Sligo takes you into a landscape that Yeats celebrated in verse: lakes, Atlantic beaches, megalithic tombs, and a small, lively town on the River Garavogue.

Sligo Town and Surroundings

Sligo is the largest town in the northwest of the Republic, with a pedestrian zone, art galleries, and the Yeats Memorial Building. Sligo Abbey, a Dominican friary from the 13th century, is the town's only medieval ruin. In summer, the Yeats International Summer School is devoted to the work of the Nobel laureate. East of town lies Lough Gill with the island of Innisfree, which Yeats immortalized in one of his most famous poems.

Sights in County Sligo

Carrowmore is one of the largest megalithic cemeteries in Europe, with tombs that are older than Newgrange. On the summit of Knocknarea sits a huge stone cairn attributed to the legendary Queen Maeve; the climb takes about an hour. In Drumcliff you'll find the church with Yeats' grave, and Lissadell House is nearby. Strandhill and Easkey are well-known surf spots, and in Strandhill you can also take a seaweed bath. Glencar Waterfall on the border with Leitrim rounds out the list.

Getting There and Best Time to Visit

Sligo is the terminus of the rail line from Dublin, and the nearest scheduled airport is Ireland West near Knock. The best time to visit is between May and September, though surfers also come in fall and winter. Sligo's cuisine lives off the sea: oysters and mussels from the bay, fish soup, and seaweed, which in Strandhill is even baked into bread. At low tide you can walk from Rosses Point across to the tidal island of Coney Island, but be sure to check the tide tables. Mullaghmore, a small harbor village with Classiebawn Castle, is known in winter for its enormous waves, which big-wave surfers ride. In summer, calm returns, and the beach and harbor promenade invite you to swim and stroll, with views of Benbulben and the mountains of Donegal.