Sligo, well situated on a wooded plain between Lough Gill and the sea, is north-west Ireland's most important town. The port of Sligo sits at the
mouth of the River Garavogue, sandwiched between the Atlantic and Lough Gill. The appearance of Sligo
today is mainly the result of
growth during the late 18th
and 19th centuries.
Sligo is perfectly situated
for touring the ravishing
countryside nearby, and it is
also a good centre for
traditional music. While
at first sight it can seem
a bit sombre, the town is
thriving as the arts
capital of Northwest Ireland.
1973
Sligo’s link with the Yeats family is the main source of the town’s appeal. Yeats Memorial Building houses the Yeats Society, who are dedicated to commemorating the life of the poet. The town’s sole surviving medieval building is Sligo Abbey, founded in 1253. A short distance west from the abbey is O’Connell Street, with the town’s main shops and Hargadon’s bar – an old Sligo institution complete with a dark, wooden interior, snugs and a grocery counter.
