County Sligo ( , ) is a

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

. It is in the

Northern and Western Region The Northern and Western Region has been a region within the Republic of Ireland since 1 January 2015. It is a NUTS Level II statistical region of Ireland (coded IE04). NUTS 2 Regions may be classified as ''less developed regions'', ''tr ...

and is part of the

province A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

Connacht Connacht or Connaught ( ; or ), is the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland, situated in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, C ...

Sligo Sligo ( ; , meaning 'abounding in shells') is a coastal seaport and the county town of County Sligo, Ireland, within the western province of Connacht. With a population of 20,608 in 2022, it is the county's largest urban centre (constituting 2 ...

is the administrative capital and largest town in the county.

Sligo County Council Sligo County Council () is the local authority of County Sligo, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and de ...

is the

local authority Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of governance or public administration within a particular sovereign state. Local governments typically constitute a subdivision of a higher-level political or administrative unit, such a ...

for the county. The population of the county was 70,198 at the 2022 census. It is noted for

Benbulben Benbulbin (), sometimes Benbulben or Ben Bulben, is a steep-sided and flat-topped mountain in County Sligo, Ireland. It is part of the Dartry Mountains, in an area sometimes called "William Butler Yeats, Yeats Country". Benbulbin, high, formed ...

Mountain, one of Ireland's most distinctive natural landmarks.

History

The county was officially formed in 1585 by

Sir Henry Sidney Sir Henry Sidney (20 July 1529 – 5 May 1586) was an English soldier, politician and Lord Deputy of Ireland. Background He was the eldest son of Sir William Sidney of Penshurst (1482 – 11 February 1553) and Anne Pakenham (1511 – 22 Oc ...

Lord Deputy of Ireland The Lord Deputy was the representative of the monarch and head of the Irish executive (government), executive under English rule, during the Lordship of Ireland and then the Kingdom of Ireland. He deputised prior to 1523 for the Viceroy of Ireland ...

, but did not come into effect until the chaos of the

Nine Years' War The Nine Years' War was a European great power conflict from 1688 to 1697 between Kingdom of France, France and the Grand Alliance (League of Augsburg), Grand Alliance. Although largely concentrated in Europe, fighting spread to colonial poss ...

ended, in 1603. Its boundaries reflect the

Ó Conchobhair Sligigh Ó Conchobhair Sligigh (anglicised as O'Conor Sligo) is a Gaelic- Irish family and Chief of the Name. The Ó Conchobhair Sligigh were a junior branch of the Ó Conchobhair Kings of Connacht. They were descended from Brian Luighnech Ua Conch ...

confederation A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

of Lower Connacht () as it was at the time of the Elizabethan conquest. This confederation consisted of the tuatha, or territories, of Cairbre Drumcliabh, Tír Fhíacrach Múaidhe, Tír Ollíol, Luíghne,

Corann Corann was an ancient Irish túath in northwest Connacht represented now by the present barony of Corran in County Sligo. The name is derived in legend from Corann, the harper of Dian Cecht of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Organisation Ballymote becam ...

and Cúl ó bhFionn. Under the system of

surrender and regrant During the Tudor conquest of Ireland (c.1540–1603), "surrender and regrant" was the legal mechanism by which Irish clans were to be converted from a power structure rooted in clan and kin loyalties, to a late-Feudalism, feudal system under t ...

each tuath was subsequently made into an English barony: Carbury,

Tireragh Tireragh (; ) is a barony in County Sligo, Ireland. It corresponds to the former Gaelic túath of Tír Fhíacrach Múaidhe. History The barony was formed as part of the shiring of County Sligo by the Lord Deputy Sir Henry Sidney Sir Hen ...

Tirerril Tirerill (Tír Oirill) is a barony in east County Sligo. It corresponds to the ancient túath of Tir Ollíol Tir Ollíol was a túath in northwest Ireland. It was part of the confederation of Iochtar Connacht until the late 16th century. Its na ...

Leyny Leyny (), also Leyney, is a barony in County Sligo, Ireland. It corresponds to the ancient túath of Luíghne. Leyny consists of these civil parishes: Achonry, Ballysadare Ballysadare (), locally also Ballisodare, is a town in County Slig ...

, Corran and

Coolavin Coolavin ( Irish ''Cúl ó bhFionn'') is a historical barony in south County Sligo, Ireland. It was created from the ancient túath of An Corann. The O'Garas were originally Lords of Coolavin. They were succeeded by the MacDermotts, a famil ...

. The capital of the newly shired county was placed at

. A causewayed enclosure discovered in 2003 at Maugheraboy is one of the earliest indications of

Neolithic The Neolithic or New Stone Age (from Ancient Greek, Greek 'new' and 'stone') is an archaeological period, the final division of the Stone Age in Mesopotamia, Asia, Europe and Africa (c. 10,000 BCE to c. 2,000 BCE). It saw the Neolithic Revo ...

farming activity on the Cúil Irra Peninsula. The nearby megalithic cemetery of

Carrowmore Carrowmore (, 'the great quarter') is a large group of megalithic monuments on the Coolera Peninsula to the west of Sligo, Ireland. They were built in the 4th millennium BC, during the Neolithic (New Stone Age). There are 30 surviving tombs wi ...

forms part of a huge complex of

Stone Age The Stone Age was a broad prehistory, prehistoric period during which Rock (geology), stone was widely used to make stone tools with an edge, a point, or a percussion surface. The period lasted for roughly 3.4 million years and ended b ...

remains connecting Carrowkeel in south Sligo to the

Ox Mountains The Ox Mountains or Slieve Gamph (, 'storm mountains') are a mountain range in County Sligo on the west coast of Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Eu ...

, to the Cuil Irra Peninsula, where the passage tomb named after the legendary

Queen Maeve Medb (), later spelled Meadhbh (), Méabh(a) () and Méibh (), and often anglicised as Maeve ( ), is queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Her husband in the core stories of the cycle is Ailill mac Máta, although she had s ...

, Miosgán Médhbh, dominates the western skyline from the crest of Knocknarea Mountain. The

Caves of Kesh The Caves of Kesh, also known as the Keash Caves or the Caves of Keshcorran (), are a series of limestone caves located near the village of Keash, County Sligo, Ireland. The caves are situated on the west side of Keshcorran Hill (part of the Br ...

, famous in Irish

mythology Myth is a genre of folklore consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society. For scholars, this is very different from the vernacular usage of the term "myth" that refers to a belief that is not true. Instead, the ...

, are in south County Sligo. A recent decoding of the work of

Marinus of Tyre Marinus of Tyre (, ''Marînos ho Týrios''; 70–130) was a List of Graeco-Roman geographers, geographer, Cartography, cartographer and mathematician, who founded mathematical geography and provided the underpinnings of Claudius Ptolemy's i ...

and

Ptolemy Claudius Ptolemy (; , ; ; – 160s/170s AD) was a Greco-Roman mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were important to later Byzantine science, Byzant ...

shows Sligo as the likely location of

Nagnata Nagnata () or Magnata () is a town noted on the co-ordinate map of the 2nd century AD Alexandrian scholar Claudius Ptolemy in the territory of the Nagnatae (Ναγνᾶται). It is located in northwest Hibernia between the mouths of the rivers ...

, an important place of assembly in the Iron Age. Famous medieval manuscripts written in the area include the ''

Book of Ballymote The ''Book of Ballymote'' (, RIA MS 23 P 12, 275 foll.), was written in 1390 or 1391 in or near the town of Ballymote, now in County Sligo, but then in the tuath of Corann. According to David Sellar who was the Lord Lyon King of Arms in ...

'', written in the territory of Corran, the ''

Great Book of Lecan The ''Great Book of Lecan'' or simply ''Book of Lecan'' () ( RIA, 23 P 2) is a late-medieval Irish manuscript written between 1397 and 1418 in Castle Forbes, Lecan (Lackan, Leckan; Irish ), in the territory of Tír Fhíacrach, near moder ...

'', and the ''

Yellow Book of Lecan The Yellow Book of Lecan (YBL; Irish language, Irish: ''Leabhar Buidhe Leacáin''), or TCD MS 1318 (''olim'' H 2.16), is a History of Ireland (1169–1536), late medieval Irish manuscript. It contains much of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology ...

'', both written in Tir Fhiacrach. The patron of the ''

Annals of the Four Masters The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' () or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' () are chronicles of Middle Ages, medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Genesis flood narrative, Deluge, dated as 2,242 Anno Mundi, years after crea ...

'' was

Fearghal Ó Gadhra Fearghal Ó Gadhra (c. 1597 – after 1660), sometimes referred to as Farrell O'Gara, was lord of Coolavin, and patron of the ''Annals of the Four Masters''. Family background Ó Gadhra was the son of Tadhg mac Oilill Ó Gadhra of Coolavin, loc ...

in south County Sligo.

Local government and politics

is the local authority for the county. At the

2019 Sligo County Council election An election to all 18 seats on Sligo County Council was held on 24 May 2019 as part of the 2019 Irish local elections. County Sligo was divided into 3 local electoral areas (LEAs) to elect councillors for a five-year term of office on the ele ...

, it was divided into three

local electoral area A local electoral area (LEA; ) is an electoral area for elections to Local government in the Republic of Ireland, local authorities in Ireland. All elections in the Republic of Ireland, elections use the single transferable vote. Republic of Ir ...

s (LEAs):

Ballymote Ballymote () is a market town in southern County Sligo, Ireland. It is around 20 km south of Sligo town in the province of Connacht, which is in the north-west of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Ballymote lies in the Barony (Ireland), barony ...

–

Tobercurry Tubbercurry or Tobercurry () is the second-largest town in terms of both population and land area in County Sligo, Ireland. It lies at the foot of the Ox Mountains, on the N17 national primary road, and is south-west of Sligo town. The town ...

(7 seats),

–

Strandhill Strandhill or occasionally Larass () is a coastal town and townland on the Coolera Peninsula in County Sligo, Ireland. , the population was 1,753, an increase of 10% from the 2011 census. The old name appears to be ''Ros Dragnige'' (see Killa ...

(6 seats), and Sligo–

Drumcliff Drumcliff or Drumcliffe () is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. It is north of Sligo, Sligo town on the N15 road (Ireland), N15 road on a low gravel ridge between the mountain of Ben Bulben and Drumcliff Bay. It is on the Drumcliff River, o ...

(5 seats). Each of these form a municipal district, with the containing Sligo–Strandhill known as the borough district of Sligo.

Former districts

Under the

Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 ( 61 & 62 Vict. c. 37) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland that established a system of local government in Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots diale ...

, County Sligo was divided into the

rural districts A rural district was a type of local government area – now superseded – established at the end of the 19th century in England, Wales, and Ireland for the administration of predominantly rural areas at a level lower than that of the adm ...

of Boyle No. 2, Dromore West, Sligo, and Tobercurry, and the urban district of

. Unlike most urban districts, Sligo had retained its borough corporation. The rural districts were abolished in 1925. Sligo Borough Corporation became a borough council in 2002, before being abolished in 2014 in common with all borough and town councils in Ireland.

National politics

County Sligo is part of the Dáil constituency of Sligo–Leitrim (4 TDs). At the 2020 election,

Martin Kenny Martin Kenny (born 1 October 1971) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency since the 2016 general election. Career Prior to entering politics, Kenny worked in horticulture, grow ...

(

Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( ; ; ) is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The History of Sinn Féin, original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffit ...

Frank Feighan Frank Feighan (; born 4 July 1962) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency since 2020, and previously from 2007 to 2016 for the Roscommon–South Leitrim constituency. He served a ...

(

Fine Gael Fine Gael ( ; ; ) is a centre-right, liberal-conservative, Christian democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil Éireann. The party had a member ...

Marc MacSharry Marc MacSharry (born 12 July 1973) is an Irish former politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Sligo–Leitrim from 2016 to 2024. From 2002 to 2016, he was a Fianna Fáil Senator on the Industrial and Commercial Panel. He resigned from ...

(

Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil ( ; ; meaning "Soldiers of Destiny" or "Warriors of Fál"), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party (), is a centre to centre-right political party in Ireland. Founded as a republican party in 1926 by Éamon de ...

) and

Marian Harkin Marian Harkin (born 26 November 1953) is an Irish independent politician who has served as Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science since February 2025. She has been a Teachta Dála ( ...

(

Ind Ind or IND may refer to: General * Independent (politician), a politician not affiliated to any political party * Independent station, used within television program listings and the television industry for a station that is not affiliated with ...

) were elected.

Coat of arms

This coat of arms was adopted by

in 1980. The design on the black shield, which shows an open book on which there is a Celtic Cross and a red rose, represents collectively the literary and cultural history of Sligo. These refer to such early works as the Books of Ballymote and Lecan, while the rose was a significant theme in the poetry of W. B. Yeats. The escallop shells sprinkled on the shield refer to the origin of the word Sligeach – "a place abounding in shells". The boar's head refers to the "wild boar of Benbulben" in the Diarmuid and Gráinne myth. The colour scheme of the crest incorporates the

Sligo GAA The Sligo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) () or Sligo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Sligo. The county board is also responsible for the Sligo county ...

colours of black and white.

Culture

County Sligo is the setting for a large number of the texts in the Mythological Cycles. The story of Diarmad and Grainne has its final act played out on Ben Bulben. The Second Battle of Moytirra is associated with Moytirra in South County Sligo. Other texts include Bruidean Ceise Corann, set on Keash Mountain. The rich array of megalithic monuments in the area has been an inspiration to artists and writers such as Sir Samuel Ferguson. The poet and

Nobel laureate The Nobel Prizes (, ) are awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Swedish Academy, the Karolinska Institutet, and the Norwegian Nobel Committee to individuals and organizations who make outstanding contributions in th ...

W. B. Yeats William Butler Yeats (, 13 June 186528 January 1939), popularly known as W. B. Yeats, was an Irish poet, dramatist, writer, and literary critic who was one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. He was a driving force behind the ...

(1865–1939) spent much of his childhood in northern Sligo and the county's landscapes (particularly the Isle of Innisfree, in Lough Gill) were the inspiration for much of his poetry. Yeats said, "the place that has really influenced my life most is Sligo". He is buried in North County Sligo, "

Under Ben Bulben "Under Ben Bulben" is a poem written by Irish poet W. B. Yeats. Composition It is believed to be one of the last poems he wrote, being drafted when he was 73, in August 1938 when his health was already poor (he died in January 1939). Publicat ...

", in

. W. B. Yeats's brother

Jack Jack may refer to: Places * Jack, Alabama, US, an unincorporated community * Jack, Missouri, US, an unincorporated community * Jack County, Texas, a county in Texas People and fictional characters * Jack (given name), a male given name, incl ...

, a painter, also was inspired by the Sligo landscape.

Music

County Sligo has a long history of

traditional music Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

. The south of the county is particularly noted with such musical luminaries as James Morrison, Michael Coleman,

Paddy Killoran Patrick J. Killoran (1903–1965) was an Irish people, Irish traditional fiddle player, bandleader and recording artist. He is regarded, along with James Morrison (fiddler), James Morrison and Michael Coleman (Irish musician), Michael Coleman, as ...

, Fred Finn,

Peter Horan Peter Horan (1926 – 17 October 2010) was an Irish flute and fiddle player from Killavil, County Sligo County Sligo ( , ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Northern and Western Region and is par ...

, Joe O'Dowd, Jim Donoghue, Martin Wynne,

Oisín Mac Diarmada Oisín Mac Diarmada (born 1978) is an Irish fiddler. Biography Oisín Mac Diarmada was born in 1978 in County Clare, and grew up in Crusheen. He started playing the fiddle from an early age, and began winning competitions at age eight. He also ...

(of

Téada Téada is an Irish traditional music band. The band's name is Irish for "strings". The five members of the band are fiddle player Oisín Mac Diarmada, button accordion player Paul Finn, Damien Stenson performs on flute, Seán Mc Elwain switch ...

), tin-whistle player

Carmel Gunning Carmel Gunning is an Irish composer and musician, from Sligo, Ireland. Gunning is one of Ireland's most accomplished tin whistle players who is also known for her singing and Irish flute, flute playing and also plays guitar and button accordion. ...

and the band

Dervish Dervish, Darvesh, or Darwīsh (from ) in Islam can refer broadly to members of a Sufi fraternity (''tariqah''), or more narrowly to a religious mendicant, who chose or accepted material poverty. The latter usage is found particularly in Persi ...

. The county has many traditional music festivals and one of the most well-known is the

Queen Maeve International Summer School The Queen Maeve International Summer School, ( Irish Scoil Samhraidh Miosgán Medbha) is one of Ireland's largest traditional music summer schools, held annually since 1999 and was founded by Sligo tin whistle player Carmel Gunning. During the wee ...

, a traditional Irish Music summer school of music and dance which is held annually in August in

Sligo Town Sligo ( ; , meaning 'abounding in shells') is a coastal seaport and the county town of County Sligo, Ireland, within the western province of Connacht. With a population of 20,608 in 2022, it is the county's largest urban centre (constituting 2 ...

. On the more contemporary music scene there are

Westlife Westlife are an Irish pop group formed in Dublin in 1998. The group consists of members Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily. Brian McFadden was a member before leaving in March 2004. The group disbanded in 2012 and later reun ...

Tabby Callaghan Tabby Callaghan (born Trevor John O'Callaghan; 22 April 1981, County Sligo, Ireland) is an Irish musician. He was the last contestant eliminated on the first series of ''The X Factor'' in 2004. Early career Callaghan played in many collectives ...

and

The Conway Sisters The Conway Sisters were a semi-professional singing group from County Sligo, Ireland, who achieved a measure of fame through their appearance in the final stages of the second UK series of television talent show ''The X Factor'' in 2005. The gro ...

who are from Sligo.

, about 9 km west of Sligo, hosts the Strandhill Guitar Festival each year, featuring a wide variety of guitar music and musicians.

Sport

The county is home to

League of Ireland Premier Division The League of Ireland Men's Premier Division (), also known as the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in the Republic of Ireland and the highest level of the Republic of I ...

club

Sligo Rovers Sligo Rovers Football Club is an Irish professional association football, football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club is based in Sligo in the west of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in ...

, who have played home matches at The Showgrounds since they were founded in 1928 and won the league on 3 occasions. Their colours are red and white, hence their nickname the Bit 'O' Red.

Brother Walfrid Andrew Kerins (; 18 May 1840 – 17 April 1915), known by his religious name Brother Walfrid, was an Irish people, Irish Marist Brothers, Marist Brother and is best remembered for being the founder of Scottish football club Celtic F.C., Celtic. ...

, the founder of

Celtic Football Club The Celtic Football Club, commonly known as Celtic (), is a professional Association football, football club in Glasgow, Scotland. The team competes in the Scottish Premiership, the top division of Scottish football league system, Scottish ...

, was born in

, in the south of the county. The county is represented in

Gaelic Games Gaelic games () are a set of sports played worldwide, though they are particularly popular in Ireland, where they originated. They include Gaelic football, hurling, Gaelic handball and rounders. Football and hurling, the most popular of the s ...

. Their colours are black and white. Sligo has won the Connacht Championship 3 times.

Geography and subdivisions

Sligo is the 22nd largest of Ireland's 32 counties in area and the 27th largest in terms of population. It is the fourth largest of Connacht's 5 counties in size and third largest in terms of population. The County borders

County Mayo County Mayo (; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. In the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht, it is named after the village of Mayo, County Mayo, Mayo, now ge ...

to the west,

County Roscommon County Roscommon () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is part of the province of Connacht and the Northern and Western Region. It is the List of Irish counties by area, 11th largest Irish county by area and Li ...

to the south and south-east and

County Leitrim County Leitrim ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht and is part of the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the village of Leitrim, County Leitr ...

to the northeast.

Largest towns in County Sligo (2016 Census)

, 19,452 #

Tubbercurry Tubbercurry or Tobercurry () is the second-largest town in terms of both population and land area in County Sligo, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It lies at the foot of the Ox Mountains, on the N17 road (Ireland), N17 national primary road, and ...

, 1,986 #

, 1,753 #

Collooney Collooney or Coloony () is a town in County Sligo, Ireland. Toponymy Collooney is thought to derive from . Reverend Terrence O'Rorke has previously also suggested ''Culmaine'', as Collooney is designated this way in such works as the ''Annal ...

, 1,610 #

, 1,549 #

Ballisodare Ballysadare (), locally also Ballisodare, is a town in County Sligo, Ireland. It is about south of Sligo town. The town developed on an important crossing of the Owenmore River. Ballysadare is in a townland and civil parish of the same name. ...

, 1,350 #

Enniscrone Enniscrone – also spelt Inniscrone and officially named Inishcrone () – is a small seaside town in County Sligo, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Its sandy beach, tourist campsite, and golf course all attract visitors. As of the 2022 ce ...

, 1,223 #

Coolaney Coolaney () is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. Coolaney sits at the foot of the Ox Mountains with the river Owen Beg running through it around which is a walk. The remains of an old mill are located along the riverside walk, and the remains ...

, 990 #

Rosses Point Rosses Point ( or ) is a village in County Sligo, Ireland and also the name of the surrounding peninsula. Rosses Point is at the entrance to Sligo Harbour from Sligo Bay with Oyster Island being the long thin landmass notable when entering th ...

, 883 #

Grange Grange may refer to: Buildings * Grange House, Scotland, built in 1564, and demolished in 1906 * Grange Estate, Pennsylvania, built in 1682 * The Grange (Toronto), Toronto, Ontario, built in 1817 * Monastic grange, a farming estate belonging to ...

, 586

Towns and villages

Achonry Achonry (; ) is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. The old name is Achad Cain Conairi. St. Nath Í ua hEadhra (O'Hara) founded a monastery here. The foundation gave the later diocese its name. The monastery was founded on land granted by the ...

Aclare Aclare () is a village in County Sligo, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, and the main village in the parish of Kilmactigue. Formerly, the village of Aclare was not part of the same-named townland, but straddled the border of the adjacent townlands ...

Ballaghnatrillick Ballaghnatrillick (), locally Ballintrillick, is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. Local attractions include the three stones (from which the village gets its name). It also has a church dedicated to St Brigid. Ballintrillick, as the area i ...

Ballinafad Ballinafad () is a village in the south of County Sligo in the west of Ireland. The village overlooks Lough Arrow, and is itself overlooked by the ruins of Ballinafad Castle. The Most Rev. Dr John Healy, Lord Archbishop of Tuam from 1903 ...

* Ballygawley *

Ballintogher Ballintogher () is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. It is located approximately 8 kilometers southeast of the county town of Sligo on the R290 road between Ballygawley to the west and Dromahair in County Leitrim to the north-east. Known a ...

Ballynacarrow Ballynacarrow, locally Ballinacarrow (), is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. It is located approximately south-west of Sligo town. The Temple House Manor and Castle, Temple House estate is south of the village. Ballynacarrow was designated ...

Ballysadare Ballysadare (), locally also Ballisodare, is a town in County Sligo, Ireland. It is about south of Sligo town. The town developed on an important crossing of the Owenmore River. Ballysadare is in a townland and civil parish of the same name. ...

Beltra Beltra () is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. Beltra is situated between the Ox Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. There is a public house named AJ's situated near Beltra woods and Beltra Post Office. Farming, haulage and construction are the ...

Bunninadden Bunnanadden, Bunnanaddan or Bunninadden () is a small village in south County Sligo, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is on the R296_road_(Ireland), R296 road, 9 km from Tubbercurry and 8 km from Ballymote. The village contains the p ...

* Carney *

Castlebaldwin Castlebaldwin or Bellanagarrigeeny () is a townland and small village in County Sligo, Ireland. The castle outside the village of Castlebaldwin is a fortified 17th-century house rather than a medieval castle, with gun slits in the walls and a ...

Cliffony Cliffoney, officially Cliffony (), is a village in the north of County Sligo in the west of Ireland. It lies on the N15 road (Ireland), N15 national route at its junction with the R279 road (Ireland), R279. It is only three kilometres away from M ...

Cloonacool Cloonacool () is a village and townland in County Sligo County Sligo ( , ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Northern and Western Region and is part of the Provinces of Ireland, province of Conna ...

Dromore West Dromore West () is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. Dromore West is located along the N59 between the Ox Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. The village is situated on the banks of the Dunneil River, offering scenic river walks that lead towa ...

Easky Easky or Easkey (; ) is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. It is on the Atlantic coast, from Sligo and from Ballina, County Mayo. The village name derives from the Irish language term for fish () and literally means "abounding in fish", due ...

Geevagh Geevagh () is a village in the south-east corner of County Sligo, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, on the R284 road, R284 Regional road (Ireland), regional road. The name, meaning "the windy (place)", describes a climatic feature of the village a ...

Gorteen Gurteen or Gorteen () is a village in County Sligo, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the civil parish of Kilfree in the Barony (Ireland), baronry of Coolavin. Gurteen's population increased from 269 people, at the 2006 census, to 393 at ...

Kilglass Kilglass or Kilglas () is a rural townland in County Sligo, Ireland, in the hinterland of Enniscrone. Kilglass is in a civil parish of the same name. The area is the location of an Anglican church, built in 1829 with funding provided by the B ...

Monasteraden Monasteraden () is a village in County Sligo, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The village is located on the shores of Lough Gara. St. Aiden's church is the village's church. Other sites include Lough Gara Lodge, Slí na Croí's Roundhouse Ecolodge ...

* Mullaghmore *

Riverstown Riverstown, historically called ''Ballyederdaowen'' (), is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. Known for its musical tradition it is located at a bridging point of the River Unshin (Arrow), 17.2 km (10 miles) south of Sligo town and 4 ...

Skreen Skreen () is a small village and parish in County Sligo, Ireland. The village is in a civil parish of the same name. History St Adomnán, the first biographer of St Columba (Colmcille) and one of his successors at Iona, first served as abbot ...

Toorlestraun Toorlestraun or Tourlestrane () is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. Village The village of Tourlestrane itself is the smaller of the two villages in the parish of Kilmactigue, the other being Aclare. It is a market centre for local dairy far ...

Places of interest

Benbulbin Benbulbin (), sometimes Benbulben or Ben Bulben, is a steep-sided and flat-topped mountain in County Sligo, Ireland. It is part of the Dartry Mountains, in an area sometimes called " Yeats Country". Benbulbin, high, formed as a nunatak during ...

Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery Carrowkeel is a cluster of passage tombs in south County Sligo, Ireland. They were built in the 4th millennium BC, during the Neolithic era. The monuments are on the Bricklieve Hills (''An Bricshliabh'', 'the speckled hills'), overlooking Lo ...

Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery Carrowmore (, 'the great quarter') is a large group of megalithic monuments on the Coolera Peninsula to the west of Sligo, Ireland. They were built in the 4th millennium BC, during the Neolithic (New Stone Age). There are 30 surviving tombs wi ...

Coolera Peninsula The Coolera Peninsula () is a peninsula in Sligo Bay, County Sligo, Ireland. It is the most populous of County Sligo's peninsulas, and the second-largest by land area. The primary population centres on Coolera are the coastal town of Strandhil ...

Curlew Mountains The Curlew Mountains () are a range of low-lying hills situated between Boyle and Castlebaldwin in northeastern Connacht. Toponymy The assignation of the name ''Curlew'' to the mountains may not relate the Curlew bird, but rather to the whic ...

Dartry Mountains The Dartry Mountains () are a mountain range in the north west of Ireland, in the north of counties Sligo and Leitrim. They lie between Lough Melvin, Lough Gill and Lough MacNean. The highest point is Truskmore at . Other notable mountains i ...

* Easkey Bog *

Glencar Lough Glencar Lough (), locally known as Glencar Lake, is a freshwater lake in the northwest of Ireland. It covers an area of and lies mostly in County Leitrim with a smaller part in County Sligo. Glencar Waterfall is located near the lake's north sh ...

Knocknarea Knocknarea (; ) is a large prominent hill west of Sligo town in County Sligo, Ireland, with a height of . Knocknarea is visually striking as it has steep limestone cliffs and stands on the Coolera Peninsula overlooking the Atlantic coast. At th ...

Lough Arrow Lough Arrow () is a freshwater lake in the northwest of Ireland. This large, scenic lake covers an area of and lies mostly in County Sligo with a smaller part in County Roscommon. It is a popular trout fishing lake. Geography Lough Arrow lies ...

Lough Gill Lough Gill () is a freshwater lough (lake) mainly situated in County Sligo, but partly in County Leitrim, in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Lough Gill provides the setting for William Butler Yeats' poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree". Location a ...

Maugherow Peninsula The Maugherow Peninsula () is the largest and westernmost peninsula of County Sligo, Ireland. It is also less commonly referred to as the Raghly Peninsula, after Raghly Point (), which is itself a headland A headland, also known as a head, is ...

Mullaghmore Peninsula The Mullaghmore Peninsula (), also referred to as Mullaghmore Head, is a small peninsula in the north of County Sligo, Ireland. The coastal village of Mullaghmore is the peninsula's sole settlement. The village has 136 year-round residents acco ...

Rosses Point Peninsula The Rosses Point Peninsula () is a small peninsula in the centre of Sligo Bay in County Sligo, Ireland. The peninsula shares its name with the village of Rosses Point, a popular seaside resort located on the peninsula's southern coast, roughly ...

Sligo Abbey Sligo Abbey () was a Dominican convent in Sligo, Ireland, founded in 1253. It was built in the Romanesque style with some later additions and alterations. Extensive ruins remain, mainly of the church and the cloister. The site is managed by th ...

Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird ''Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird'' ( Irish for "stream against the height"), is Ireland’s highest waterfall, with a height of . It is in the Dartry Mountains in the north-west of Ireland, marking part of the border between County Sligo and County ...

Notable people

* ''

Feldmarschall ''Generalfeldmarschall'' (; from Old High German ''marahscalc'', "marshal, stable master, groom"; ; often abbreviated to ''Feldmarschall'') was a rank in the armies of several List of states in the Holy Roman Empire, German states and the Holy ...

'' The 3rd Earl of Carlingford (1639-1704) - senior military commander for the

Habsburg monarchy The Habsburg monarchy, also known as Habsburg Empire, or Habsburg Realm (), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities (composite monarchy) that were ruled by the House of Habsburg. From the 18th century it is ...

in the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...

. Lord Carlingford was born in

, and he later served as the

chief minister A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union ter ...

of the

Duchy of Lorraine The Duchy of Lorraine was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire which existed from the 10th century until 1766 when it was annexed by the kingdom of France. It gave its name to the larger present-day region of Lorraine in northeastern France ...

. * Michael Coleman (1891–1945) – traditional musician *

Owen Connellan Owen Connellan (1797 – 4 August 1871) was an Irish scholar who translated the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' into English in 1846. Life He was born in County Sligo, the son of a farmer who claimed descent from Lóegaire mac Néill, High K ...

(1797–1871) – Irish Scholar, translated the ''

'' in 1846 *

Michael Corcoran Michael Corcoran (September 21, 1827 – December 22, 1863) was an Irish- American general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and a close confidant of President Abraham Lincoln. As its colonel, he led the 69th New York Regiment ...

(1827–1863) – Union Army general in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

Adrienne Cullen Adrienne M. Cullen (9 November 1960 – 31 December 2018) was an Irish journalist, editor and healthcare campaigner who died in the Netherlands aged 58, after a university hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, UMC Utrecht, admitted losin ...

(1960–2018) – journalist, editor and healthcare campaigner *

Kian Egan Kian John Francis Egan (born 29 April 1980) is an Irish pop singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as a member of the pop group Westlife. Westlife have released twelve albums, embarked on thirteen world tours, and won numerous award ...

(born 1980) – member of the pop band

Mark Feehily Markus Michael Patrick Feehily (born 28 May 1980) is an Irish singer, best known as a member of the pop vocal group Westlife. Westlife has released twelve albums, embarked on thirteen world tours and won several awards, becoming one of the most ...

(born 1980) – member of Westlife *

Shane Filan Shane Steven Filan (born 5 July 1979) is an Irish singer best known as a member of the pop vocal group Westlife, which was formed in 1998, disbanded in 2012, and regrouped in 2018. Westlife has released thirteen albums, embarked on twelve wor ...

(born 1979) – member of Westlife * Tommy Fleming (born 1971) – singer *

Scott Fredericks Scott Fredericks (born Frederick Wehrly; 15 March 1943 – 6 November 2017Obituary: ) was an Irish actor best known for his roles on British television. Early life Fredericks was born in Strandhill, County Sligo to Edward Wehrly (d. 2001), a je ...

(1943–2017) – actor *

(born 1953) –

Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála ( ; ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish language, Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, the parliament of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The official Engli ...

(TD) for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency; previously a

Member of the European Parliament A member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been Election, elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament. When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the European Coal and S ...

(MEP) from 2004 to 2019 *

Neil Jordan Neil Patrick Jordan (born 25 February 1950) is an Irish filmmaker and writer. He first achieved recognition for his short story collection, ''Night in Tunisia (short story collection), Night in Tunisia,'' which won the Guardian Fiction Prize in ...

(born 1950) – film director, screenwriter, novelist and short-story writer *

Constance Markievicz Constance Georgine Markievicz ( ; ' Gore-Booth; 4 February 1868 – 15 July 1927), also known as Countess Markievicz and Madame Markievicz, was an Irish politician, revolutionary, nationalist, suffragist, and socialist who was the first woman ...

(1868–1927) – revolutionary Irish nationalist, the first woman elected to the British Parliament *

Pauline McLynn Pauline McLynn (born 11 July 1962) is an Irish character actress and author. She is best known for her roles as Mrs. Doyle in the Channel 4 sitcom ''Father Ted'', Libby Croker in the Channel 4 comedy drama '' Shameless'', Tip Haddem in the BBC ...

(born 1962) – actress;

Mrs Doyle ''Father Ted'' is a sitcom produced by independent production company Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Its three series, comprising 25 episodes and a special, originally aired from 21 April 1995 to 1 May 1998. Its main c ...

in the sitcom ''

Father Ted ''Father Ted'' is a sitcom created by Irish writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews (writer), Arthur Mathews and produced by British production company Hat Trick Productions for British television channel Channel 4. It aired over three seri ...

'' *

Ray McSharry Ray MacSharry (born 29 April 1938) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Tánaiste from March 1982 to December 1982, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development from 1989 to 1993, Minister for Finance (Ireland) ...

(born 1938) –

(TD) for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency from 1969 to 1988;

Tánaiste The Tánaiste ( , ) is the second-ranking member of the government of Ireland and the holder of its second-most senior office. It is the equivalent of the deputy prime minister in other parliamentary systems. The Tánaiste is appointed by the P ...

. He also served as

(MEP) for the Connacht–Ulster constituency *

Martin Moffat Martin Joseph Moffat Victoria Cross, VC (15 April 1882 – 5 January 1946) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to United Kingdom, Bri ...

(1882–1946) – soldier, recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

Lola Montez Eliza Rosanna Gilbert, Countess of Landsfeld (17 February 1821 – 17 January 1861), better known by the stage name Lola Montez (), was an Irish dancer and actress who became famous as a Spanish dancer, courtesan, and mistress of King Ludw ...

(1821–1861) – dancer, actress * James Morrison (1893–1947) – traditional musician * Christopher O'Donnell (born 1998) – Olympic track and field athlete *

Nace O'Dowd Ignatius "Nace" O'Dowd (1 August 1931 – 16 May 1987) was an Irish Gaelic footballer who played for the Sligo county team in the 1950s and was a member of a number of successful Railway Cup teams. In 1949 he captained a Sligo team to a Conn ...

(1931–1987) –

Gaelic football Gaelic football (; short name '')'', commonly known as simply Gaelic, GAA, or football, is an Irish team sport. A form of football, it is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score ...

captain for the Sligo county team *

Mary O'Hara Mary O'Hara (born 12 May 1935) is an Irish soprano and harpist from County Sligo. She gained attention on both sides of the Atlantic in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Her recordings of that period influenced a generation of Irish female singer ...

(born 1935) – singer *

Ambrosio O'Higgins, 1st Marquis of Osorno Ambrosio Bernardo O'Higgins y O'Higgins, 1st Marquess of Osorno (c. 1720 – 19 March 1801) born Ambrose Bernard O'Higgins (''Ambrós Bearnárd Ó hUiginn'', in Irish language, Irish), was an Irish-Spanish colonial administrator and a member of ...

(1720–1801) – Spanish colonial administrator *

Martin Savage Martin Savage may refer to: * Martin Savage (Irish republican) (1897–1919), officer in the Irish Republican Army * Martin Savage (actor), English actor See also * Martin Savidge (born 1958), Canadian-American television news correspondent ...

(1897–1917) – Irish Republican *

Sir George Stokes Sir George Gabriel Stokes, 1st Baronet, (; 13 August 1819 – 1 February 1903) was an Irish mathematician and physicist. Born in County Sligo, Ireland, Stokes spent his entire career at the University of Cambridge, where he served as the Lucasi ...

(1819–1903) – mathematician, physicist *

(1840–1915) – founder of

Celtic FC The Celtic Football Club, commonly known as Celtic (), is a professional football club in Glasgow, Scotland. The team competes in the Scottish Premiership, the top division of Scottish football. The club was founded in 1887 with the purpos ...

Jack Butler Yeats Jack Butler Yeats RHA (29 August 1871 – 28 March 1957) was an Irish artist. Born into a family of impoverished Anglo-Irish landholders, his father was the painter John Butler Yeats, and his brother was the poet W. B. Yeats. Jack B. was bo ...

(1871–1957) – artist *

(1865–1939) – poet

Railways

The

Dublin–Sligo railway line The Dublin–Sligo railway line is a railway route operated by Iarnród Éireann in Ireland. It starts in Dublin Connolly station, terminating at Sligo Mac Diarmada railway station in Sligo. The route is a double-track railway as far as Maynoot ...

is operated by

Iarnród Éireann Iarnród Éireann, () or Irish Rail, is the operator of the national Rail transport in Ireland, railway network of Ireland. Established on 2 February 1987, it is a subsidiary of CIÉ, Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ). It operates all internal I ...

in Ireland. It starts in Dublin Connolly station, terminating at

Sligo Mac Diarmada railway station Sligo railway station, also known as MacDiarmada station (), is a mainline railway station which serves the town of Sligo in County Sligo, Ireland. It is a terminal station which now has two platforms and an intermediate carriage siding. The ra ...

. In the county there are stations at

and

References

External links

Collection of Sligo Landscape PhotographsSligo County CouncilSligo Borough CouncilMap of SligoSligoheritage.comHistory of Sligo, County and Town By William Gregory Wood-Martin Song, "Beautiful Sligo" sung by Michael McGloin,YouTube Video, with images.
* {{coord, 54, 15, N, 8, 40, W, region:IE_type:adm1st_source:GNS-enwiki, display=title