Fun things to do in Sligo

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The courthouse in Sligo is a very impressive building indeed. The Dublin architect J. Rawson Carroll designed the building which opened in 1876. Another of his well known works was Classiebawn Castle at Mullaghmore, the holiday home of the late Lord Mountbatten who was tragically murdered in the nearby bay.

A large part of the Courthouse was built from stone brought from Mount Charles in County Donegal north of Sligo. In the latter years of the 20th century the building underwent a 7.3 euro renovation which is thought to be the biggest reno to date in the court system of Ireland.

The Courthouse stands on the site of the old courthouse and gaol and the outline of some of the cells from that gaol were built into the new Courthouse and can still be seen today.

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There is a wonderful river walk in Sligo Town which runs right along the Garavogue River.

Plenty to see and plenty of shops and cafes as well.

The River Garavogue is a fascinating river which runs very quickly and roughly in some parts which adds to its attraction.

It's a great part of any walk around Sligo Town as are the historical buildings and shops.

Sligo's favourite son was of course, the poet William Butler Yeats who is thought to be buried in the Graveyard at Drumcliff just north of Sligo Town.

You can visit the Yeats Centre in Sligo Town and become very informed about the man, his life and his work.

More info here:

http://www.yeats-sligo.com/

The centre also houses a wonderful little cafe where you can stop for tea/coffee and cake.

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Blink and you'll miss it - that's Drumcliff, Co. Sligo. Only be sure you don't blink before you pull into the carpark at the Church of Ireland and have a look around. You won't be sorry that you did.

Here is the resting place of the iconic William Butler Yeats, though it is widely believed that he is in actual fact, interred somewhere in the North of France. Who knows? Have your photo taken with him anyway.

An interesting point that should be mentioned is that the two beautiful bronze swans which adorn the main door of the church were a gift from the Yeats Society of Western Australia. The Celtic Cross in the churchyard dates back to the eighth century.

Found in the small village of Gurteen (my ancestral neck of the woods) this traditional music centre is a homage to the Sligo musician Michael Coleman.
The centre is an important resource for the maintenance of traditional methods of music making, especially those originating in Sligo itself. The centre is in a very new and trendy building at the far end of town and while there you can see the visitor centre, shop and music school if youare a musician of traditional Irish instruments there are often sessions and lessons. The centre has a replica of Michael Colemans house too.

The Holy Well is one of the most peaceful places that I have ever had the privilege to visit. I go there every time I visit Ireland. Situated at the South West corner of Lough Gil in Co. Sligo, the site was used by Catholics during the penal times when they were not allowed by law to practise their faith. It is certainly not on the tourist path in Ireland, but if you are on a driving tour in the area, I can certainly recommend that you visit. Of special interest to Catholics of course, it has a beautiful stone altar and markers all around the site for the praying of the rosary.

Glencar Falls can be found on the Sligo/Leitrim border about 8 miles north of Sligo Town. This is a beautiful spot, suitable for a picnic and the viewing point has wooden stairs which enables the visitor to climb up right beside the falls. It is a wonderfully green, wooded area and is the very place that W B Yeats wrote about in "The Stolen Child":

"Where the wandering water gushes
From the hills above Glen-Car,.
In pools among the rushes
That scarce could bathe a star,"

The falls flow into Glencar Lough at this point. This place is not to be missed when visiting the Sligo area.

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Lough Gill is so very beautiful that it was the subject of many a poem by William Butler Yeats, not the least of which was his famous "Isle of Innisfree." He wrote the poem when he felt homesick for Ireland and imagined the sound of the water at Innisfree. Also on the banks of Lough Gill you can climb Dooney Rock where you can see it all.

The Garavogue River has Loch Gill as its last stop before spilling out into the waters of Sligo Bay. It is surrounded on all sides by hills and mountains, and is a favourite fishing ground and makes a wonderful day's excursion in a row boat, which one can rent nearby.

To see the Lough at its very best, my recommendation is that you drive around it late in the day. It is the most beautiful sight to see at twilight.