Located on Ireland's northwest coast, this creative town inspired W.B. Yeats's poetry. Its 13th-century abbey, surf beaches, and neolithic sites draw visitors year-round.
In northwestern Ireland, Sligo welcomes visitors with its medieval streets, Atlantic beaches, and ancient stone monuments. You can walk along the Garavogue River through the town center, climb the 1,078-foot Knocknarea mountain to see a 5,000-year-old burial cairn, or catch waves at Strandhill Beach. The landscapes around Sligo inspired poet W.B. Yeats, whose grave lies beneath the distinctive flat-topped Ben Bulben mountain.
Getting to Sligo
Sligo sits 135 miles northwest of Dublin, with regular train connections from Dublin Connolly station to Sligo Mac Diarmada station. The town is 40 miles from Enniskillen and the Northern Ireland border, making it accessible for day trips from both capitals.
Exploring the Town Center
The streets of Sligo follow their original medieval layout, lined with Victorian and Georgian buildings. The Garavogue River flows through the center, with walking paths shaded by maple and oak trees. At The Model Arts & Niland Collection, housed in a Victorian-era school building, you'll find paintings by Jack B. Yeats alongside rotating contemporary exhibitions. The 13th-century Dominican friary, Sligo Abbey, retains its original Gothic carvings despite a 15th-century fire.
Prehistoric Sites and Ancient Monuments
Over 5,000 prehistoric monuments dot the landscape around Sligo. Walk through the Carrowmore megalithic cemetery, part of a Stone Age complex that extends to Carrowkeel in south Sligo. Climb Knocknarea mountain to see Queen Maeve's tomb, a 40-foot-high stone cairn dating back to 3000 BCE.
Surfing and Coastal Activities
Surfers catch waves year-round at Strandhill beach, 10 minutes from town, while the Mullaghmore coast attracts big-wave surfers during winter storms. After surfing, warm up in a VOYA seaweed bath, where you can soak in Victorian-era tubs filled with locally harvested seaweed. The 7km Killaspugbrone Loop takes you around the headland, past sand dunes and coastal meadows.
Following the Yeats Trail
Visit the Yeats Building to learn about W.B. Yeats and his family through photographs, letters, and first editions. The 14-stop Yeats Trail connects places that shaped his poetry, including his final resting place at Drumcliffe Church. Take a boat trip on Lough Gill to see the isle of Innisfree, which inspired one of his most famous poems.
Traditional Music
Listen to Irish music sessions in Sligo's pubs most nights of the week. The Sligo Live festival in October brings musicians from across Ireland to perform in venues throughout town. In August, the Queen Maeve International Summer School fills the streets with traditional music and dance performances.
