Donegal holdiays Ireland

Sligo town is the centre for commerce and most of the social activity in the northwest of Eire. The main attraction, and reason for the majority of the tourists coming, is the association that Sligo has with the Yeats brothers. William Butler, and his brother Jack, were immersed in the folklore of the county when they stayed with their grandparents, and their servant Mary Battle would regale the boys with stories about goblins, fairies, and "wee folk". Although . Although these tales were regarded as stuff fit only for peasants and children, the brothers, who continued to visit Sligo well into their 40s, steeped themselves in the local culture and landscape. Their connection with Sligo has been recognized by several museums celebrating the art of Jack, and the writings of W.B., and an annual Yeats festival in August.

Sligo is not all Yeats though, and there is a poignant sculpture on Quay Street, a reminder of the Great Famine when one third of the town’s population either died of starvation or emigrated. This was not the first time that Sligo had suffered, the Vikings, local clans, and finally the English, at one time or another had fought over the town and its castle. The ruins of the abbey are still here, and are the only surviving medieval remains in the town. It has hung on to its Georgian and Victorian central streets, which are narrow and lined with old-fashioned shop fronts and bar facades, and inside, some of these bars still maintain the dark, partitioned snugs, with sagging shelves loaded with old jars. Others are dedicated to the local music scene, which is as lively as you will find anywhere in Ireland. There are some delightful cottages to rent in Sligo, many in historic houses with beautiful architecture.

Just outside the town is the prehistoric site of Carrowmore, an assortment of megalithic monuments, some a mere scattering of stones, others complete with lintels and interior walls, and the oldest passage tombs here date back to 5000BC. A few miles away lies the mini-hill of boulders, estimated to weigh 40,000 tons, which constitute Queen Mebd’s cairn, the burial place of the legendry first-century warrior Queen, and this monument is testimony to her reputation and power.

Along the sandy coast you come to Lissadell House, the home of the Gore-Booth family. The house was built in 1833 by Robert Gore-Booth, and is unusual for various reasons. There are no outbuildings attached to the main house, but the stable yard can be reached by an underground passage, and the servant’s quarters are situated in the basement so as not to mar the outline of the building. There is an extensive collection of Regency books in the Bow Room, and in the Gallery, the organ, made in 1812, is pumped by bellows in the basement, and the gas lamps in the main Hall used to be fuelled by the estate’s own gasometer, the only country house in Ireland to be lit so. There are a couple of rooms dedicated to Yeats, who was a frequent visitor here, and a friend of the two daughters of the house.

If you are still looking for more examples of Yeats’ connection to County Sligo, then go to Drumcliff, and in the churchyard you will find his last resting place, looking out at the mountain of Benbulben, an inspiration to him in much of his writings. Drumcliff has some quality self-catering accommodation and there are lots of Irish cottages to rent in the area.The church has a visitor centre, poetry readings, and an interactive Yeats-related computer suite. If you want a holiday in Ireland in Yeats country then there is nowhere else you can stay apart from Sligo!

In the far northwest of the county is the tranquil and attractive village of Cliffoney, and you will find some superb vacation homes to rent in Cliffoney. Situated above some beautiful beaches this a popular destination for hill walkers, pony trekkers, and anglers, and the beaches are a haven for surfers. Within a short drive of the village is the Gleniff Horseshoe, and access to the Cloonera Bogs, an area of peat land that is renowned for its variety of wild flowers.

To the south of Sligo town is Lough Gill, another place that features in Yeats’s poetry, most especially the islet of Innisfree, the subject of his best known poem The Lake Isle of Innisfree (’I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, ...’ is a wonderful first line to a poem). This is where Yeats wanted to retire and wander in dreamy seclusion.

The Sligo Folk Park in Riverstown is a splendid place to explore the many aspects of life in this county. In the 19th century Millview House you can experience the life of a well-off family a hundred years ago as the house is filled with restored artifacts and holds frequent demonstrations of old skills. Another interesting place in the park is Mrs.Buckley’s Cottage, a look at a less affluent existence. The house was dismantled and taken to New York in the mid-1980s for an exhibition on Irish life, then taken apart again and brought back. There is an exhibition hall with displays on rural life, agricultural history, and hosts special events and temporary arts and crafts shows.

County Sligo has many more attractions other than those listed above, most notably Labby Rock, a massive portal dolmen constructed over 5000 years ago with a capstone that it is estimated to weigh over 70 tons. How the tomb-builders cut it and raised it into position is unknown to this day. Renting a holiday cottage in Sligo will give you a chance to explore all these amazing sights and there is an excellent choice of self-catering vacation accommodation for your Irish holiday.

Irish tourist information

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