Rainbow over the monolithic mountain of Knocknarea
Knocknarea mountain is 4 miles west of Sligo on a peninsula. It is just over 1000ft and can be climbed in 20 to 40 minutes. The summit offers a magnificent panorama of the indented coast and holds a massive cairn, which is reputed to be the grave of the ancient Celtic warrior Queen Maedbh (pronounced May-v). As the cairn is estimated to weigh 40,000 tons it has never been excavated. Climbers are now requested NOT to climb on the cairn or to use the stones from the cairn due to much damage in recent years.
An old local tradition has it that a climber should bring a stone from the bottom of the mountain and place it on the cairn on the top. Failure to do so, according to the legend, will result in your dreams being haunted by the Queen Maeve herself!
Between Sligo town and Knocknarea is the megalithic cemetery of Carrowmore. This is smaller than it was but is still a significant ancient site, older even than the Pyramids of Egypt.
Heapstown Stone Cairn (Near Highwood, turn right at Castlebaldwin coming from Dublin on the N4) is a 20 foot tall megalithic mound set in a farmyard close to Lough Arrow. Also in this area are the Moytirra mounuments, including The Labby Rock. There is an historical trail that links these together. As you make from Heapstown to Labby at Killadoon Cross Roads, look north east and you can see on the hillside The Gyreum which is a latter day cairn that is now a venue and accommodation place in shape and style not unlike an old Gaelic Chieftain's hall.
The Carrowkeel Passage Tomb Cemetery is another collection of ancient graves, less convenient placed, on the slopes of Bricklieve mountain 20 miles south of Sligo.
Ben Bulben mountain is a prominent table mountain that dominates the landcape to the North. It is about 5 miles from Sligo town.
Coney Island, (Leave Sligo town by the Strandhill Road (R292), about 4 kilometres on the right, watch for small finger signpost.). Said to have given its name to its better known namesake in New York City. In Irish it translates as Oilean na gCoiníní (Island of the Rabbits, Coinín means rabbit). If you're feeling adventurous, and the tide is out, you can drive across the strand to the island. Do check with locals regarding tide times, as almost every year tourists (and locals) get stuck in the sand. �
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about County Sligo
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in County Sligo - updated May 2024
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County Sligo Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
