Sligo

Understand

Traditionally a small, quiet coastal town pop. 17,892; area 12.9 km2 or 5 sq mi, Sligo has experienced significant redevelopment since the 1990s and now offers much in the way of shopping, entertainment and eating out. It is a great base from which to explore the often underrated west and north west Atlantic coast of Ireland. A lot of new development has been situated along the Garavogue river, most notably the regeneration of J.F.K. and Rockwood Parades, consisting of shops, cafés, bars and a number of apartments as well as a new footbridge over the river itself.

O’Connell Street, the town's main street was pedestrianised in Aug 2006, but unfortunately was re-opened to single-lane traffic again in December 2009. Two new shopping centers The Quayside and Johnston's Court opened in 2005, bringing national and international chain-stores to the region.

Other items of interest

There are two local newspapers in Sligo, each of which gives details of local news, sports and entertainment on a weekly basis. The Sligo Weekender is published on Tuesday while The Sligo Champion is published every Wednesday.

A round of the World Rally Championship was based in Sligo on November 16th-18th, 2007. Rally Ireland was a great success and returned in January 2009 after a fantastic first year.

Location

Sligo is surrounded by the Dartry Mountain range to the north, the Ox Mountains to the south, and Sligo Bay and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The Dartry range includes the well-known Ben Bulben sometimes called Ireland's table mountain. Knocknarea Mountain, located 5 km 3 mi west of the town, is best known for the stone cairn at its summit actually a burial mound dating to the Neolithic period.

History

Sligo's Irish name, Sligeach pronounced SHLEE-gok, which means the place of shells, comes from the large number of shellfish found in the local river and its estuary, and from the Stone Age food preparation areas in the vicinity. The river now known as the Garavogue was originally also called the Sligeach. This whole area, from the river estuary at Sligo, around the coast to the river at Ballisodare Bay, was rich in marine resources, dating back as far as the Mesolithic period.

Sligo was a significant location as far back as the Early Neolithic period, as demonstrated by the numerous ancient sites close by. Particularly notable are the megalithic tombs at nearby Carrowmore. According to local archeological digs when a new road was being built, 'Magheraboy [now a suburb of Sligo] demonstrates the early Neolithic settlement of this area of Sligo, while the longevity of the activity on the site indicates a stable and successful population during the final centuries of the fifth millennium and the first centuries of the fourth millennium BC.'

The Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, Maurice Fitzgerald, is said to have established the medieval town of Sligo, building the Castle of Sligo in 1245. As a result, Sligo became an important crossroads strategically and commercially. Sligo Abbey is the only medieval building left standing in the town.