Things to see in Sligo

I've been on the indoor trainer this week not out and about cycling on the road. I ended up in County Sligo for a couple of days (without the bicycle) so rather than a full page of information I've just time to post a few photographs to whet the appetite for visiting beautiful Sligo in Ireland's North West.

From a Neolithic Stone Circle (remnants of a tomb) located in the most unlikely of places (a roundabout at Garravogue Villas) to the Labby Rock Portal Dolmen, Creevykeel Court Tomb or Knockrea Neolithic Cairn (Queen Maeve's Cairn).

From Carrowmore Neolithic Complex or W.B. Yeats resting place of Drumcliffe with it's High Cross and Round Tower remains to Holycross Dominican Abbey in the Town Centre, or from majestic Benbulben to Carrowkeel I'm barely scratching the surface......... 

It's a great place to visit with some outstanding Neolithic Sites and ancient Megaliths, some of the most important and impressive in Ireland.

The natural landscape of Sligo with it's mountains and valleys, and it's coastline on the Atlantic Ocean is wild and weather worn, sculpted throughout the millennia by time and nature.

Carrowkeel has few visitors and yet is home to around fourteen 6000 year old Passage Tombs many of which you can enter. Carrowmore is busier but easier to access.

The Labby Rock Portal Dolmen has a 70 ton Capstone and is located in a remote area behind the stunning Lough Arrow.

Creevykeel is a large Neolithic Court Tomb and in fact a comprehensive list of Neolithic sites and Megalithic structures in Sligo would be endless.

A huge number of impressive antiquities are scattered throughout Sligo waiting to be discovered by the visitor. Some of the more interesting or visually striking have to be sought out and lie well off the beaten track.
 

On the summit of Knocknarea any climb will be rewarded with outstanding views in every direction and the sight of Queen Maeve's Cairn, an impressively large Neolithic burial structure which although unopened is believed to be a large Passage Tomb.

Holycross Dominican Priory (Sligo Abbey) lies right in the heart of town and is well worth taking the time to explore.
Close by, the Abbeyquarter (Garravogue Villas) Stone Circle is very unusual just by virtue of it's location. Nearby is the old building of Sligo Gaol.

This is Yeat's country and his final resting place of Drumcliffe is home to a delightful little Church, High Cross, and the remnants of a Round Tower. While there and inside the Church I did notice that although there were many visitors not too many ventured inside the Church.

Do take the time to go inside if in the area, they are only too happy to encourage visitors. The Cheesecake in the Cafe here is outstanding and most of the foodstuffs looked like they were not mass produced which is commendable.

So that's my quick post on Sligo. I've not gone into too many specifics but half the pleasure in visiting anywhere is from finding out about it yourself and exploring hidden places off the well worn tracks.

Mind you, that's not to say the more well known attractions of Sligo are any less impressive but sometimes it's the peace and quiet that is an added draw to an area. Enjoy Sligo, I know I for sure did.

A few pictures I've posted below are from Carrowkeel Neolithic Burial Complex. Alone as I wandered from Passage Tomb to Passage Tomb I was enchanted by this isolated neolithic wonderland, all the more so to have it to myself. Words cannot describe it's beauty.