Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sligo
The Sligo Coastline
(photo credit: Aonghus Flynn via Wikimedia Commons)
The sparsely-populated countryside of County Sligo (northern Connacht) inspired much of
William Butler Yeats's poetry, and is still a hugely overlooked destination among travelers
today. The gentle undulations of the coastline are far less dramatic than those in the rest of
western Ireland, but they have an understated tranquility that brings its own pleasures. And
as you move away from the coast, you enter the gently rolling farmlands that stretch out
from the wilderness of Connemara up to the moun-tains of Donegal. It's a magical location
where you'll find very few tourists - other than the occasional literary pilgrim coming to see
the muses of the great poet Yeats himself.
Getting In and Where to Stay
County Sligo is about a 3-hour train ride from Dublin, and is also served by several bus
lines - all operating through Sligo Town in the northern part of the county. Flights to the re-
gion come through
Knock Airport
in nearby County Mayo. You can also drive in, but (like
the rest of rural Ireland) this region has extremely narrow, winding, and poorly-maintained
roads. Be prepared to negotiate difficult curves, and don't be surprised if you end up waiting
for a stubborn herd of sheep to cross the road.
The majority of hotels, hostels, and B&B's are found in Sligo Town (population 19,000) and
along the Sligo coastline. There's also the
Gyreum Ecolodge
, a tiny hilltop hostel in the re-
