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Sligo Town got its name from the Gaelic word Sligeach, which translates to Shelly River due to the abundance of shellfish found in the waters surrounding the town.
Sligo Town is situated on the banks of the Garavogue River, connecting Lough Gill to the Atlantic Ocean. To the north lie the King Mountains, which includes Truskmore and the instantly recognisable Benbulben which has become Synonymous with Sligo
The modern town of Sligo, the largest in the North West of Ireland, with a population of around 18,000 people (official 2006 census figures), dates back to 1245 when FitzGerald erected a castle somewhere in the vicinity of the present day Dominican ruin.
With over 5,000 recorded archeological sites, the largest of which the Carrowmore Magalithic Cemetery, County Sligo has one of the richest concentrations of prehistoric monuments in Western Europe.
One of Ireland's most famous personalities must have been the poet, William Butler Yeats, whose family came from Sligo, and whom inspired the young poet in many of his future works, drawn spiritually from the county's scenic landscape and sense of place.
William Butler Yeats is buried in Drumcliffe graveyard, within the shadow of Benbulben mountain, and to the east of Sligo Town, the mythical Queen Maeve is said to be buried beneath the large stone cairn atop Knocknarea mountain.
With so much to do and so much beautiful scenery throughout Sligo Town & County, it's easy to see why so many people come back time after time to Sligo Town, as it certainly lives up to its name.
