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Sligo Railway Station, officially called the Mac Diarmada station after the Irish patriot Seán Mac Diarmada, was opened on 3rd December 1862, with the completion of the Midland Great Western Railway's 58 mile extension from Longford to Sligo Town.
The station consisted of two passenger platforms with a small loading dock on the 'up' side and two storage sidings between the platform lines.
Outside the station were the engine sheds, a locomotive turntable and of course the signal cabin.
In it's heyday, Sligo Railway Station handled railway traffic for three different companies.
The Midland Great Western Railway which ran passenger and goods traffic from Dublin to Sligo Town, the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway which operated regular passenger and goods traffic from Enniskillen to Sligo Town and the Waterford and Limerick Railway which operated passenger and goods traffic on the Claremorris to Sligo Town section of the line between Limerick and Sligo Town.
All three railways companies used the double track railway lines which existed at the time, through the long closed Ballysadare Railway Station, and onto Collooney where they each went off on their own railway lines to reach their destinations.
It's quite exceptional to think that a small village the size of Collooney had three different railway stations, each catering for a different railway company.
If you walk outside to stand in the car park, you will notice the station is on a very elevated site from which you can see quite a few of the landmarks around Sligo Town.
Looking south you cannot fail to see the great spire of The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Look east and you will see the Town Hall and in the distance The Courthouse and the Calry Church.
What you may not immediately notice is the first of the attractions we shall see on our walking tour, which is the Western Wholesale Building. Have another look at the spire of the Town Hall, now look slightly to the right and you will see a building with a small tower on the roof, this is the Western Wholesale Building.
As you leave the station, turn left and walk along the left-hand side of Lord Edward Street, towards the traffic lights.
As you walk along Lord Edward Street, take a look at the small houses on your left.
These few remaining houses were built by Mr. Peter O'Connor who owned the Sligo Saw Mills which were situated where the Bus Eireann garage now stands.
According the what has been written in various publications, Mr. Peter O'Connor must have been a very shrewd businessman, but at the same time a good man to work for, he obviously thought a lot of his employees, having these houses specifically for them out of his own pocket.
Click here to read about The Inner Relief Road.
