County Sligo cottages

When Ireland's best-known and most-beloved poet William Butler Yeats, wrote about 'The Land of Heart's Desire', he had County Sligo in mind.  It was the beauty of the Sligo countryside that inspired the poet to write such widely-known works as 'The Fiddler of Dooney', 'The Stolen Child' and, of course, 'The Lake Isle of Innisfree'.  In introducing the visitor to Sligo, one cannot overlook these links, because Yeats and his writings are inextricably bound up with Sligo and its people.  After all, the poet gave his name to the area - The Yeats Country - and because of its associations with the poet, Sligo has gained a world-wide reputation for the beauty and variety of its scenery.  Mountains, sea and lakes combine to make County Sligo the ideal centre for family and touring holidaymakers.

County Sligo's beautiful scenery include the loaf-shaped Benbulben Mountain.  The lakes of Sligo, with their still waters and wooded islands, are truly spectacular, and form a striking contrast to the county's rugged uplands. The imposing Neolithic cairn on the summit of Knocknarae, known locally as Queen Maeve's grave, is a striking landmark. At Carrowmore, you'll find the largest Megalithic cemetery in Ireland.

Sligo's scenic coast has some excellent surfing beaches, including Strandhill, Rosses Point and Enniscrone, also popular for their golf courses.