Sligo and Yeats
Sligo is called Yeats Country for good reason. W.B Yeats won the Nobel Prize in Literature on November 14, 1923. This November will be 100 years since it was announced. He was the First Irish person to achieve such an accolade. Yeats Society Sligo is a wonderful place to visit where the legacy of Yeats is recreated, and see many original artefacts.
There’s always lots going on. Susan O’Keeffe is director at the Yeats Society and a three-day celebration (November 30 th – December 2nd) is planned commemorating the centenary of the Yeats’ Nobel Prize. The celebration will feature Yeats and Irish Poetry- ‘Then and Now,’ with a number of Irish poets including Chair of Irish Poetry, Paul Muldoon and many others. The event, which will be attended by Yeats’ granddaughter, Caitriona Yeats, will include a public reading of 100 of Yeats’ poems. It will also include a tribute to Seamus Heaney, the last Irish person to win the Nobel Prize, on the 10th anniversary of his death.
The Yeats trail is a new signposted touring route incorporating 14 significant locations in Co.Sligo that have close associations with W.B. Yeats. The traditions, stories and landscape of Sligo provided Yeats with the inspiration for some if his best loved poems. Each location has an artistic installation which allows the reader interpret the poems for themselves while walking in the footsteps of Ireland’s national poet. https://www.yeatstrail.ie/ The trail is a collaborative project led by Sligo County Council and the Yeats Society.
Heritage and things to do
Sligo is a world class place to visit all year round and one of the best sites to visit is at Knocknarea overlooking Sligo Bay with incredible views of the sea and surrounding areas. This is where Queen Meave the Iron Age leader was buried. Carrowmore is one of Irelands oldest megalithic tombs(older than the Pyramids in Egypt) and you can visit this OPW site for €5.( Both of these sites Knocknarea and Carrowmore are part of the Passage Tombs landscape of Sligo that will form part of Sligo’s bid for World Heritage Site status (The Passage Tomb landscape of Sligo was accepted on the Tentative List of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites earlier this year).
Sligo has a dramatic coastline and its many coastal villages and resorts are important destinations on the Wild Atlantic Way. Other locations of note include Drumcliffe Church (Yeats resting place under bare Benbulben’s head), Ben Bulben, Lough Gill, etc. Attractions like Sligo Abbey, the Model (exhibition centre) are also well worth exploring.
Sligo’s has excellent outdoor activities ranging from walking, surfing, horse riding and golf. The links course at Enniscrone attracts visitors from all over the world. The actor Bill Murray was over there filming when I was on the course. Loads of beaches for swimming such as in Enniscrone, Rosses Point and Streedagh (Featured in Calvary and Normal People) and many others. Strandhill (new national Surf
Centre opened in May of this year) Mullaghmore and Easkey of course are renowned worldwide for surfing. One of the most epic moments in the history of Mullaghmore took place when the swell roared across the Atlantic in January 2014.The so-called “black swell” produced some of the biggest waves ever recorded.
SLIGO PARK HOTEL
I enjoyed a lovely stay in the summer at the Sligo Park Hotel. Located on the edge of Sligo, this popular four star hotels is perfect for during school holidays, it has lots of activities for children including Fun Floats (basically a bouncy castle in the pool) and movie nights. The Fairy Trail around the grounds is hugely popular. The new outdoor dining area is a big hit – an Italian style luxury Pergola and outdoor restaurant. www.Sligoparkhotel.com
In recent years, the hotel completed a €5m programme of refurbishment to guest bedrooms, restaurants and bars and our conference and wedding facilities. With 136 spacious, comfortable bedrooms, a fully equipped leisure club The hotel is 2.5 hours from Dublin and
Belfast, two hours from Galway and one hourfrom Donegal. It is owned by Lee Hotels.
This year the hotel was included in Trip Advisor’s Top 25 Hotels in Ireland list. Our motto is ‘Stay with the best’! We don’t say these words lightly: Sligo Park Hotel has always had a deep commitment to develop and motivate our teams.
1. Christmas two-night Luxury Stay
Prices from €559pps
Stay Date Range – 24 th ; 25 th December
Arrive on 24th December 2 Nights Bed and Breakfast. Afternoon Mulled wine and mince pies on Christmas eve and Pre-Dinner Cocktails followed by candlelit 4 course evening meal. Resident Harpist Ramona will play Festive Songs by the fireplace with mince pies, Hot
Chocolate/Mulled Cider in the lobby on Christmas Day
Long Lazy Breakfast Christmas Day until 12 noon Visit from Santa in the Hotel Lobby
Package 2. Twixmas Family Break
Three nights B&B with 1 Dinner Prices From €899 ( 2adults & 2 Children U12)
Stay Date Range – 26 th December – 7 th January 2024
Sligo Park Hotel are offering a luxurious three night Family stay available from 26th Dec – 7th
January 2024. ( 2 adults & 2 Children U 12)
This Package includes 3 Nights Bed and Breakfast
Dinner on one evening of your choiceMovie Nights with Popcorn & Juice Welcome Pack on arrival
Tennis Courts & Outdoor Games (equipment available at Leisure Club) Magical Fairy Trail
Adventure. Hot Chocolate & Cookie Voucher Inflatable Fun Float. Also included in this package is complimentary access to our Leisure Club which includes an 16 metre Swimming Pool.
Package 3. New Year’s Eve 2BB & 1 Dinner
Prices from €289pps
Stay Date range December 30 th – 2 nd January 2024
Embark on a magical beginning to the New Year with a luxurious two night stay at The Sligo Park Hotel .
New Year Package arrive on 30th or 31st December 2023
Two Nights Bed and Breakfast Enjoy pre–Dinner Cocktail Reception New Years Eve
Five Course Dinner New Years eve with Prosecco at Midnight
Entertainment in Jack’ Bar with Glenn Cal
Sligo Walks
It’s even easier to find the best of the walks now with Sligo Walks. Another new initiative from Sligo County Council showcasing the favourite walks for people from Sligo – some of them famous….Tommy Fleming features on the lovely Aughris Coastal Walk and Mona Mc Sharry the
Olympic Swimmer takes us on the Benbulben Forest Walk close to her home village of Grange.
SligoWalks.ie promotes Sligo as a walking destination for all outdoor enthusiasts, young and old, experienced and novice, home grown and visitor alike. Located in the north west of Ireland, along the Wild Atlantic Way (WAW), there are over 50 waymarked public walks in Sligo, some of them among the most scenic located on the WAW. The SligoWalks.ie website provides information on all of these walks, including maps, directions, level of difficulty, etc.
www.sligowalks.ie
The Sligo Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber is celebrating 100 years and for the last five years promoted its own Gift Card. Accepted in over 80 Retailers across Sligo, the Card allows your company to thank staff and customers with individual rewards.
You can use the card to go dining in some of the fabulous restaurants. In July of this year, Sligo Chamber of Commerce, launched a new campaign called Find Your Place, as part of a push to draw people to live and work in Sligo and with so much attracting you there it’s a great part of the country to make home.
#SligoFindYourPlace Some of the other retailers to include:
Restaurants/ cafes and bars such as: Andersons Grill & Bar, Camile Thai, EalaBhan, Gourmet Parlour, I had an amazing meal at EALA BHAN when I was there and the décor is inspired by Yeats and his poetry
Fantastic local businesses such as: Liber bookstore (award winning book shop), The Cat and the Moon,
Wehrly and Shaws jewellers, Anna’s Fashion. EJ Menswear and EJ’s Little Sister… And larger retailers like Boots, Easons. Elverys, Penneys, Pandora, TK Maxx…
Things to do: Voya Seaweed Baths, Strandhill Golf Club, County Sligo Golf Club (Rosses Point)
