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Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery,
Co. Sligo

Distributed over many acres and extending into adjoining townlands, Carrowmore represents the largest grouping of megalithic monuments in Ireland, and immense Neolithic burial ground where once there may have been more than a hundred tombs. Casual exploration in the last century and present day gravel quarrying in the vicinity have devalued the archaeological potential of the site; but it is still a rewarding place to visit, steeped in atmosphere and evoking a sense of the past. The surviving monuments, some much more despoiled than others, comprise truncated passage tombs whose megalithic character derives from the huge ice-transported erratics used in the construction of the chambers. 
Contact : 0719154743 or email carrowmoretombs@opw.ie  for more details.

Drumcliffe High Cross and Round Tower
Co. Sligo

St. Colmcille founded a monastery here about 575 on lands given by King Aedh Ainmire. Not far away, at Culderimne, the saint had been heavily involved in a battle in 561 in a dispute over the ownership of a book! The monastery seems to have been well known from the 9th to the 16th century, and was plundered by Maelseachlain O'Rourke in 1187. It was plundered again in 1267 and 1315, and the last known abbot died in 1503. The Church of Ireland church stands on the site of an older church of which nothing remains, and in front of this church the poet W.B. Yeats lies buried. Beside the road is the stump of a Round Tower which was struck by lightning in 1396. Tradition says that it will ultimately fall on the wisest man who passes it (so, if it falls on you, your wisdom will have been recognised - but too late!) To the right of the path leading from the road to the Church of Ireland church is a High Cross, consisting of what were two separate parts originally. On the east face are Adam and Eve, David slays Goliath, Daniel in the Lions' Den and Christ in Glory, while on the west face there is a Crucifixion. There is also a considerable amount of interlacing covering the surface of the cross, and there are also some imaginary animals. Call 0719161201 for more details.

Ballinfad Castle,
Co. Sligo

Known as the Castle of the Curlews, this castle was built around 1590 to protect the pass over the Curlew Hills. It was garrisoned by a Constable and ten wardens from 1610 to 1626 and, after a stout resistance, had to surrender in 1641 due to lack of water. The plan of the castle is modelled on those of 13th century castles, with a small central square block dwarfed by four massive towers at the corners which are round outside and square inside.
Call 0719160201 for more information.

Creevykeel,
Co. Sligo

A magnificent, well presented full-court tomb, restored after excavation in 1935 and protected by a modern wall. One of the more accessible monuments of its type, it is situated at the rear of a cottage on the east side of the Bundoran-Sligo road, near the hamlet of Creevykeel.

Yeat's Grave,
Co. Sligo

Six miles from Sligo  lies the peaceful setting of Drumcliffe. It was here WB Yeats asked to be buried "Under Bare Ben Bulben's Head".
In the nearby churchyard, a simple headstone marks the spot.
A monastic establishment was founded at Drumcliffe in AD 745 by Saint Columba. There remains the lower portion of a round tower and an intricately sculptured Celtic Cross. Some of the panels are particularly interesting.

Awnatruffaun,
Co. Sligo

Known as 'The Giant's Griddle' and recorded as such on the 1/2 inch O.S. Map, this handsome megalith is fairly well preserved despite forming part of a modern wall into which some of the cairn stones have been built. The chamber lacks at least one of its side stones, but the large capstone is still in position. A cupmarked stone is contained in the wall near the Griddle, and remains of a second tomb lie close by.
This monument is not easy to find without asking directions locally, nor is access to it straight forward since it is situated in bogland which often becomes waterlogged. But with suitable footwear it is well worth a visit, a peaceful and solitary site, with the long outline of the Ox Mountains dominating the view to the south. Some distance to the west, near Owenykeevan River but elusive in a vast tract of peat, are the Great and Small Griddles of the Fiana, two ruined gallery-tombs.

Sligo Abbey,
Abbey Street, Co. Sligo

Founded in 1252 or 1253 for the Dominicans by Maurice Fitzgerald, 2nd Baron of Offaly, who was also founder of the town. Having escaped the ravages suffered by the now destroyed Sligo Castle in the 13th and 14th centuries, the Friary was accidentally burned in 1414, but was rebuilt two years later by Friar Bryan MacDonagh with assistance from (the other) Pope John XXIII. In 1568 O'Conor Sligo made a petition to Queen Elizabeth not to dissolve the Friary, and this was granted on the condition that the friars became secular clergy. Call 0719146406 or email sligoabbey@opw.ie for more information.

Tobernalt,
Co. Sligo

An historic place of pilgrimage. Well worth a visit to experience the peace and tranquility concealed in a woodland area. Log on to www.holywellsligo.com

Ballindoon Friary,
Co. Sligo

Overlooking Lough Arrow, this Dominican friary was founded in 1507 and stands today as a complete 16th century ruin with no later appendages. There is a headstone in the nave dating from 1717.

Inishkea North Early Monastery,
Inishkea North,
Co. Sligo

The island is now only occasionally inhabited by fishermen, but in the Early Christian period is supported an apparently flourishing monastery. The most conspicuous thing on the island is the Bailey Mor, a large mound 500 feet in diameter, and 60 feet high, on which beehive huts and square houses were found. One of these houses contained an Early Christian cross-slab with the Crucifixion on it. some other cross-slabs have also been found. A great number of purpura shells came to light, with which the monks used to produce a blue dye for manuscript illumination, clothes dying etc. On the island there is also a rectangular church dedicated to St. Colmcille.

Carrowkeel Passage Tombs, Castlebaldwin, Co. Sligo

Carrowkeel is a collection of of megalithic era passage tombs near Castlebaldwin, just south of Sligo in County Sligo. These tombs are a few years old, usually dating to the 2nd millennium B.C. They were created as an entry way and burial ground for those entering the after life. They consist of a dolmen covered with smaller rocks. On the hill we climbed there were 3 fairly large tombs.

Boyle Abbey, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

An impressive and well preserved Cistercian Monastery which was founded in the 12th century under the patronage of the local ruling family, the MacDermotts. Though mutilated during the 17th and 18th centuries when it was used to accommodate a military garrison, Boyle Abbey nevertheless retains its ability to impress the visitor as one of the most formidable of the early Cistercian foundations in Ireland. Call 0719662604 for more information.