Blackrock Lighthouse
|
Blackrock lighthouse which is 25 meter tall is the only lighthouse in Ireland which has an external staircase. The light was established on the 1st June 1835.
In the early days , a lighthouse keeper served six consecutive weeks on Blackrock Lighthouse followed by two weeks on Oyster Island. In those years, a heavy rowing boat would go out every 2 weeks to bring supplies to the lighthouse and relief the lighthouse keeper on duty. |
|
The Cellars
|
At the second beach at Rosses Point is a cave called "The Cellars". Within this cave are the engraved words "OCEAN HALL" . Rumour goes that the cave was used by smugglers who knew about a secret tunnel from the cave to the cellars below Elsinore House
|
|
Kitchen Middens at Culleenamore
|
At Culleenamore, you can discover ancient kitchen-middens, huge mounds of oyster shells which were left there by the ancient inhabitants of the area. Some of the sides of the mounds are exposed and a huge amount of shells can be seen.
|
|
Barnacle geese at Ballintemple / Lissadell
|
One of the best locations to watch barnacle geese in Ireland is Ballintemple/Lissadell. The goosefield or seafield as it's known locally supports approx. 2500 birds . At dawn and dusk, geese fly in large V shaped flocks from and to Inishmurray. The Ballygilgan Nature Reserve was created for the protection of Barnacle Geese who visit the area every year and have done so for centuries.
|
|
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
|
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery is the largest and one of the most important, megalithic sites in Europe. Over 60 tombs have been located by archaeologists. The oldest pre-dates Newgrange by 700 years and is older than the pyramids.
There are 60 recorded monuments of which 30 are visible, one of them being called boulder circles, though several have central dolmens or rudimentary passages. They are considered to be an early type of chambered cairn, or passage grave. |
|
Fossils in county Sligo
|
Serpent's rock at Ballyconnell is the place to be if you want to admire fossils. The fossils which can be found are Caninia coral. It is the huge amount of fossils which have given the name "Serpent's rock".
Another coral which can be easily observed is Lithostrotion coral. |
|
The butter boat , Streedagh
|
At low tide, it is possible to see the ribs of the wrecked Butter Boat. Where there are 3 Spanish Armada wrecks of Streedagh Beach (the Santa Maria de Visión, the Juliana and the Lavia) which sank in 1588, the butter boat came to it's end two centuries later.
|
|
Benbulben barite mine
|
The Barite mine is long closed, but the remains can still be seen. From the pylons and wire ropes where ones cable cars ran up and down the mountain to wooden planks which now cover the deep pits.
|
|
Benbulben planewreck
Now that we are talking about Benbulben, there is a plane wreck nearby Truskmore as well. A USAAF Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress plane crashed with 10 people onboard. 3 of them died
Oyster island lighthouse
|
In 1837, 2 lights were established on oyster island which were the leading lights to lead ships from Sligo bay into Sligo port. They were replaced with Oyster Island lighthouse, which together with the metalman formed the leading lights for guiding the ships. The light was converted from acetylene to propane on the 9th October 1979 . In 2003 the gas powered light was changed to solar powered
|
|
Oyster island
|
Oyster island as the name highlights was famous for its oyster fishery, with beds covering an area of seventy acres. In 1864, the oyster beds were raided by eight boatloads of men and twenty-five thousand oysters were taken.
In 1841, the population of Oyster Island was 28, mostly lighthouse employees and their families. It was never difficult to get supplies as oyster island is close to the shore. |
|
Sligo's promontory forts
|
Balancing on the edge of the Atlantic, Sligo's promontory forts are steeped in history and mystery.
These defensive structures are located high above the Atlantic on a steep cliff, sometimes connected with the mainland by a small neck of land. Both the topography and ramparts made these forts as good as impenetrable from the outside. |
|