Beezies Island

Beezie Clerkin (nee Gallagher) was born in the 1860s and reared on Cottage Island on Lough Gill. In her early years, she was employed as a housemaid to the Wynne family, who at that time lived in Hazelwood House, on the northern shores of Lough Gill.

Beezie spent all her adult life living on Cottage Island, where she developed the many fascinating characteristics which make her so fondly remembered today. She was much-loved by the local people for her kindness and hospitality, but turned to nature for her companionship. The birds, squirrels, domestic animals and even the rodents grew to trust and love her.

Link: http://www.sligotown.net/beezies-island.shtml

Bonet river

The Bonet River rises north of Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, at Glenade Lake. It flows south, past Manorhamilton, and then turns in a westerly direction, past Dromahair, and into the eastern end of Lough Gill.

Church Island Monastery

Church Island is the largest island on Lough Gill and contains ecclesiastical remains. An early Christian church ruin on the island belonged to the O'Rourkes, chieftains of Breffni.

The church is said to have been founded by St Loman in the 6th century and formed part of an abbey. The building is oblong, has loophole windows and a recess at one end. Near the door there is a cavity in a rock, known as 'Lady's Bed', which was a frequent place of pilgrimage for pregnant women.

In 1416, according to the Annals,

'The church on Church Island, Loch Gill, was burned this year and O Cuirnin's books, including the Lebar Gerr of the Muinter Cuirnin, and his splendid valuables, his ornamental cup, his timpe and his harp were burned in it.'

Link: http://www.sligozone.ie/ChurchIsland.htm

Dooney Rock

Dooney Rock is made famous by W.B. Yeats poem "The Fiddler of Dooney". It is located just outside Sligo town on the R287. There is a looping nature walking trail, 1.2km in length leads towards the shore of Lough Gill before leading up to the top of Dooney Rock.

At regular intervals along the trail are information posts giving details on the various trees and plants located in the area. At the top of Dooney Rock there are four viewing points that offer fantastic views of Lough Gill and the surrounding countryside.

Link: http://www.sligotourism.ie/page/dooney-rock-forest-park

Garavogue River

The Garavogue River (Gaelic: An Gharbhog), possibly the shortest river in Ireland, flows from Lough Gill through Sligo Town and into Sligo Bay and into the mighty Atlantic Ocean.

The Garavogue River was originally called the Sligeach or the Sligo River, a name meaning abounding in shells, due largely to the abundance of shellfish found in the waters surrounding the town. So abundent in fact, that bucket-loads of shells were removed when foundations for the town's buildings were laid.

Link: http://www.sligotown.net/garavogue-river.shtml

Hazel wood House

Hazelwood House is an 18th-century Palladian style country house located in a 70-acre (28 ha) demesne in the parish of Calry, some 2 miles (3 km) south-east of the town of Sligo

It consists of a 5-bay by 3-bay main block in three storeys with 2-storey wings on either side connected to the main block by single-storey quadrants. The building is constructed of limestone ashlar with slate roofs.

In 1940 the house was occupied by the Irish Army's 12th Cyclist Squadron and served as their barracks until January 1945.

In 1946 it was sold to the Department of Health for use as a psychiatric hospital.

Distance from St Angela’s: 5.3 km

Link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazelwood_House,_Sligo

Hazelwood

Only 5km outside Sligo Town, the Hazelwood Demesne is located at Half Moon Bay along the shores of Lough Gill. The short walks here are among the most beautiful in the country, with views from the trail toward Church Island, Cottage Island and Goat Island and the full expanse of Lough Gill.

The route follows the lake shore before branching with a shorter return route to the right and the longer lakeside route continuing ahead. A number of wooden sculptures from Irish and international artists can be found along the track, forming a ‘Sculpture Tour’ through the forest. With a quiet picnic area and stunning lakeside views, this walk is suitable for all ages.

Link: http://sligowalks.ie/walks/hazelwood/

Lady Annes Drive

The route is not only a nature trail with rich biodiversity but also a historical walk with an interesting local history.

Sights to be seen along the proposed trail include the Famine House, the Abbott’s Tomb, St Connell’s Island and The Wishing Well.

Lady Anne’s Drive is named after Lady Anne Wynne, wife of the Rt Hon John Arthur Wynne MP ( 1801- 1865) of Hazelwood House.

Built sometime in the early to mid- 1800s, Lady Anne’s Drive was wide enough for a horse drawn coach and had a stone foundation which rendered it passable in all types of weather conditions. The foundation is still intact.

Lake Isle of Innisfree

The Lake Isle of Innisfree a beautiful island just off the south coast of Lough Gill. There is a small pier where you can board a boat to visit the island. When William Butler Yeats was in London he would walk down Fleet Street and long for the seclusion setting of the Isle of Innisfree. The sound of the water coming from a fountain in a shop window reminded Yeats of his childhood; the Lake and on the island, and it was this inspiration that Yeats credits for the creation of the poem ¬Lake Isle of Innisfree.

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Isle_of_Innisfree

Lough Gill Brewery

The Lough Gill Brewery is the first brewery to be located in Sligo Town in over 100 years since Foley’s Brewery ceased brewing. Located in the Heart of Sligo, Lough Gill Brewery strives to think outside the box and brew complex high quality speciality brews.

Link: http://loughgillbrewery.com/

Parkes Castle

Francisco de Cuellar was a sea captain who sailed with the Spanish Armada in 1588. After being ship-wrecked on the coast of Ireland he was given refuge at O'Rourke's Castle. De Cuellar eventually returned to Spain and wrote about O'Rourke's hospitality. In 1590 the English heard of this and sent forces to destroy the tower house, O'Rourke fled but was eventually captured tried for treason and executed in 1591. In 1628 the 15th century tower house built here by O'Rourke was demolished down to it's foundation by English settler Captain Robert Parke, he used the stones to build a fortified 3-storey manor house on the eastern side of the bawn.

The Plantation castle forms the eastern side of the defensive walls that were once surrounded by a moat - a portion of which is still visible. The castle has been carefully restored by the OPW to include window glazing and a mortise and tenon Irish oak roof using techniques and craftsmanship of the 17th Century.

Distance from St Angela’s: 5km

Link: http://www.sligotown.net/parkes-castle.shtml

Rose of Innisfree

The Rose of Innisfree Tourboat operates on the picturesque Lough Gill, in counties Sligo & Leitrim, Ireland. Experience some of the most spectacular scenery, spoken so fondly of by the poet W.B.Yeats. All from the comfort of this 72 seating magnificent vessel. Commentary on board. Full bar facilities available.

Distance from St Angela’s: 4.0 km

Link: http://www.roseofinnisfree.com/      

Slish Wood

• Slish Wood features prominently in the poetry of William Butler Yeats, although he refers to it as ‘Sleuth Wood’ in his poem ‘The Stolen Child’.
• This site was once that of an extensive oak wood and although the area was sadly cleared during World War II (1939 – 1945), pockets of 250-year-old oak remain and patches of Norway spruce, Sitka Spruce and pine have since filled in the gaps in the forest. The remains of this oak woodland can still be seen along the lakeshore.

Distance from St. Angela’s: 16.7 km (Located at the opposite side of the lake)

Link: http://www.coillte.ie/site/slish-wood/

Tobernalt Holy Well

• Tobernalt became a secluded refuge for the celebration of Mass in the early years of the eighteenth century when the penal laws were applied most harshly.
• It was to Tobernalt the people flocked from the surrounding neighbourhood when news spread by word of mouth that the Priest was expected. Priests were hunted with a price on their heads; they travelled in disguise through the country from one Mass rock to the next
• The history of Tobernalt Holy Well predates the advent of Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. It is a natural spring well that established itself in a primeval forest. When the Celts settled, Tobernalt quickly became the main area where the festival of Lughanasa, the harvest festival, was celebrated.

• Historically, 1921 was the year when the first mass was celebrated at Tobernalt since penal times. With the exception of 1922, when mass was cancelled due to activities associated with the Civil War in the area, mass has been celebrated on every Garland Sunday since 1921.

Distance from St Angela’s: 13.3 km

Link: http://www.holywellsligo.com/index.html