20 Attractions to Explore Near Sligo Folk Park

Ballysadare River is a stream in County Sligo and has an elevation of 55 metres. Ballysadare River is situated nearby to Toberloonagh, close to Ballydrehid Bridge. The Ballisodare River derives from three other Sligo rivers: the Unshin River, the Owenmore River and the Owenbeg River. It flows through Ballysadare, passing under the N4 and N59 roads.

This is the largest mound of stones in Ireland, a full 60 metres in diameter. Surrounded by mossy limestone kerbs and lined all around with beautiful chestnut trees, the cairn is unique in that it is located on low ground. It was constructed c. 3000 BC and is believed to enclose a passage grave. Legend marks this cairn as the site of the famous healing well of Dian Cecht, a magician and healer of the great T'uatha De Danaan, one of the original occupying tribes of Ireland.

Lough Bo is a spring fed lake located in the hills around three miles north of Lough Arrow. It is stocked annually with brown trout which average 1lb.The lake is popular for trout fishing and get's stocked by the fisheries board. But the lake wouldn't appeal to much to the water sporter as it is moon shaped and surrounded by fields. There are some picnic tables at the lake shore and a very small carpark.

Lough Nasool is a lake in County Sligo and has an elevation of 106 metres. It is situated in Ballinphull, close to Loughbo Cross Roads. There are so many things to see and do in and around this area and it is also a beautiful picnic location.

The Labby Rock or Carrickglass dolmen is located in a shallow valley on the north end of the ridge of Moytura. It is an impressively massive portal dolmen: with a capstone weighing an estimated seventy tons, it is among the largest monuments of its kind in Ireland.

Carrowkeel is a megalithic hill top passage tomb cemetery. There are 14 cairns located at different positions on the hilltops with a further group of 6 cairns extending west towards Keshcorran Mountain, which is also capped with a large cairn. The Carrowkeel tombs are protected National Monuments and are considered one of the "big four" passage tomb cemeteries in Ireland, along with Carrowmore, Brú na Bóinne and Loughcrew.

A beautiful mountain summit in the region in the county of Sligo, Ireland. It is 321 metres high with a prominence of 173 metres. It contains the Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery. The Caves of Kesh are visible on the west side of Kesh Corran from the R295 road and the Dublin–Sligo railway line. It also offers beautiful views and also opyu can enjoy the natural beauty of this area.

A late 13th or early 14th Century enclosure castle. One of the strongest castles in Connaught and today it remains as an impressive ruin on the edge of Ballymote village. It is the last of the Norman castles in Connacht. It was probably built in order to protect the newly won possessions of Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster. Its main feature of this impressive fortification is the large gate building – a rectangular structure with projection 1/2 round towers at each side of the entrance.

Ballygawley Lough is next to Ballydawley Lough and is located in Sligo, Connaught, Ireland. Ballygawley Lough has a length of 2.43 kilometres. It is close to Union Wood a popular area with many walks and nature trails.

It is one of the largest and best preserved neolithic landscapes remaining in Ireland today. Lough Arrow is surrounded by mountains on three sides - the limestone Bricklieve Mountains to the west, the sandstone Curlews to the south and the limestone Braulieves, or Arigna Mountains to the east. It is fed mainly by springs but also by a number of streams entering on the lake's western and southern sides. The lake drains north into the Unshin River.

Ballinafad Castle was built in 1590 and is also known as the ‘Castle of the Curlews’. The castle is in ruins and is accessible year round. There are no tours, guides, or fees. Visitors can park in a small lot at the foot of the hill where they will find an interpretive sign. Visitors cannot enter the castle, but the interior is visible through breaches in the walls that are closed off by iron fences.

A beautiful Franciscan Friary founded in 1508 by Margaret O’Brian and Owen O’ Rourke, Lord of Breifne. It was one of the last abbey’s founded in Ireland before King Henry VIII dissolved all the monasteries throughout Ireland and England. The remains of this extensive friary include the church, the cloister and domestic buildings. This Abbey is now in use for as a grave yard.

Templehouse Lough is a freshwater lake in the northwest of Ireland. It is located in south County Sligo and forms part of the course of the Owenmore River. It is renowned for coarse fishing – pike, perch, bream. There are indeed monster pike out there. The lake drains north into the continuation of the Owenmore River, which then flows north to join the Ballysadare River.

Tobernalt Holy Well is a place of reflection and nurturing serenity.It is an ancient natural spring dating back to the 5th century as a pagan meeting place and later a Penal Law mass site. It predates the advent of Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. Its importance as a meeting place and a sustainer of life predates our Celtic ancestors.

Innisfree is a small, uninhabited Irish island on Lough Gill. Rather wild and pretty, it was one of the inspirational places of William Butler Yeats, an eminent Irish writer from Sligo. . The Island is not accessable but may be viewed from land or by boat. The lake Isle of Innisfree boat trip is available from Parke’s Castle.

A freshwater lake in the northwest of Ireland. It is located in south County Sligo and forms part of the course of the Owenmore River. It measures about 1 km long and 1 kmwide. It lies about 30 kilometres south of Sligo and 7 km west of Ballymote. A good picnic destination in a silent area and there are also so many leisure activities too.

Hazelwood is an ancient area of woodland located just over 2 miles outside the town of Sligo in northwest Ireland. It has a series of outdoor sculptures by Irish and International artists. It has a picnic area and spectular lakeside views. It’s a walkers paradise as there is several hikes of about 3 kilometres each along the edge of Lough Gill.

The Curlew Mountains are a range of low-lying hills situated between Boyle and Castlebaldwin in northeastern Connacht. Curlew Mountains has an elevation of 243 metres. Curlew Mountains is situated northeast of Cloonloo. Geologically, the Curlew Mountains are made of Devonian sandstone and conglomerate that is harder than the surrounding Carboniferous limestone, hence their appearance as an upland feature.

It is the largest cemetery of megalithic tombs in Ireland. It lies just south-west of Sligo town, right at the heart of the Cúil Írra Peninsula, an area alive with prehistoric significance. These are found at Carrowmore, a collection of burial monuments at the centre of the Cuil Iorra peninsula three kilometers west of Sligo town.

A majestic restored plantation castle from the early 17th century and is situated on the picturesque shores of Lough Gill. It was originally the stronghold of the O'Rourke Clan, rulers of the kingdom of Breffni. It has been beautifully restored using Irish oak and traditional craftsmanship.A permanent exhibition of artefacts from the 17th century including replica period costumes and furniture, is on display inside the grounds.