Where To Visit In The Northwest Of Ireland

At last we arrived at our destination at Harness Cottage, Ballinfull, County Sligo. We were so tired because we had a long way from Germany to Ireland. All in all, we were 850,6 km on the road with a few hindrances by taking the wrong way to the northwest of Ireland. Our cottage was very cute. It had a cosy living room with an open fire place, a kitchen, a bathroom and a big bedroom. I think it was a stable before it was renovated and turned to cottage. It was behind the head house. All around was an orchard and there was a path in going to the beach. A few miles away was a big popular house which was mentioned in one of William Butler Yeats poems. I can´t remember the name at the moment.

In the counties of Donegal and Sligo, you can see a lot of beautiful landscapes, mountains, white sandy beaches, rivers, lakes, cliffs and ruins of prehistoric cemetery. Here are some places you should see when you are in the northwest of Ireland.

In Co. Donegal :

1. Killybegs

Killybegs is a small fishers port. Fish is sold everyday on the market. You can pass this place in going to Slieve League.

2. Slieve League

Europes´ highest cliff which is 600 meter above the sea level. It is said that on a clear day on the tip of the cliff, you can see 2/3 of Ireland. The place where Slieve League is located is very awesome but amazing. Amazing for I have not seen such beauty in my life. Imagine,I have to walk up high on a narrow path and down left was the deep ocean and on the right side of the path is a mountain. Arriving on the highest place for me to climb, was a small lake.

You have to be good by foot and have the right shoes to wear for you have to climb to see the beauty that God created for us. You need to be in good condition for it´ s too high to climb (at least for me). There were lots of tourists when we were there but there was no toilet. The tourists (included me) have to look for a place to hide for relieving themselves. There were garbage thrown on the other side of the cliff.

3. Ardara

Ardara is a small place with it´s amazing beauty and is popular for it´s Donegal Tweeds. Donegal Tweeds are still made with the old techniques of weaving. These handicrafts are being sold in many handicraft shops. You can buy these products in different style and color.

4. Donegal Castle

Donegal Castle was built in the 15th Century and was the seat where the O´Donnell`s Chieftain exercised his power as the chief of Gaelic families in Donegal. It is located at the centre of the town and has undergone several Restorations until it was open for the public. It shows how the O'Donnell's lived with it´s antiques furniture.

Donegal Castle is only a walking distance to the city with a tourist office, shops and pubs. The city has it´s own characteristics and beauty. When I was there with my husband after visiting Slieve League, we had to find a loo but it was not open. So my hubby had to asked the police and like all Irish that we met, friendly, he brought my hubby to his place to use his own toilet.

In Co. Sligo:

1. Drumcliff

For those who are interested in literature, William Butler Yeats grave is located at the cemetery of Drumcliff. It´s near the church and around this church are trees where there were a lot of crows sitting on the branches.

2. Sligo Bay

3. Sligo Abbey

Sligo Abbey is located in the town center and was built in the middle of 13th Century. There´s an entrance fee when you go inside. It has it´s own visitor centre and you can have a guided tour if you want to. Sligo Abbey has a weird impression for me for there are lots of old graves in and around the Abbey.

4. St. John´s Cathedral

St. John´s Cathedral The Baptist was built in the 18th Century and is also located in the town centre. Like any other church or cathedral in Ireland, there are graves in and around the place. The ancestors of the playwriter Wiliam Yeats and his artist brother Jack Yeats were buried here.

5. Yeats Memorial Building

Was built by Yeats grandfather and he stayed there for a long time as an author.

6. Sligo County Museum

In Sligo County Museum, you can see the works of arts and paintings of Jack Yeats and of all local artists.

7. Lough Gill

Lough Gill is a large lake in Co. Sligo where you can go fishing for brown trout and salmon. It is a beautiful lake where my hubby and I took a rest for our sightseeing tour.

8. Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery

Is the second biggest cemetery in Europe where Queen Maeve, the mythical Queen of Celtic Ireland, was buried. There are remnants of more than 4,000 years of graves made of huge stones.

9. Benbulben

Benbulben is an astonishing beautiful 527 high rock mountain in Yeats Country. Wiliam Butler Yeats was buried at the foot of Benbulben, in Drumcliff.

10. Strandhill and Rosses Point

Strandhill and Rosses Point are small places in Co. Sligo with each lovely white sandy beaches. It was the beaches where I loved walking around.

Our holidays in County Donegal and County Sligo were only 1 week in the year 2004. The rest 3 weeks were spent in Co.Mayo, Co. Galway and down to the south of Ireland. It was all 4 weeks holiday with lots of good impressions that influenced our next future years. It was a good influence, happy weeks that was spent in the awesome and beautiful country.

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