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Collooney
Dromahaire
Collooney is a pretty little town just 10 minutes drive from Sligo Town. It is perched on a hill, and from a distance it is possible to see the spire of the Catholic church long before you come to the town itself. The church was built in 1847 by Sir John Benson, a native of Collooney, who also enlarged the Protestant Church which had been built in 1720. The town has shops, a post office, schools and all the services you could require.
Dromahaire – the name in Gaelic means ‘the ridge of the two demons’ – is a pretty little village nestled snugly in the curve of the Bonet River at the head of Lough Gill, between Killery Mountain, Slieve Dhean and O’Rourke’s Table, which is no doubt how the Gaelic name originated. Quiet, peaceful and surrounded by beautiful countryside, it is nonetheless only 10km from Sligo Town, so is very popular with families who live and work in Sligo’s county town. Dromahaire has everything a rural village could want, with two well stocked grocery stores, a specialist cheese shop, butcher, a hair salon, beauty parlour, doctor’s surgery, school, pubs, hotel and also The Riverbank Restaurant in which to relax and dine. It also has plenty to offer in the way of outdoor activities. Lough Gill is only a short distance away, with cruises on the Rose of Innisfree, angling and lots of islands to explore. One of these is the Lake Isle of Innisfree, made famous by the poet WB Yeats, who wrote movingly about the tiny island when he was far away in London. On the shores of the lake lies Parkes Castle which in recent years was beautifully restored both inside and out, and is now open to the public until October each year. It is well worth a visit to see the displays inside, walk along the battlements and have a cup of tea. The castle was built as a 3 storey, fortified manor by Roger Parke in 1610, although there was an earlier castle on the site which belonged to the O’Rourkes, Celtic High Kings of the ancient kingdom of Breifne.
Close to Collooney lies Markree Castle, standing in 1000 acres of rolling parkland filled with splendid trees. The castle has been home to the Cooper family since Cromwellian times, and today is run as an hotel. The façade dates from 1802 and the castle contains other interesting features such as the flight of stone steps up to the main hall, the wonderful oak staircase that leads to the upper floors, a large stained glass window depicting the family tree and a beautiful neogothic chapel. The Castle’s Restaurant, with its rococo plasterwork, ornate mirrors and gilded cherubs is a romantic place to dine, and it is also possible to have Sunday Lunch and afternoon tea there.This year the hotel celebrates its 20th Anniversary with a Charity Ball on 4 July.
On the southern side of Dromahaire you can visit the remains of Creevelea Abbey, once a beautiful monastery. Built in 1508 it was the last Franciscan Friary to be built before the supression of the monasteries by King Henry VIII in the mid 16th century.A carving of St Francis still remains, and there are many fine examples of traditional Celtic crosses.
Situated as it is in the centre of the county, and with Markree Riding Stables located within its parkland, the Castle makes a great base from which to explore the county and enjoy the many outdoor activities on offer. Union Woods lie just a short distance away – a wonderful place to walk, cycle or ride.There is golf at nearby Castle Dargan and angling on the rivers that abound in the area. The megalithic burial ground at Carrowmore is well worth visiting, it is the largest of its kind in Ireland and of the tombs that date back six and a half thousand years, one is thought to be the oldest building in the world.
This is an area populated by many artists and craftspeople, and during the summer and early autumn months there several Craft Fairs to attend, at which there is also music and children’s entertainment. The Craft Fairs are held on 9 August, 13 September and 11 October. From 29 October – 2 November the Ballintogher Music Festival and concurrent John Egan Traditional Festival will run in the nearby village. This is an annual event which attracts many from far and wide to its concerts, sessions, dancing and music schools.The festival features workshops in many instruments, traditional dancing like Sean Nos and singing. There are nightly sessions in all the local pubs in the area, so if you like traditional music, it’s one for the diary.
1 O'Connell St. Sligo Ireland Tel: 071 9135125 Email: info@kevinsfort.ie 67
Towns & Villages
Collooney also has a railway station linking the town with Sligo and Dublin, in fact in years gone by this was a busy hub – the junction for 3 railways. Today many people live here who work in Sligo, as the town offers a quiet haven, surrounded by countryside. Where the old mills stand, on the river behind Innisfree Crystal there is a lovely waterfront walk, part of a tasteful development of houses and apartments, all of which benefit from the peaceful location and the pleasant sound of the falls.The mills on the opposite side of the river functioned until the 1950’s, their longevity attributable to the fact that they had been converted to produce woollen goods, notably blankets.They have now been largely dismantled and are derelict.