The Dominican priory known as Sligo Abbey has dominated Sligo’s eastern district since the town was founded in the mid-thirteenth century. Large parts of the church, sacristy and chapterhouse are preserved from this period, alongside the beautiful fifteenth century cloister and associated buildings.
The Abbey has endured many calamities, including an accidental fire in 1414, the dismantling of a substantial wooden cross for use a battering ram during a siege at the town’s castle, and violent destruction at the hands of Plantation landlord Sir Frederic ‘The Bragger’ Hamilton in 1642. During the eighteenth century, the now abandoned Abbey functioned as the town’s main burial ground. In the summer of 1832, the graveyard was overwhelmed by the victims of a cholera epidemic.
The Abbey was finally closed to burials in 1847 – ‘Black ‘47’ – at the height of the Great Famine. Despite the ravages of history, the Abbey retains a great wealth of carvings, including Gothic and Renaissance monumental sculpture, the well-preserved cloister arcade, and the sculptured fifteenth-century high altar – one of the very few to survive in an Irish monastic church. Visitors can also explore the remains of the dining hall and dormitories on the upper floor, as well as the historic graveyard which surrounds the complex.
Visiting
Opening Times
13 March – 30 December 2025
Daily 10:00 – 18:00
Last admission 17:15
More info…
- Admission fees: Paid Admission but free on the first Wednesday of every month
- Open: March to December
- Suitable for younger children: Yes
- Indoor facilities: Yes
- Gift shop: Small items available on site
- Dining/refreshments: Plenty of cafes and restaurants very close by
- Guide dogs: Permitted.
- Toilets: On-site.
- Groups: Groups are welcome with prior booking.
- Accessibility: Some steps and uneven ground.
- Parking: Car parking in Abbey Street and coach parking on Connaghton Road – just a short walk away.
About Sligo
Sligo town is the hub of the county and you will experience everything great in life while visiting – great food and drink, the very best festivals and live music and a cultural rhythm that is totally unique. It’s name in Irish is Sligeach which means ‘Shelly Place’, giving a great indication to our coastal and food heritage.
You will stroll along the banks of the beautiful Garavogue River and enjoy the natural beauty of Doorly Park and Lough Gill. The towering Benbulben Mountain is always in your frame and historic Knocknarea mountain with Queen Maeve’s burial cairn on the summit regularly pops in to view.
You will meet the friendliest people in the world and leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. You can easily get around Sligo town and the nearby coastal seaside villages of Strandhill and Rosses Point by public transport too;
Location
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