Achonry, 14 m. S.W. of Sligo, may be made head-quarters for the examination of the S.W. district; or the tourist may apply at Tobercorry, a few miles distant. 5 m. W. of it, on the river Moy, are the very picturesque and ivied ruins of Bennada Friary, whose lofty square tower, 70 feet high, forms a very striking object, starting from the thick foliage with which it is surrounded, on a rising bank amidst a range of meadows. Whilst in this vicinity, the tourist will be gratified by a ramble to the ruins of Court Abbey close to a small village of that name, and about 3 m. W. from Achonry. The way to it is not very agreeable, being mostly through bogs: it is, however, an object not easily missed, as it stands conspicuously in a small field, where its lofty tower, fifty-three feet high, frowns over the ruins below. The interior sombre and solemn; used as an open cemetery. Proceeding a little further, the visitor arrives, through a lofty Gothic arch, at a Chapel the windows of which were once ornamented with paintings, now obliterated. Here are also several pedestals for the statues of saints, but now untenanted; in the south wall are some slight remains of a window once rich in tracery. Passing into the western Chapel, observe a curious octagonal inverted cone, supposed to have been the receptacle for the holy water; and on the northern side of the chancel are melancholy memorials of mortality, the recesses in the walls being entirely filled with human skulls: the whole presenting a scene of desolation perfectly in unison with the wildness of the surrounding country. Not far from the village of Tubbercorry are some remains of an old Castle of the O'Hara. The country around is flat and boggy, and there is nothing to repay the labour of a visit.
Ballinafadd, 15 m. S.E. of Sligo, is a small village, but will afford shelter to the tourist who wishes to examine its vicinity. See the ruins of ancient Castle, picturesque and pleasing, the feudal den of the clan MacDonough, with thick walls, circular tower, and most extensive prospects over the Curlew mountains, along Lough Arrow; and along a wild but romantic valley to the S. Ballymote, 5 m. N.W., has a Castle which presents a good specimen of ancient military architecture at the commencement of the 14th century, when erected by Richard de Burgo, the red Earl of Ulster, a man of high power and possessions. The ruins are still very extensive, and seem almost to bid defiance to time. Six round towers, one of which is 53 feet in height, flanked the walls that were 9 feet in thickness, with a gallery or covered way of communication all round. At the end of the town are some remains of the ancient Ch., with some finely pointed Gothic arches, and curious east window. Franciscan Friary. Somewhere in this vicinity is Corren, with curious caves called the Giant's House, with an approach cut in the rock, steep and difficult. Lough Arrow, already noticed under Roscommon, presents much romantic scenery. On its banks, in a wild open district, stood a Convent of Dominican nuns (1427) in honour of the Virgin. At present little remains except the Ch., called Ballindown Abbey, in sufficient preservation to show its ancient form, though unroofed. It consists principally of two Chapels united by a belfry, with this curious architectural whim, that the east and west windows only are Gothic, but all the others elliptical.
Enniscrowen, or Eniscrone, about 28 m. W. of Sligo, may be visited by those who venture to explore the wild recesses of the barony of Tyreragh. Castle Connor, near to it, has curious caves, lined and roofed with great stones, on a hill, as yet scarcely noticed by the antiquary. Close to the sea stand the remains of the ancient Castle of Roslee, sombre and solitary. Little more now exists than one lofty tower, in the thickness of whose walls is a curious staircase leading to the gloomy apartments within. The Castle was originally of considerable extent, and near it runs a rivulet, traditionally said to have once been fitted with a weir for the purpose of catching salmon; the fish, by an ingenious contrivance, ringing a bell as soon as caught, and thereby giving notice to the cook of their capture. At Screen, 15 m. N.E., see Danish-Stone Rath on a hill.
Sligo, 104 m. N.W. of Dublin, stands upon a river, by which the waters of Lough Gilly are discharged into a large bay, and which admits vessels of 200 tons up to its quay. See Court-House, Gaol, Barrack, Infirmary, and Charter School; Custom House and quays; much trade; good accommodations. Close to the town, and pleasantly seated on the river Gilly, near its confluence with the sea, stand the ruins of the ancient Abbey, of early foundation, but burnt down in the 15th century, and immediately afterwards rebuilt in a very superior style of sculpture and architecture. It has two large chapels divided by a square belfry, the tower of which is entire except the battlements, and resting on a lofty Gothic arch. The other arches of the Gothic colonnades are lofty, and enriched with foliage and angels. The Ch. is completely uncovered; three sides of the cloisters have an arched roof in pretty good preservation: their arches are semicircular; but a profusion of Gothic ornament exists in other parts of the edifice. The front and sides of the altar are ornamented with Gothic arches, foliage, and tracery; and there still remain pedestals for statues, whose sanctity could not work miracles against Time. The tourist must not neglect to notice the eastern window, which is very beautiful. Around the nave is a stone gallery; and at a height of several feet from the ground may still be seen the tomb of O'Connor, lord of Sligo, his figure and that of his lady kneeling on each side of an altar. Taking a ramble about 4 m. S. from the town, the tourist will see, at the foot of a small hill, the neat village and Abbey of Ballysadere, erected about the 12th century for Augustine monks. At present nothing can be traced but the arches of the belfry and a small part of the tower, built of black stone: not far distant are the picturesque remains of an ancient Chapel, with windows of cut stone, and some curious carved heads on the doorway. Visit Nymphsfield near Ballysadere, where there is a waterfall worth sketching. The Giant's Grave, or Lugne Clogh consists of several stones resembling Stonehenge. Innismurry is an island of the north coast, with curious subterraneous cells: also interesting to the sportsman. Lough Gilly abounding with romantic scenery; about 5 m. long, and 2 broad. Its greatest charm is Hazelwood, the beautiful seat of Mr. Wynn, at the end of a wooded peninsula which runs out into the water, and is seen to most advantage from the lake. On the opposite side of the lake, contrasting finely with the lawns and artificial arrangements of Hazelwood, is seen a range of rude mountains, partially planted and cultivated; beyond which is another range in fine retiring distance. In the island of Innismore are ruins of an old Ch. of the Culdees, covered with ivy, and marked by numerous superstitions. Knocknaree is a mountain of considerable altitude and extensive base, in a wide field of desolation. Malachwee hill has a curiously fantastic appearance, with extensive prospect. See Mercury, the modern castellated seat of Mr. Cooper, built of limestone.
