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Ballymote is a
small market town in south County Sligo. It is located 25km south of
Sligo Town. Ballymote
Castle is a reminder of the historic importance of this town. The
castle was built around the year 1300 by the Anglo-Norman Richard de
Burgo, second Earl of Ulster, who was known as the 'Red Earl' in
order to protect his newly won possessions in Sligo. The castle was
possibly the strongest in Connacht at the time.
Ireland’s largest
sanctuary for Birds of Prey and Owls, the Irish Raptor Research
Centre / Eagles Flying is situated on mature parklands near
Ballymote. Currently it is home of about 100 Eagles, Hawks, Owls,
Falcons and Vultures. The Eagles Flying Show is both fun and
educational for the whole family. The scientists on hand present
information on each of the birds and raptors in general and
questions are invited from visitors. Shows start at 11 am and 3 pm
every day and last for approximately one hour.
Ballymote Golf Club is a gem of a course hidden between the Curlew
Mountains and Ballymote Town. This 9 hole course plays over2640
metres long and has undulating fairways carved from the green
countryside . The Lake hole 7th is the signature hole set into
Ballinascarrow Lake and will match the 17th at Druids Glenn as a
beautiful spectacle.
Just 14km west of Ballymote is the Carrowkeel Megalith complex. This
is the sight of the largest concentration of passage tombs in
Ireland. These passage tombs (fourteen in all) are sunken burial
chambers made of large limestone slabs, topped with huge piles
(cairns) of rocks. The Carrowkeel complex is believed to have been
constructed between 3000 and 2000 BC and remained in use until 1500
BC The Mayor of New
York City, Michael Bloomberg unveiled Ireland's national monument to
the 69th Infantry Regiment (aka The Fighting 69th) and Michael
Corcoran in Ballymote on 22 August 2006. At the foot of the monument
is a piece of steel from the World Trade Centre in New York, which
was attacked on September 11, 2001. The steel was donated by the
family of a local man who died in the attack.
Also worth viewing is the commemorative statue of Brother Wilfred
unveiled in 1995. Brother Walfred founded Celtic Football club in
Glasgow. He was a Marist brother, born Andrew Kernins, in Ballymote. |
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Ballymote Holiday Homes - County Sligo, Ireland
