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Known locally as "The Abbey," this
Dominican Friary was founded in the mid-13th century and served as
both a religious centre and community gathering space, especially as a refuge
for displaced landowners. In the 19th century, however, in a fit of
rage, Sir Frederick Hamilton burned it to the ground, after it had already
suffered great damage from earlier invasions. Given the abbey's violent
history, much of it has survived and houses a wealth of carvings, Gothic and
Renaissance tomb sculptures, well-preserved cloisters, and the only 15th
century high altar to survive in any Irish monastic church.
On the ground close to the cloisters is a
grave slab with the name clearly marked: James. No one seems to know who James
was, but they do know that the slab was erected by his mother. Later, though,
all identifying marks-except the name-were chiselled away. Locals believe that
James must have fallen out of favour with or angered some of the officials who
controlled The Abbey.
A Visitor Centre contains a copy of an
unusual document: Charlotte Thornley's Diary. Though her name might not
register as familiar, her son's would raise an eyebrow or two. Charlotte
Thornley was the mother of Bram Stoker, author of the infamous, now classic,
"Dracula." The two of them lived in Sligo Town during the cholera epidemic of
1832. In the diary, Charlotte describes the desperate conditions as "the living
struggled to bury the dead." During many epidemics, bodies are piled atop other
bodies when rooms runs out. In Sligo, it is said that bodies were piled atop
the towering 15th century high altar, the only sacred place in the
area.
Open March to October, 10:00 - 6:00. (For
other times or group bookings for tours, email
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or call T: 087 270 4032
Admission: €2 adults, families €5,
children, €1
How to get there:
From Dublin: N4 to Sligo Town (214 km).
From Belfast: A6 to Derry, then A5 to
Lifford, N15 to Sligo Town.
Address:
Sligo Abbey
Sligo Town, Co. Sligo
Email:
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Written by Joy Davis - Summer of Travel 2007
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