Sligo to Boyle

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Parke's Castle

Though now officially known as Parke's Castle, the local, ancient, and more appropriate name for this site is O'Rourke's Castle. This castle in Country Leitrim was built by and was the stronghold of the exceedingly powerful O'Rourke clan of Breffni from the 13th century until the end of the 16th century. Parke built a castle on the site in 1620, using the outer walls of O'Rourke's Castle. The site has been very nicely restored by Duchas, Ireland's Heritage Service. It is located on the shore of the very scenic Lough Gill, which is the nesting home of the splendid swan pictured below.

Creevykeel

Creevykeel is an unusually complete court tomb just north of Sligo Town.

Boyle Abbey

Boyle Abbey in County Roscommon is a Cistercian monastery established in 1229. The Cistercians were a stern order. The choir monks were required to pray 6 times per day, had a rule of silence and only ate two meals per day in the harvest in season and just one otherwise. The carved columns pictured below are unusual for a Cistercian monastery as the order normally disdained ornamentation as a distraction from their mission.

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