Sligo is a small town, cut in two by the River Garavogue that continues on to Sligo Bay and then the North Atlantic sea to the north-west and Lough Gill lake to the south-east. Driving here is a lovely experience, with low levels of traffic combined with some gorgeous scenic drives and the famous Irish landscape at your disposal.

As in the UK, you’ll be driving on the left-hand side of the road, and most other rules of the road apply here – compulsory seat belt use and no using mobile phones while driving. Speed limits are shown in km/h on Irish roads and vary from a top speed of 120km/h (75mph) on motorways, down to 100km/h (62mph) on national roads, 80km/h (50mph) for local roads and 50km/h (30mph) in built-up areas, such as the centre of Sligo.

Should you be arriving or departing from Sligo Airport, it’s just a 15-minute drive west on R292. Several major national routes converge in Sligo, most notably the N4, which runs south-east through the heart of the country until it becomes the M4, leading into Dublin. From the N4 you can also head west on the N59, which hugs much of the coast as it winds its way down to Galway. A quicker route to Galway is by taking the N17 south through Tobercurry and Knock, then joining the N83 near Tuam, taking around 2 hours.

You can access the far north-west of Ireland by heading north on the N15 and then the N56, a scenic route that will take you through some of Ireland’s quietest and most scenic areas. In Sligo, several bridges span the river, with R292 crossing near the Yeats Building and the N4 cutting through markievicz bridge. There is plenty of parking in Sligo, with both car parks and meters using the pay-and-display system.

Sligo is an ancient place – one of myths, legends and actual history. There was a battle here in 536AD, but many sites nearby tell a tale that goes back thousands of years before that. However, the port town itself was properly founded in the mid-13^th century. Despite its long history it has remained small and charming, blessed with the beauty of the Knocknarea and Benbulben peaks, suffused with poetry and the craggy coastline only minutes away.

Poetry and passion

W. B. Yeats is Sligo’s most famous son. He loved the town, drawing inspiration from it and the surrounding countryside for his work, and calling it, ‘The land of heart’s desire’. You can drive out to the Atlantic Way to see landmarks that inspired him, such as the stunning rock formation of Benbulbin, or wander the town to get a feel for how the place inspired him.

The Yeats memorial Building, close to the river, has a permanent exhibition about the poet’s life, as well as original manuscripts. Take a drive out to Drumcliffe Cemetery, where he’s buried – it’s a picture postcard village at the base of Benbulbin in which he had left precise instruction to where he was to be laid to rest.

Ancient Sligo

The area surrounding Sligo is dotted with ruins and relics, each with their own story to tell. One of the finest and most fascinating is Sligo Abbey, a Dominican friary erected in the mid-13^th century. The current building dates from the 15^th century, as the original burned to the ground, which later survived the Dissolution of the Monasteries overseen by Henry VIII. Head inside for some spectacular Renaissance and Gothic sculpture, and a famous high altar.

Outside of the town you’ll be entering a land full of mysterious tombs, few more impressive than the Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, only 3 miles away from Sligo. The tombs here date back over five thousand years, although half of them remain swallowed by the ground. It’s thought they were used by French settlers, and they’re the oldest monuments of their type in Ireland.

Cairns and caves

One of the real advantages of Sligo car hire is the wealth of rural riches all around you. There’s the coast, with its austere windswept beauty, and the Stone Age monuments dotted throughout the countryside. Head for the Caves of Keshcorran, cut deep into the limestone cliff face, where legend has it that a she-wolf once raised a future king of Ireland, Cormac Mac Airt.

From here you’re close to Knocknarea Cairn, a perfect place for rock climbers and those who just want to wander among the ghosts of Irish myth. Rumours abound of a huge tomb here, such as that Queen Maeve is buried here, but it has yet to be excavated. Hop back in your car and seek out Magheraghanrush Court Tomb, the Stone Age cemetery of Carrowkeel and the lovely grounds of Lissadell House where Yeats loved to spend his time.