Sligo Abbey

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Welcome to the official page for Sligo Abbey an OPW managed heritage site. This enigmatic friary will inspire and enlighten it's visitors.

Known locally as the Abbey, this Dominican Friary was founded in the mid - 13th century by Maurice Fitzgerald. The site contains a great wealth of carvings including Gothic and Renaissance tomb sculpture, well preserved cloister and the only sculptured 15th century high altar to survive in any Irish monastic church. Open from 10 am seven days a week from the end of Mar to the end of Oct. Last admission 5.15 pm. Known locally as ‘The Abbey’, this Dominican Friary was founded in the mid - 13th century. It contains a great wealth of carvings including Gothic and Renaissance tomb sculpture, a well preserved cloister and the only sculptured 15th century high altar to survive in any Irish monastic church. This enigmatic friary will inspire and enlighten its visitors.

29/10/2026

Busy day at Sligo Abbey today with people visiting for our special Halloween pumpkin carving workshop with Ciara, Ella and Kateryna.
Long before they started carving pumpkins in America, the Irish were doing it at home in Ireland with turnips, another example of an American custom with its roots in Ireland.
This is, of course, the season of Samhain. November is also the month in which we remember and pray for the dead, which is particularly appropriate to Sligo Abbey as it was a burial ground for the town for more than 100 years, up to the cholera epidemic in 1832. The epidemic was also the inspiration for the novel Dracula written by Bram Stoker, whose great great granddaughter Mimi McCaw visited the Abbey last week.
Sligo Abbey, a place where history comes to life. You haven't visited Sligo until you visit the Abbey.

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25/10/2026

Please note our winter hours. We are open 7 days a week, opening at 9:00 with last admission at 4:15. Look forward to seeing you soon!

24/10/2026

Due to adverse weather conditions, Sligo Abbey closes today at 2pm.
If you are planning to visit the Abbey tomorrow, please don't start your journey until after 9am, when the amber weather warning ends.
We look forward to welcoming you as normal tomorrow and telling you about this fascinating 13th and 15th centuries Dominican Friary ruin, and all its related stories.
You haven't visited Sligo until you visit the Abbey.

24/10/2026

Minister of State Frank Feighan shows his delight after getting his copy of 'A Wall That Speaks' written by former classmate Harry Keaney; they were together in St. Mary's College, Boyle, Co Roscommon. Harry's book deals with the history and context of the 1624 O'Connor Sligo-Butler Monument in Sligo Abbey. The book is available in Sligo Abbey, and in Liber Bookshop and in Easons, both in O'Connell Street in Sligo.

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24/10/2026

OPW Information Officer and Guide Ciara Daly leading a tour around Sligo Abbey a few mornings ago ...... how our weather has changed.

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21/10/2026

Among the visitors to Sligo Abbey yesterday was Mimi MacCaw, from London, a great great granddaughter of Bram Stoker, the author of the famous novel Dracula, which largely takes its inspiration from the 1832 cholera epidemic in Sligo during which Sligo Abbey and its grounds became a mass burial site. Pictured below in the Abbey were, from left: Mimi MacCaw, OPW Information Officer and Guide Harry Keaney who gave Mimi and her accompany friends a tour of the Abbey, and local tour guide and historian Melissa Melanaphy.

Address

Abbey Street
Sligo
F91K796

Telephone

+353719146406

Website

https://heritageireland.ie/visit/places-to-visit/sligo-abbey/

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