Sligo

This classic and well-loved history of Sligo was first published in 1889. Its author, the Rev. Archdeacon Terrence O'Rorke, was born and bred in Sligo, This important history is, of course, a product of his times and situation, however, it remains a work of fascination for anyone with connections to Sligo's past and its people, and - because of the importance of the events played out in that county - an important reference for anyone interested in the history of Ireland.

For the devotee of Irish heritage, mythology or folklore, County Sligo has everything. From the Curlew mountains in the south, where Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill defeated an English army under Sir Conyers Clifford, to Benbulben's slopes in the north, where St Colmcille battled the High King of Ireland, every hill and valley is linked by the gossamer threads of myth, folklore and legend. These stories, some age-old legends and fantastical myths, some amusing anecdotes and cautionary tales, are a heady mix of the bloodthirsty, funny and passionate and a selection of the best are retold here by writer and local historian Joe McGowan. In these pages you will find little-known anecdotes of the traditional ways of Sligo's residents, their customs and superstitions; you will find stories of epic battles and heroic deeds; and you will also hear the fantastical accounts of mythical creatures, faeries, witches and the ghosts of Connacht itself.

'Henry Kelly (1894-1920): County Sligo's Forgotten Rebel' is a short biographical study of Volunteer Henry Kelly of Ballygawley, an Easter Rebel of 1916, who was executed by an RIC Auxiliary Raid on the Banba Hall, Dublin on the 17th of October, 1920, during the War of Independence. The author hoped to revitalise the life of a forgotten rebel, one of only a handful of Sligo natives to involve themselves in the 1916 Rising. Henry received no adulation, no recognition and no medals due to his early demise. The author wishes to rectify this tragedy with this publication. Proceeds of the book will go towards the resurfacing of Henry's weathered headstone in Kilross Cemetery, Ballygawley and towards an application for posthumous IRA medals due to him and his next of kin.

THE STORY: From her hospital bed in 1950's Dublin, Mai O'Hara recalls her life through morphine-induced memories and hallucinations. Dying of liver cancer caused by alcoholism, Mai reminisces on her youthful promise as a member of the Galway bourge

Tales from Sligo and the West encompasses both historic and contemporary views of the magical and mystical nature of this region. The literary tradition in this area is as ancient as any on earth, dating back thousands of years, originating in the oral traditions of the Irish Celts, Druids, Poets, and Bards. These traditions were carried forth by the early Christian monks who incorporated and preserved the Celtic/Gaelic stories and artwork into their outstanding illuminated manuscripts, now realized as the oldest and most beautiful ever produced, many of which are now housed in the great library of Trinity College Dublin. The highly inspirational history of this small island has produced many of the world's greatest authors, including Jonathan Swift, Edmund Burke, Oliver Goldsmith, Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Bram Stoker, Sean O'Casey, C. S. Lewis, Kate O'Brien, Lady Augusta Gregory, Patrick Kavanagh, Brian Friel, Dermot Healy, Willie Joe Meally; and, includes four Nobel Laureates, William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, and Seamus Heaney. Tales from Sligo and the West is the next progression of this extraordinary tradition.