In Curry, architectural history and outdoor recreation go hand in hand: a church dating from around 1870, a picnic area right beside the Owengarve River and a 21.5 km nature and history trail offer different ways to explore the area. When planning, it is worth distinguishing the riverside facilities from the longer route.
Church architecture and school history
The Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Curry was built around 1870 and has a cruciform floor plan. It also features stained-glass windows by Joshua Clark and a panelled chancel ceiling. The floor plan describes the shape of the building, while the windows and ceiling add their own artistic touches. The church can therefore be understood not only by its approximate date of construction, but also by its architecture and furnishings.
Another historical focal point is the former Curry National School. The building was constructed in 1883; despite extensive alterations, its basic form has been preserved. As an architectural testament, it represents the development of the Irish education system. Today, the former school building is used for storage. The church and school thus point to different aspects of local history: sacred architecture on the one hand, and the history of education on the other.
The stone railway bridge in Curry is also one of the local structures. It is listed in the register of protected structures in the Sligo County Development Plan 2011–2017. East of Curry, a disused railway line also runs parallel to the N17. These local features add further dimensions to the area’s architectural and transport history.
River, outdoor swimming pool and playground
Colourful picnic benches stand right beside the Owengarve River in Curry. An outdoor swimming pool is located directly next to the picnic area. If you plan to swim, check the current opening hours in advance. This lets you distinguish a riverside break from a possible swim, rather than treating them as a single facility.
Curry also has a playground for toddlers and children, with climbing frames, slides and swings. The age groups and play equipment give families a practical guide when planning a visit. Facilities and availability may change, so check the current situation before you go.
The Curry Nature and Historical Trail
The Curry Nature and Historical Trail is 21.5 km long, with Curry as both its starting and ending point. This makes it a different planning option from a visit to the picnic area: the focus is on a longer route rather than a single outdoor spot. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
The details about the distance and start and end points help you think of the route as a separate outing. You do not need to combine it with Curry’s other attractions into one continuous itinerary. Depending on whether you are more interested in architectural history, a riverside break or a longer walk, these themes can shape your visit in different ways.
County Sligo: the wider cultural context
The wider destination of County Sligo also offers cultural attractions of a different kind. Carrowmore is Ireland’s largest and oldest collection of Neolithic tombs: more than 30 monuments, almost 6,000 years old, have been preserved there. Sligo Abbey is a Dominican priory with extensive surviving medieval remains of its church, sacristy and chapter house. These examples complement Curry’s local architectural history with regional archaeological and medieval perspectives.
For the wider travel overview: County Sligo.
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