In County Sligo, Drumcliff brings together the grave of poet W. B. Yeats and an early medieval monastic site at the foot of Benbulben. The cemetery lies on the main road between Sligo and Donegal. The monastic site is about a ten-minute drive from Sligo Town; actual travel time may vary depending on traffic. To access the Drumcliff Round Tower, the route crosses a busy main road.

Round Tower and High Cross

The Drumcliff Round Tower dates from the 11th century. As a state-owned National Monument, it is cared for by the Office of Public Works (OPW). The fully preserved Drumcliff High Cross stands in the cemetery opposite the tower. Made of sandstone, it is 3.83 metres high. Its depiction of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child is distinctive: it is the only known high cross in Ireland with this motif. John Yeats re-erected it during his tenure as rector of Drumcliffe from 1811 to 1842.

Church, monastic site and Yeats

St Columba’s Church was built in 1809. A mural from 1895 is on its east wall. The church walls also incorporate remains of ancient high stone crosses found at the early medieval monastic site. St Columba’s is still an active church. It is associated with annual nativity scenes and harvest festivals; their recurrence may vary. If you are planning specifically around an event, check the dates and visiting arrangements in advance.

Drumcliff is the burial place of Irish poet W. B. Yeats. His grave is in the cemetery next to the church’s entrance door. Drumcliff thus brings together distinct cultural themes: the literary history associated with Yeats, the stone High Cross and the history of the monastic site.

Plan your visit

You can explore the Drumcliffe site on your own. An audio guide accompanies your visit with voices from the region and personal insights into religion, legends, literature, W. B. Yeats and culture. A map of the site is included. The audio guide is available in English, French, German, Polish, Italian, Spanish and Mandarin. Before travelling, check whether independent visits and your preferred language are still available.

Beyond Drumcliff itself, County Sligo has its own cultural and landscape highlights. Carrowmore is Ireland’s largest and oldest collection of Neolithic tombs: more than 30 surviving monuments are almost 6,000 years old. Sligo Abbey is a Dominican priory with extensive surviving medieval remains of its church, sacristy and chapter house. These sites focus on the archaeology and medieval history of County Sligo.

The landscape also reveals a different side of County Sligo in other places. Streedagh Beach is a three-kilometre sandy beach connecting Streedagh Point with Connor’s Island. Its dunes and estuary are home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. Surfing and windsurfing are possible in the coastal waters; stand-up paddleboarding takes place in the sheltered estuary. Check sea conditions before taking part in water sports.

Discover more destinations: Grange, Derrybeg, Cloonacool, Geevagh, Strandhill, Barroe, Ballinphull, Ballymote.

Return to the main travel overview: County Sligo.