Sligo Bay

Sligo Bay (Irish: Cuan Shligigh)^[1] is a natural ocean bay in County Sligo, Ireland.

Sligo Bay
Cuan Shligigh
Sligo Bay from Knocknarea
Sligo Bay
Location	County Sligo
Coordinates	54°17′56″N 8°38′43″W
Ocean/sea sources	Atlantic Ocean
Basin countries	Ireland
Islands	Coney, Oyster, Maguins
Settlements	Sligo, Rosses Point, Ballysadare, Drumcliff

Geography

Stony beach at Drumcliffe bay

Sligo Bay lies between Aughris Head (south side) and Roskeeragh Point (north).^[2] The inner part of the bay is divided into three smaller bodies of water, at the estuaries of three rivers: the Drumcliff, Garavogue and Bonet.^[3] The River Garavogue reaches the bay in its central part, Sligo Harbour, which is divided from the outer part of the bay by three small islands: Coney Island, Oyster Island, and Maguins Island. On the southern branch of Sligo Bay, the Ballisodare River has its estuary, near Ballysadare village.

Landforms and islands

The bay is characterised by the peninsulas jutting into it, which create large areas of sandy beach at low tide, along with the tidal islands which are only accessible at low tide. The notable landforms within the bay and its peninsulas are:

• Maugherow Peninsula
• Rosses Point Peninsula
• Coolera Peninsula
• Oyster Island
• Coney Island
• Maguins Island

History

Large beaches and tidal plains located around the bay are a good habitat for shellfish. This kind of food attracted settlers since the Stone Age, as demonstrated by a number of middens discovered in the area by archeologists.^[4]

The bay has seen several shipwrecks over the centuries. Quite well studied is the wreck of Labia (25 September 1588), a 728-ton Venetian ship.^[5] Shipwrecks became almost common during the following centuries^[6] but their number decreased with the decline of the port of Sligo in the 20th century.^{[citation needed]}

Transport

Sligo Airport is located on the bay's shore, near the foot of Knocknarea, a hill overlooking the peninsula between Sligo Harbour and Ballysadare Bay.

Lighthouses

There are four lighthouses in Sligo Bay.

Blackrock (Sligo) Lighthouse

The 25m high Blackrock lighthouse 54°18′28″N 8°37′4″W is notable for having external steps until halfway up the tower.^[7][8]

Lighthouses near Rosses Point

Further information: Rosses Point § Lighthouses

Sligo Bay hosts three lighthouses near Rosses Point: the Metal Man, Lower Rosses and Oyster Island lighthouses.

Touring

Sligo Bay is part of the Donegal to Mayo section of the Wild Atlantic Way.^[9]

Nature

Ballysadare Bay

Ballysadare Bay hosts a well known seal colony.^[10]

The estuaries area is protected under European legislation being listed as a NATURA 2000 site; it is also a Natural Heritage Area, defined and managed by the Irish National Parks & Wildlife Service.^[11]