Surfing Sligo
Poetry and Sand
County Sligo—with its exposed bluffs, rolling mountains, and miles of empty shoreline—is as wild as Ireland gets. Like the whole country, the northwestern corner is rife with history, in addition to beauty, and Sligo takes particular pride in its William Butler Yeats heritage. Find the poet's inspiration around Sligo Town, from famous Innisfree to Glencar Lake, inspiration for "The Stolen Child," published in 1886. Discover Sligo (011-353-71-91-474-88, www.discoversligo.com) charges $27 for a half-day tour. When you're Yeats'd out, hit the beach breaks at Strandhill Beach, frequent host of the national surfing championships. The Perfect Day Surf School (011-353-71-91-28488, www.perfectdaysurfing.com) offers two-hour beginner or advanced lessons for $40.
