Local History

Three of the boats of the Spanish Armada(1588), La Lavia, Juliania and Santa Maria de La Vision, were wrecked along the nearby coastline at Streedagh with the lost of over 1,500 lives. Divers have recovered canon and other artifacts from the wrecks and there are rumours of pieces of gold washed up on the beach!…

The building of St Molaise’s Catholic Church in Cliffoney was financed by Lord Palmerston, as part of his improving works in the area, along with local Catholic schools. The present day church as recently been refurbished. Among its notable features are three stained glass windows by Clarke Stained Glass Studios in Dublin. Cliffoney is part…

The village of Cliffoney itself was the first Sligo home of British Prime MinisterLord Palmerston where he resided at the Cliffoney Inn (now O’Donnell’s Bar) before building Classiebawn Castle at nearby Mullaghmore. Lord Palmerston’s grandfather had been granted the title of Viscount Palmerston on 12 March 1723 and was also made Baron Temple, of Mount…