SLIGO, a maritime co. of the province of Connaught, Ireland, bounded on the n. by the Atlantic and the bay of Donegal, s. by Roscommon and Mayo, e. by Roscommon and Leitrim, and w. by Mayo. It is 41 m. from e. to w., and 38 from D. to S.; the total area is 461,790 acres, of which about 320,000 arc under tillage or iu pasture, and 140,000 uncultivated. The pop. in 1861 was 124,84i; in 1871, 115,493, of whom 104,429 were Roman Catholics, 9,1S5 Protestaut Episcopalians, and the rest of other denomina tions. The coast-line is indented with numerous bays, and except in the bay of Sligo, dangerous for navigation. The surface rises gradually from the coast eastward as far as an elevated range called Slieve Gamph and the Ox mountains, the highest point of which rises to 1800 feet. Sligo contains comparatively few and unimportant lakes, but some of these, however, are extremely picturesque, especially lough Arrow and lough Gill. Only three of its streams are navigable—the Moy, the Oweninore, and the Garrogue, and they are all inconsiderable. The couuty is traversed by a railway, which is a branch et the Midland Great Western, and ,connects the county town of Sligo (q.v.) with Dublin. The mineral products of the county, although not very rich, are various, and consist of copper, lead, iron, and manganese. The climate is variable, and although rain is fre quent, it is, on the whole, mild and healthy. The soil in the n. is mossy and sandy, both being occasionally intermixed, and at times alternating with a gravelly loam. The plain of Sligo is a deep rich loam; and in the southern portion of the county are found large tracts of corn-land and pasturage. The occupations of the people are mainly agricultural,
and until some years back, they were chiefly engaged in tillage; but the land is now chiefly used for pasturage. The number of acres under crops of all kinds in the year 1877 was 89,231. The cattle in that year numbered 93,295; sheep, 59,404; and pigs, 25,932. The number of holdings ten years before 1852 had been 13,992, which is now somewhat reduced. The extent of coast-line has led a considerable number of the popu lation to engage, at least partially and occasionally, in fishing. The Sligo fishery district comprises 112 in. of coast, and kept engaged in 1876, 159 registered vessels, employing 650 men and 38 boys. The principal towns are Sligo (q.v.), Ardnaree, and Tobercurry. The number of primary schools in the county in 1871 was 206; superior schools, 12. In 1875 there was, at the national schools, an attendance of 22,345 pupils, of whom 20,978 were Catholics.
Sligo was anciently the scat of the O'Connors, and was the scene of many conflicts between the several branches of that family. The domestic feuds of the O'Connors were among the causes which facilitated the first inroads of the Anglo-Normans. The district contains many remains both of the Celtic and of the Anglo-Norman period. Of the former, there is one very interesting called the Giant's Cairn, near Sligo; and there are many raths, cromlechs, and ancient caverns. The county of Sligo sends two members to the imperial parliament.