SLIGO, Ireland, the chief town of the county of Sligo, a market and seaport town, a parliamentary borongh, and the seat of n Poor Law Union, is situated near the mouth of the river Garvogue or Oarrogue, in 54* 22' N. Int., 8' 22' W. long., distant 131 miles N.W. from Dublin by road. The borough Is governed by 6 aldermen and 18 councillors, one of whom is mayor; and returns one member to the Imperial Parliament. The population in 1851 was 11,104, besides 2216 in the Union workhouse. Sligo Poor-Law Union comprises 29 electoral divisions, with an area of 149,523 acres, and a population in 1851 of 68,565.
Sligo appears to have owed its importance to it castle and a monas tery for Dominican friars, built here in the 13th century, by Maurice Fitzgerald, earl of Kildare, and at that time lord justice of Ireland. The town suffered repeated injuries from fire, and from the hostilities between the English end the native Irish. In the reign of James I. it received a grant of a market and two fairs, and was incorporated and made a parliamentary borough, In the civil war of James II. the town wee taken by the Enniakilleners, oho, after repelling one attack, were driven out by the Jacobites under Sarsfield; it was again occupied by the Protestants under Lord Grannrd.
The river, in passing through the town, changes its course from west to north and north-west, and in crossed by two bridges, the old bridge below the bend, and the new bridge above it. The town is situated partly within the bend of the river, but chiefly along its left bank. The houses are well-built, and many aro handsome. The parish church of St. John is an ancient cruciform structure, with a massive square tower at the west end. Calry parish church is a modern gothic building, with a well-proportioned spire. There are a Roman Catholio chapel ; a small Dominican friary, with a neat chapel attached ; an Urenline convent, and a convent of tho Sisters of Mercy ; a Presbyterian, an Independent, and two 31ethodiat meeting houses ; and several schools. The other public buildings are, the
county court-house and jail, the customhouse, linen-hal), a large butter-market, the Union workhouse, a new constabulary barrack, and a !email! asylum ; and in an lnelosure near Calry church, the fever hospital. infirmary, and dispensary. There is a parings bank iu the town. The manufacture of linen is carried on ; and there are soap rope-walks, flour-mills, breweries, and a distillery. Ths river has an important salmon fishery. The port of Sligo is under the control of town and harbour commissioners, elected for life, who have much improved the harbour. The export. are chiefly of corn, meal, flour, butter, provisions, and linen-yarn ; and the imports are West India produce, tobacco, refined sugar, tea, British spirits, wine, flaxseed, tallow, glass and earthenware, coals, iron, timber, and salt. In 1853 there were registered as belonging to the port, 13 vessels under 50 tons, and 19 of 50 tons and upwards, with an aggregate tonnage of 4140 tons ; also two steamers of 111 tons. During 1853 there entered the port 204 sailing-veesels of 20,077 tons, and 177 ,team-vessela of 24,684 tons; and there cleared 158 sailing-vessels of 15,443 tons, and 73 steam-vessels of 24,419 tons. The assizes for the county, and quarter and petty sessions, are held in the town. Fairs are held March 27th, May 7th, July 4th, August 11th, and October 9th. Tuesday and Saturday are the market-days. Steamers ply regularly between Sligo and Glasgow. In a part of the town, belonging to Lord Palmerston, are some ruins of the ancient monastery.