Strandhill

Strandhill
an Leathros
Town
Strandhill
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 54°16′19″N 8°35′36″W / 54.2719°N 8.5933°W / 54.2719; -8.5933Coordinates: 54°16′19″N 8°35′36″W / 54.2719°N 8.5933°W / 54.2719; -8.5933
Country Ireland
Province Connacht
County County Sligo
Elevation 62 m (203 ft)
Population (2016)[1]
 • Total 1,753
Time zone UTC+0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid Reference G613360

Strandhill or occasionally Larass (Irish: an Leathros)[2] is the largest coastal village and townland in County Sligo, Ireland.[3] As of 2016, the population was 1,753,[1] an increase of 10% from the 2011 Census.[4] The old name appears to be Ros Dragnige (see Killaspugbrone).

History

It is suggested the development of Standhill can be attributed to a Benjamin Murrow who purchased the undeveloped land from the upper road in 1895 for £1,760. He constructed a roadway to the sea for £1000, and offered plots either side of the roadway, which he named Buenos Ayres Drive. In 1912 he constructed a bathhouse to attract visitors. Buenos Ayres drive was conveyed into public ownership in 1928, and the strip of land to the shore in 1936.[5]

Location

Strandhill is situated at the western base of Knocknarea on the Cúil Irra (Coolera) peninsula in Sligo Bay, 5 miles west of Sligo town, and is Atlantic facing. Although the main part of the village lies within the townland of Strandhill, it also extends into the townlands of Killaspugbrone and Carrowbunnaun. The area is well known for surfing.[6]

Surrounding Area

Strandhill beach

Strandhill's surrounding areas include the mountain of Knocknarea, Coney Island, Culleenamore beach, and Dorrins Strand. Much of the terrain consists of marram – covered dunes, and the local council has had to undertake various measures throughout the years to combat coastal erosion.[7]

Amenities

Strandhill has a caravan park, pubs, restaurants/cafes, St Asicus National School, St Patrick's Church, St Annes Church of Ireland and the Strandhill surgery. The village has multiple hostels, the Ocean Wave Lodge, The Dunes Tavern and SurfnStay Lodge and Hostel. There is also the Strandhill Lodge and Suites, awarded by Tripadvisor as the third best hotel in Ireland and 13th in the world.

Surfing

Strandhill

Strandhill is a vast beach break capable of holding huge waves in the right conditions. Surfing is usually best when the tide is on the push in from mid to high tide. At low tide only a big swell will provide a decent wave, whilst at high tide the waves tend to rebound off the promenade, reducing the power and form closer to shore. This rebound effect at high tide can also make for unusual currents or rips with large erratic barrelling waves that slam against the rocks.[6][8]

Sport

Strandhill has a soccer club named Strand Celtic and Sligo Rugby Football Club is based in Hamilton Park, where tag rugby is also played.[9] Coolera/Strandhill GAA club involves Strandhill and the neighbouring parish of Ransboro, and also field a hurling team.

The golf course is sometimes described as an 18-hole course with undulating fairways and unforgiving short cuts but nevertheless a gem of a course[10]

Beach

Strandhill has a renowned beach for surfing, but is it not safe for swimming.[11] The nearby strand at Culleenamore is suitable for paddling.[12]

Seaweed Baths

The resort has a Seaweed bath house for wellbeing.

Places of interest

  • Dolly's Cottage, a 200-year-old traditional thatched cottage, is open to the public.
  • The Klaus Gundchen sculpture on a plinth at the entrance to the beach was removed by the council on February 22, 2016[13]

·The Strandhill Peoples Market takes place at Sligo airport every Sunday from 11-4 pm in Hangar 1 . The market has an abundance os stalls selling an array of locally produced foods, textiles, crafts and there is even a busking corner where local musicians can showcase their talent. . It has been nominated for the best new business in sligo leader business awards 2015 and also nominated for the best start up in the IBYE awards.[14]

Annual Events

  • The Culleenamore Races is an annual beach pony and horseracing event dating from the 1800s that takes place early in the summer[15]
  • The Warriors Run,[16] a 15k race held annually since 1985, takes participants from the beach front in Strandhill around and then up the nearby Knocknarea mountain, to the cairn at the top, and back again, as music and festivities takes over the town.
  • The annual Strandhill Guitar Festival is held in late September.

Transport

  • Strandhill is the site of Sligo Airport, which opened in 1983.
  • There is a regular bus service to Sligo town.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Settlements Strandhill". Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  2. ↑ Placenames Database of Ireland
  3. ↑ Welcome to Strandhill
  4. ↑ "Population Classified by Area" (PDF). Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Apr 2012. p. 50. Retrieved 25 Dec 2016.
  5. ↑ McTernan, John (2014). "The Origins of Strandhill as a Seaside Resort" (PDF). The Corran Herald. Ballymote Heritage Group (46): 85. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  6. 1 2 Surfing hot spots of Ireland
  7. ↑ Fund to tackle Strandhill coastal erosion, Irish Times November 20th, 2012'
  8. ↑ "Surfing". Go Strandhill. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  9. ↑ Sligo RFC
  10. ↑ "Strandhill Golf Club". Golf Today. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  11. ↑ "Councils no swimming at Strandhill warning". Sligo champion. 2006-07-26. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  12. ↑ "Culleenamore Beach, Strandhill". Sligo Tourism. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  13. ↑ "Strandhill sculpture is removed". 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  14. ↑ WWW.Strandhillpeoplesmarket.ie
  15. ↑ "Culleenamore". gostrandhill. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  16. ↑ http://www.warriorsfestival.com/
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