History in Sligo: The Garavogue River

More than a Just a Name

The Garavogue is a river located in County Sligo, Ireland. Flowing from Lough Gill, it winds its way through Sligo town and into Sligo Bay. The name, Garavogue, comes from the Irish "garbh óg" meaning "young rough thing".

Figure 1 Garavogue River, Sligo, Ireland

Sligo's name translated from the Irish word “Sligeach”  is said to mean, 'the Place of Shells' or ‘Shelly Place’ This  name may come from the fact that; once, there was an abundance of shellfish found in the river and estuary - the river was also called the Sligeach (now called the Garavogue River).

Although reference is made to the place, Sligeach, from as early as 537 A.D., it is generally acknowledged that these references are to the river that flows into Sligo Bay and the surrounding area, not the town itself. (Ó'Muraíle, 2011)

Prehistoric significance

According to Sam Moore, an Archaeologist based in Dromahair in Co. Leitrim; the Garavogue River was of great significance to the people of the region both historically and pre-historically. It has been commented that the area where the river narrows near the entrance of Doorley Park was used for fording [1] the river. This is the narrowest point on the river Garavogue; it goes from nearly 200 meters wide across upstream, to about 42 meters across at the area commonly known as Buckley’s Ford. (Outlined in red below)

Figure 2 Buckley's Ford (roughly outlined in red) & Dolmen

This Location in Abbeyquarter North was marked by a dolmen[2] thousands of years ago to notify travelers of the fording point on the river. It was also said to be part of a ‘ritualized avenue’, bringing you to the holiest of holy ‘Tomb 51’, the centerpiece of Carrowmore, Sligo’s Ancient Megalithic passage tomb complex. (Mackey, 2011)

Figure 3 Carrowmore 'Tomb 51'

The dolmen at Abbeyquarter North is amazingly situated on a roundabout in a housing estate named Garavogue Villas in the center of Sligo Town. The tomb is the same type of boulder circle seen not too far away at Carrowmore with an original cruciform shaped chamber at the center. During the last century, the Catholic Church tried to have the monument removed, but because of local fear (the monument is also known as Garavogue fairy fort) nobody would help remove the tomb. The Catholic Church erected several statues on the roundabout during 1954, the year of the assumption. Consequently, there is now a rather odd-looking monument on the site (pictured below). If visiting the area, it is recommended that one visit this unique megalithic site. (Megalithic Ireland , 2011)

Figure 4 Garavogue Villas Roundabout

It is clear from the research that the Garvogue River is soaked in a rich and vast history. The river has been a significant gateway route between Ulster and Connacht for many generations, and additionally a great resource for the growth and continued development of Sligo Town. 

[1] A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle
[2] dolmen; noun; a simple prehistoric monument consisting of a large flat stone supported by several vertical stones.

References

• Mackey, C., 2011. Rivercites. [Online] Available at: http://www.christinemackey.com/downloads/Rivercites.pdf [Accessed 19 11 2011].
• Megalithic Ireland , 2011. Abbyquarter North. [Online] Available at: http://www.megalithicireland.com/ [Accessed 2 11 2011].
• Ó'Muraíle, D. N., 2011. Origins of Sligo. [Online] Available at: http://www.sligoheritage.com/archsligeach.htm [Accessed 2 11 2011].