Strandhill
| Strandhill Gaelic: an Leathros | |
| County Sligo | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | G613360 |
| Location: | 54°16’19"N, 8°35’36"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,596 (2011[1]) |
| Post town: | Strandhill |
| Postcode: | F91 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Sligo |
Strandhill or occasionally Larass is the largest coastal village and townland in County Sligo.[2] The name Larass is derived from the Irish an Leathros.[3]The old name appears to be Ros Dragnige (see Killaspugbrone).
Location
Strandhill is situated at the western base of Knocknarea on the Coolera peninsula in Sligo Bay, five miles west of the county town, Sligo, 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.[4]
Surrounding area
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.[5]
Amenities
Standhill has a caravan park, pubs, restaurants/cafes, St Asicus National School, St Patrick's Church, St Anne's 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.
Surfing
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.[4][6]
Sport
Strandhill has an association football club named Strand Celtic and Sligo Rugby Football Club is based in Hamilton Park, where tag rugby is also played.[7] 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[8]
Beach
Strandhill has a renowned beach for surfing, but is it not safe for swimming.[9] The nearby strand at Culleenamore is suitable for paddling.[10]
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[11]
Annual Events
- The Culleenamore Races is an annual beach pony and horseracing event dating from the 1800's that takes place early in the summer[12]
- The Warriors Run,[13] 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 centre.
References
- ↑ "Population Classified by Area". Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Apr 2012. p. 50. http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/census2011vol1andprofile1/Census_2011_-_Population_Classified_by_Area.pdf. Retrieved 25 Dec 2016.
- ↑ Welcome to Strandhill
- ↑ Placenames Database of Ireland
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Surfing hot spots of Ireland
- ↑ Fund to tackle Strandhill coastal erosion, Irish Times November 20th, 2012'
- ↑ "Surfing". Go Strandhill. http://gostrandhill.com/explore/surfing/. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ Sligo RFC
- ↑ "Strandhill Golf Club". Golf Today. http://www.golftoday.co.uk/clubhouse/coursedir/ireland/County_Sligo/strandhill.html. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Councils no swimming at Strandhill warning". Sligo champion. 2006-07-26. http://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/news/councils-no-swimming-at-strandhill-warning-27527888.html. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Culleenamore Beach, Strandhill". Sligo Tourism. http://www.sligotourism.ie/page/culleenamore-beach-strandhill. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Strandhill sculpture is removed". 2016-03-05. http://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/news/strandhill-sculpture-is-removed-34497862.html. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Culleenamore". gostrandhill. http://gostrandhill.com/explore/history/culleenamore/. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ http://www.warriorsfestival.com/
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Strandhill) |