Streedagh Beach

Streedagh Strand is 3km long crescent of sand running between Streedagh Point and Connors Island.

Behind the beach are dunes and then a large lagoon formed by the estuary of the Grange river which can be a a good spot for birding. What you can’t miss, wherever you are on the beach is the hulking form of Benbulbin in the distance.

People come to Streedagh for a variety of reasons. Many cone for a bracing walk while others come to surf. The beach won’t disappoint on either count as it faces directly into the Atlantic weather.

Streedagh Strand is also a place with a history. In 1588 it was the site of a triple shipwreck when ships fleeing home from the Spanish Armada were caught in a ferocious storm. The La Lavia, La Juliana, and the Santa Maria de Visón all ended up on the Streedagh shore along with a number of survivors. However, their luck was short lived and the majority were killed by British and Irish soldiers.

Now there is a shipwreck visible at low tide at Streedagh, but this is not one of the Spanish galleons. Known locally as the “Butter Boat” this ship went down in 1770. 

The rocky headland at the southern end of the beach is the site of some more ancient history. The limestone rocks are home to an amazing array of fossils. Dating back 300 million years, when Sligo was tropical (!), these include prehistoric coral and a variety of small sea creatures.