Strandhill

---

title: "Strandhill" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["towns-and-villages-in-county-sligo", "beaches-of-county-sligo", "surfing-locations-in-ireland"] description: "Town in County Sligo, Ireland" topic_path: "geography/ireland" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strandhill" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Town in County Sligo, Ireland ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
name	Strandhill
native_name	ga
native_name_lang	ga
settlement_type	Town
image_skyline	Strandhill2.jpg
pushpin_map	Ireland
pushpin_label_position	left
pushpin_map_caption	Location in Ireland
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	Ireland
subdivision_type1	Province
subdivision_name1	Connacht
subdivision_type3	County
subdivision_name3	County Sligo
unit_pref	Metric
population_as_of	2022
population_footnotes
population_total	1982
coordinates
elevation_footnotes
elevation_m	62
blank_name	Irish Grid Reference
blank_info
area_code_type	Telephone area code
area_code	+353(0)71
postal_code_type	Eircode routing key
postal_code	F91
timezone	WET
utc_offset	±0
timezone_DST	IST
utc_offset_DST	+1
::

|name = Strandhill |native_name = ga |native_name_lang = ga |settlement_type = Town |image_skyline = Strandhill2.jpg |image_caption = |pushpin_map = Ireland |pushpin_label_position = left |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Ireland |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = Connacht |subdivision_type3 = County |subdivision_name3 = County Sligo |established_title = |established_date = |unit_pref = Metric |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = |population_as_of = 2022 |population_footnotes = |population_total = 1982 |coordinates = |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = 62 |blank_name = Irish Grid Reference |blank_info = |website = |footnotes = | area_code_type = Telephone area code | area_code = +353(0)71 | postal_code_type =Eircode routing key | postal_code =F91 |timezone = WET |utc_offset = ±0 |timezone_DST = IST |utc_offset_DST = +1

Strandhill or occasionally Larass () is a coastal town and townland on the Coolera Peninsula in County Sligo, Ireland. , the population was 1,982, an increase of 40% from the 2006 census. The old name appears to be Ros Dragnige (see Killaspugbrone).

History

It is suggested the development of Strandhill 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 £1,000, 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.The Coolera region was an important social and ritual center during the Neolithic period, 5,000 years ago (4,000-2,500 B.C.E). Around 3600 B.C.E,, people constructed the Carrowmore tombs. Many other tombs where constructed during this period, at least 60 megalithic tombs in the area. There was also a Neolithic court tomb beside the Airport road (R292) also dating back to this era and the iconic "Queen Maeve's grave" on the top of Knocknarea. Before the Strandhill village we know today was built, there was another, much older village where the Airport is today. The shifting sands of Strandhill slowly destroyed the village and buried it under the sand. The residents of this village migrated to the slopes of Knocknarea. The residents of this village eventually died off during the famine. The village was ironically named the "Deserted Village" which you can visit today.

Location

Strandhill is situated at the western base of Knocknarea on the Cúil Irra (Coolera) peninsula in Sligo Bay, 7 km west of the centre of Sligo town, and faces the Atlantic Ocean. 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, as well as walks.

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.

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 and lodges.

Recreation

Surfing

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Strandhill_Ireland.jpg" caption="Strandhill beach"] ::

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.

While Strandhill's beach is renowned for surfing, it is not safe for swimming. The nearby strand at Culleenamore is suitable for paddling.

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. Coolera/Strandhill GAA club involves Strandhill and the neighbouring parish of Ransboro, and also field a hurling team.

The local 18-hole golf course has been described as having "undulating fairways and unforgiving short cuts".

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 22 February 2016.

The Strandhill Peoples Market takes place at Sligo airport every Sunday. The market has stalls selling locally produced foods, textiles, and crafts. 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.

Annual events

The Culleenamore Races is an annual beach pony and horseracing event dating from the 1800s that takes place early in the summer

The Warriors Run, 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.

Notable residents

Westlife's Kian Egan and his wife, actress and model Jodi Albert, live in Strandhill with their children.

References

References

1. (August 2023). "Census 2022 – F1015 Population". [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland).
2. "An Leathros/Larass or Strandhill".
3. "Population and Percentage Change 2002 and 2006 - C0105 Population". [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland).
4. McTernan, John. (2014). "The Origins of Strandhill as a Seaside Resort". Ballymote Heritage Group.
5. "Surfing Hot Spots of Ireland".
6. McDonagh, Marese. "Fund to tackle Strandhill coastal erosion". The Irish Times.
7. "Surfing". Go Strandhill.
8. (2006-07-26). "Councils no swimming at Strandhill warning". Sligo champion.
9. "Culleenamore Beach, Strandhill". Sligo Tourism.
10. "Sligo RFC".
11. "Strandhill Golf Club". Golf Today.
12. (2016-03-05). "Strandhill sculpture is removed".
13. "Strandhill People's Market".
14. "Culleenamore". gostrandhill.
15. "Warriors Run Sligo, this is not just a marathon in Ireland or race this is a WARRIORS RUN, the sligo festival".
16. "Judge tells Westlife's Kian Egan 'raise wall up' to keep fans at bay". Belfast Telegraph.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::