Distance markers to be put on Sligo Way
THE Sligo Way is a walking route which begins at Lough Talt in south Co. Sligo and ends at Dromahair, Co. Leitrim, taking in some breathtaking views along the way at places such as Union Rock, Slieve Daeane and Lough Gill.
In the coming months a number of specially commissioned distance markers will be erected along a section of the Way, from Slish Wood to Dromahair, probably the most visually spectacular part of the walk, taking in as it does views of the Lake Isle of Innisfree, Church Island, and across towards Parke’s Castle.
A keen walker herself, sculptor Martha Quinn often walks sections of the Sligo Way, and when she was asked to develop waymarkers along the route, first of all, she travelled along the entire 80km route as part of the creative process.
Many months on, she now finds herself coming towards the end of the project and recently she took time out at her workshop near Riverstown to speak with Sligo Walks about the work in hand and how the scenery along the Sligo Way provided her with the inspiration for this project.
“It does take you through the most beautiful parts of the countryside. One of the things I really appreciate about it is the variety of that countryside. As a walker, you see things from a completely different pace, a completely different angle. And the particular path that was chosen for the Sligo Way is a real treat for anyone who wants to see Sligo’s landscape in all of its forms,” she says.
Eight carved limestone waymarkers will be placed at intervals along the path, beginning at the entrance to Slish Wood and continuing at kilometre intervals along the route as far as Dromohair, where the Sligo Way ends.
Each marker will have its own individual pattern designed on it, featuring the leaves of various trees which are found along the way, such as oak, ash, hawthorn and holly, and Martha has also engraved an image of a hare in each. The hare has for centuries been part of the Sligo crest, and, in the same way as Glendalough has helped identify the Wicklow Way, and the shell has become the symbol for the Camino in Spain, the hare will now become an identifiable element of the Sligo Way.
“The hare just seemed to be a natural fit, it’s just that feeling of movement, it has that natural feeling of speed and covering distance, and it’s a very graceful and curious animal. The hare also has been an emblem in the crest of Sligo – the hare and the shell – and that was another key factor in choosing it.”
The final touches are being put to the waymarkers, and following completion, they will be located along the route at intervals, hopefully in time for the Easter break towards the end of March. Then, it’s expected that this section of the walk will be officially launched with a family walking day, which will include some surprises along the way for the younger walkers in particular to enjoy.
This work has been done in conjunction with Coillte, who are facilitating the positioning of the markers, and with Sligo County Council, who have funded the initiative from DRDC.
For more on walking in Sligo visit SligoWalks.ie.