County Sligo Overview

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Sligo is a coastal county in the province of Connaught covering an area of 183,710 hectares (453,948) acres). The population in 2006 was approximately 60,000 with approximately 18,000 living within the Borough of Sligo. The population of the county increased by 4.26% between 1996 and 2002.

Sligo is the capital of the North-West region and one of Ireland's largest towns. Its population accounts for almost one-third of that of the county, and because of its status as a regional growth centre and gateway to the North-West, its daily populations expands to over 42,000.

Estimates for future population levels proposed in the draft development plan for County Sligo estimate that the population is likely to grow from 58,200 in the 2002 census to between 65,000 & 75,000 people by 2011. The Sligo City and Environs Plan suggests that the population of the borough and environs will need to increase from existing levels of approximately 18,500 to a level between 50,000 and 80,000 people over the next 20-30 years if the city is to achieve the critical mass required to realise the ambition of a gateway city. Clearly, such increases in population will be a significant factor in the development of Sligo over the period of this plan and on into the future.

Sligo is an historic, cultural, commercial, industrial, retail and service centre of regional importance. Served by a regional airport and established rail, port and road links, Sligo town exerts significant influence on its immediate hinterland. This hinterland comprising the county of Sligo and beyond is essentially rural in character. The rural hinterland is characterised by relatively small towns and villages providing local commercial, retail and support services with sparsely populated environs depending largely on agriculture and tourism related business.