Megalithic Monuments of Ireland

County Sligo, 'Contae Shligigh', is named after the town of Sligo, 'Sligeach' meaning 'Place of the Shells'.According to the ancient mythology of the Ulster cycle, the cairn on top of Knocknarea Mountain on the Cúil Irra Peninsula, is said to be the final resting place of Queen Maeve, 'Medb', ancient warrior Queen of Connacht. Human habitation in the county dates back over 7,000 years, as pre-historic shell middens litter the coastline and the megalithic cemeteries of Carrowmore and Carrowkeel that date to 5,000 BC.