Lissadell House

Lissadell House is a Greek Revival mansion on the shore of Sligo Bay, completed in 1835 for Sir Robert Gore-Booth. It is principally known for two things: its association with W.B. Yeats, who visited frequently as a young man and wrote the line "The light of evening, Lissadell, great windows open to the south" — and as the childhood home of Constance Gore-Booth, who became Constance Markievicz after her marriage, was sentenced to death (later commuted) for her role in the 1916 Rising, was the first woman elected to the British Parliament (1918), and became Ireland's first female cabinet minister under Éamon de Valera.

The house fell into severe disrepair through the late 20th century after the last family member died; it was bought in 2003 by Eddie Walsh and Constance Cassidy, who undertook a major restoration. The guided tour covers the main rooms, the Gore-Booth family history, Constance Markievicz's extraordinary political life, and Yeats's connection with the house. The dining room and conservatory retain original fittings.

The setting on the shore of Drumcliff Bay is remarkable: the house faces south across the bay to Benbulben and across to Knocknarea on the far side. The formal gardens, restored kitchen garden and the wildflower meadows in the estate grounds are freely walkable. Lissadell is 10 km from Drumcliff (where Yeats is buried) and 15 km from Sligo town — the three together form a natural Yeats country circuit.