Growth of Sligo

What do you think were the causes of Sligo becoming a centre of population?

If you examine this aerial map, you will see how a number of factors led to people settling in this region.

Sligo Town - aerial photograph
Copyright Ordnance Survey Ireland.


If you examine this aerial map, you will see how a number of factors led to people settling in this region. Can you see the natural features which would have led to the growth of a town? Can you see the natural harbour, the mouth of a river and the fertile hinterland?

  • Natural harbour
  • Mouth of a river
  • Fertile hinterland

Sligo's Population

In 2016, 65,535 people were recorded as living in County Sligo. Of this nearly 19,199 people live in Sligo Town. What fraction of the population of Sligo is that?

Most of County Sligo is very rural with only two towns with a population over 1,000.

Sligo Town

Aerial photographs are usually either vertical, with the camera pointing directly down or oblique which means that the camera is looking across and down. Look at this aerial photograph of Sligo town below.


Click here

Aerial Photograph question and answer form.

Print out this form and answer the questions. To print press 'Ctrl' and 'P' at the same time on your keypad.

  and print out the page to answer the questions.

..............................................................Aerial Image of Sligo


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