These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
An Leathros· Irish · main form · validated name
Strandhill· English · main form
Place & story
People & connections
Dolly Higgins's house preserved
Dolly's Cottage takes its name from Dolly Higgins, its last resident. After her death in 1970, the Strandhill Guild of the Irish Countrywomen's Association bought the house to preserve it. The building's low proportions, whitewashed walls, small sash windows and thatched roof retain the character of a traditional coastal dwelling. Its stone flagstones and projecting rear nook add detail to a building whose survival depended on a local women's organisation recognising its value.[2]
Visitors before the surfing village
Strandhill developed visitor accommodation in the later nineteenth century. William Parke operated a hotel on the upper road, and an advertisement in March 1890 promoted it as a seaside destination attracting increasing numbers of guests. The Ocean View later operated as a guesthouse. Michael Bree opened the Strandhill Hotel in 1887, while Charles Cole established the premises subsequently known as the Venue in 1880. These businesses place seaside tourism well before the village's modern surfing reputation.[3]
From grass strip to regional airport
Sligo Airport Company was formed in 1974 to develop a rented grass airstrip at Strandhill for private flying and training. A regional-airport initiative followed in 1981, with a paved runway and access road. The terminal was completed in 1983, and Avair began a twice-daily Dublin service that July. Later airlines continued the route in different periods. This aviation history added a new transport role to the Atlantic shore, connecting the coastal village with business and tourism across the region.[4]
Both counts use the 2016 settlement boundary, allowing like-for-like comparison. CSO supplies the 2022 count on this older boundary for comparison only. The official 2022 Built Up Area has different boundaries.
View population figures
Strandhill — Census 2016 settlement footprint — census population
These are the historical areas published in the 2006 census report. Boundaries may differ between censuses and from modern settlements. Legal towns, environs and suburbs are shown separately; none has been combined into a modern settlement total.
View population figures
Strandhill, Sligo — Census town, CSO 2006 report — census population
These are the historical areas published in the 1996 census report. Boundaries may differ between censuses and from modern settlements. Legal towns, environs and suburbs are shown separately; none has been combined into a modern settlement total.
View population figures
Strandhill, Sligo — Census town, CSO 1996 report — census population
Figures cover the historical town area printed in the 1986 report. Boundaries may have changed between censuses. Legal town, environs and suburb totals remain separate and differ from modern settlement boundaries.
View population figures
Strandhill, Sligo — Census town, CSO 1986 report — census population
These figures use different area definitions. Read the boundary note before comparing them.
Strandhill, Sligo
Published census settlement populations
1,753people · 2016
Settlement boundaries changed during this period. Differences may reflect boundary changes as well as population change. Where a 2011 legal-town-and-environs count is shown, it has not been recalculated onto the 2016 settlement boundary.
Maeve's Cairn on Knocknarea above Strandhill, County Sligo illustration: based on a Maeve's Cairn on Knocknarea above Strandhill by Colin Park. AI-assisted watercolour and ink adaptation; cream paper margins added, incidental clutter omitted and fine details simplified. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.
placenames