Drumcliff: High Cross, Yeats’ Grave and Benbulben

Drumcliff lies at the foot of Benbulben and is especially known as a place to visit for its early medieval heritage and connection to W. B. Yeats. At the cemetery, you’ll find Drumcliff High Cross and the Round Tower; St Columba’s Church adds to this historic focus. If you’re planning a stay, these different sites give you a concrete sense of what makes Drumcliff distinctive.

High Cross and Round Tower

Drumcliff Round Tower dates from the 11th century. It is a state-owned National Monument and is under the care of the Office of Public Works. Drumcliff High Cross stands in the cemetery opposite the tower and is fully intact. It is made of sandstone and measures 3.83 metres. Its distinctive depiction shows the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus; it is the only known high cross in Ireland with this motif.

The two structures offer different points of interest for visitors: the Round Tower stands out for its date and protected status, while the High Cross is notable for its intact form, material and unusual scene. John Yeats re-erected the cross during his time as rector of Drumcliffe, from 1811 to 1842. Its present-day appearance is therefore also connected to a specific chapter in the town’s later history.

St Columba’s Church and W. B. Yeats

St Columba’s Church was built in 1809 and is still in use. A mural painted in 1895 is on its east wall. The church walls also contain remains of ancient high stone crosses found on the early medieval monastic site. These traces point to a history of the place that predates the present church.

The grave of Irish poet W. B. Yeats lies in the cemetery next to the church’s entrance door. Drumcliff is his place of burial. The church is also associated with annual nativity scenes and harvest festivals. If you’d like to include one of these events in your travel plans, check the dates in advance.

Explore the grounds at your own pace

Visitors can explore the grounds at Drumcliffe at their own pace. The audio guide complements the tour with local voices and personal insights into religion, legends, literature, W. B. Yeats and culture. It is available in English, French, German, Polish, Italian, Spanish and Mandarin; a map of the grounds is also included with the audio guide. Before your trip, check which languages are currently available and whether the map is still included.

The audio guide’s topics go beyond the visible structures: it covers religious traditions and legends as well as literature and Yeats. This lets you tailor your visit to the aspects that interest you most and explore each site at your own pace. Its varied themes also make the tour engaging for visitors who come to Drumcliff primarily for its history, the poet or its religious heritage.

Location and planning your visit

Drumcliffe Cemetery is on the main road between Sligo and Donegal. Access to the Round Tower is via a busy main road; take this into account when planning your visit. The monastic site is about a ten-minute drive from Sligo Town. Actual journey time may vary depending on traffic. It is therefore advisable to check your route and current conditions in advance.

Discover more destinations: Collooney, Derry, Ballinphull, Lavagh, Strandhill, Riverstown, Inishcrone, Carney.

Go to the county travel overview: County Sligo.