Located 26 miles from Sligo Town, on the R297 regional road, Easkey is a delightful unspoilt coastal village, which derives its name from the Gaelic word for fish ('iasc'). The village name in Gaelic 'Iascaigh' means "abounding in fish," referring to the Easkey River that lies adjacent to the village.

Tourist Attractions

Easkey is a popular destination for tourists interested in water sports and it is one of Europe's premier surfing locations. Easkey boasts some beautiful coastal scenery and many walking routes through the local woods and around the river estuary and coastline, with wonderful views of the Slieve League and Benbulben mountains. Easkey is noted for its fossiled shoreline dating back millions of years and geologists, archaeologists and historians have become increasingly interested in its rugged coastline.

Fishing in Easkey

Easkey and surrounding hinterland is one of Ireland's top angling destinations and offers first class sea angling as well as coarse fishing.

Easkey village lies at the mouth of the River Easkey, a spate (fast flowing) river of approx 12 miles, well known for its salmon and brown trout fishing. The river rises in Lough Easkey in the Ox Mountains, flowing north through bogland and rough pastureland, continuing beneath the N59 Sligo to Ballina road, at Workhouse Bridge, before flowing past the village into the ocean.

The best methods for fishing the Easkey River are worm, spinning and fly-fishing - no shrimps or prawns allowed. Best fishing months are July, August and September. A state license is required for salmon and sea trout.

Fishing from Easkey pier and coastline is very popular with the main catches from here including pollock, coalfish, mackerel, wrasse, dogfish and congor-eel. The best fishing methods are spinning and baitfish; best fishing months are July, August and September. No licence is required.

Fishermen from many parts of Ireland and beyond are attracted to fishing in Easkey. Former Republic of Ireland football manager, Jack Charlton, has been known to fish the Easkey river as has acclaimed actor Sean Connery.