But visitors to the county today will find there's a lot more besides the landscape to inspire them.

The county has undergone swift and radical changes since Sligo took on the mantle of Gateway to the NorthWest in 2004. Sligo town accounts for one-third of the county's population, with over 20,000 residents . . . swelling to 42,000 during the day . . . and benefits from being within easy reach of two airports, in Strandhill, just outside Sligo town, and Knock in Co Mayo.

As a result of its Gateway City status, the town has invested 500m in roads, telecommunications, education and retail shopping infrastructure. In spite of all the changes, Yeats' words ring true, and both city and county are very attractive to the visitor or potential resident. You'll also be spoilt for choice in the county: whether you're looking for hotels, golf courses, seaweed baths, surfing, sailing or Blue Flag beaches, they don't believe in doing things by half in Sligo.

"With the completion of the inner relief road in July and the installation of the broadband metropolitan area network, Sligo's accessibility is set to improve at all levels, " according to Rebecca Stevens, chief executive of Sligo Chamber of Commerce.

One of the most exciting recent developments for the town and surrounding counties is the news that Ireland has secured a place on the World Rally Championship (WRC), beginning in 2007. Though the details still have to be confirmed, Stevens says, hopes are high that, since Sligo was the starting point for the March event that secured Ireland's place, it will remain a hub for the future.

"It will be the biggest sporting event to be held in Ireland, and the knock-on for tourism in the area is phenomenal, " says Stevens. "The WRC attracts a global TV audience of more than 800 million people in almost 200 countries. According to research undertaken after the March event, Rally Ireland generated more than 6.7m to the country, with an average spend per person attending of over 110, and it created over 6,800 bed nights for the North West region."

Just as well, then, that Co Sligo has recently seen huge improvements in the number and quality of its hotels, the latest of which, the Ramada Silver Swan, is due to open in October. Other recent high-profile openings include the Castle Dargan Hotel and Golf Course, designed by leading golfer Darren Clarke.

"Tourism makes a huge contribution in sustaining jobs and prosperity for the region, and the Marketing Sligo Forum and Chamber of Commerce work hard at promoting Sligo as the Tourism Capital of the North West, " according to Sile Garrett-Haran, marketing officer at Marketing Sligo Forum.

"Sligo is the closest point on the west coast to Dublin, only 210km away, and it also has excellent bus, rail and air connections, . . . with Sligo Airport, serviced by Aer Arann, providing links to Dublin, and Knock Airport, which is just 30 minutes away, providing direct flights to the UK."

Co Sligo is a popular tourist destination, particularly with visitors from Northern Ireland and the UK, and has become one of Ireland's top sailing and surfing destinations. Rosses Point has long been a favourite and Strandhill has become a real favourite in recent years, with many sailing and surfing schools having opened there, according to Frances Kelly of Sligo Estates.

As a result, demand for good quality property is high and prices have risen.

Tax incentive schemes have helped increase supply, particularly around Enniscrone, and many people living in Sligo look for property in Dromahair, Co Leitrim, which has also had tax designation status.

With its rich cultural and literary tradition, Sligo is not only about the great outdoors. From its well-known musical tradition (think of the Coleman Irish Music Centre in Gurteen honouring the renowned fiddler Micheal Coleman; Dervish, one of Ireland's best contemporary trad acts; or the pop act Westlife) to thriving theatre venues such as The Hawk's Well and The Blue Raincoat Theatre Company's The Factory, there's plenty of indoor attractions, too.

Nor should we forget, of course, The Yeats Memorial Building and The Model Arts & Niland Gallery, which boasts one of the largest collections of paintings by Jack B Yeats, brother of WB who did so much to enhance Sligo's stature.

ENNISCRONE Distance from Dublin: 140 miles Key attractions: Enniscrone Golf Course, Waterpoint Aqua & Diamond leisure centres, surfing at Easkey.

Shopping and eating: Crockets on the Quay, Murphy's Bar and Restaurant, Quantro Bar and Restaurant Entertainment: Downhill Hotel, Mount Falcon Country Hotel, Castle Arms Hotel Average price of a holiday home:

Three-bed semis from 175,000.

Much of the new housing benefits from tax relief.

Famous for the traditional seaweed baths at Kilcullen, Enniscrone . . . on the border of Mayo and Sligo . . . has become a year-round getaway location, according to Frances Kelly of Sligo Estates.

The town, overlooking Killala Bay, boasts a number of key attractions, including 5km of Blue Flag sandy beach, a 27-hole golf course, as well as several spa/health resorts and numerous pubs, restaurant and cafes. House prices are much lower than in Mullaghmore, Strandhill or Sligo town, and Enniscrone is designated for tax breaks.

"The tax designation had a very big impact on housing in Enniscrone, but you can still find value for your money here, " says Garrett Loftus of Garret Loftus Property Partners.

"The increased supply [that came with designation] definitely brought more new people into the town, which has been a great improvement, but it also pushed up prices. A typical threebed that costs about 200,000 now would have been about 20,000 or 30,000 less than 20 years ago."

Property Partners Mulholland have a three-bed old-style house for 230,000 in Easkey, six miles from Enniscrone.

Closer to the town, the quiet village of Rathlee is another good location for those looking for property under 200,000. Moving inland, closer to Sligo, three-beds with tax relief can be found for around 165,000, according to Kelly.

With all the attractions of Ballina on its doorstep, local estate agents agree the rental market in Enniscrone is good.

Houses rent for 250 per week and upwards in July and August. Demand is also strong in December, as it's a popular location with people choosing to get away for Christmas, says Kelly. Longer term rentals achieve around 700 per month for a three-bed.

STRANDHILL Distance from Dublin: 135 miles Key attractions: Sligo Yacht Club, Castle Dargan Hotel and Golf Course, Lissadell House, Drumcliffe, The Model Arts and Niland Gallery, Celtic Seaweed Baths, Ben Bulben Shopping and eating: The Strand, The Countess Entertainment: Yeats Country Hotel, Spa and Leisure Centre, Sligo Park Hotel and Leisure Centre, Sligo Southern Hotel, The Radisson SAS Average price of a holiday home:

two-bed apartments starting from 250,000, three-beds from 350,000.

Almost a suburb of Sligo town at this point, Strandhill is a large residential area as well as being one of the top surfing locations in the North West. The town's transformation from an old-style seafront resort with slot machine arcades to sailing and surfing mecca, as well as a golf haven, has helped to make this a year-round destination.

Despite plenty of new housing developments, demand is strong and property prices are rising. A three-bed house in Strandhill costs around 350,000, according to Brendan Canning of McCarrick Real Estates. He is currently selling three-bed semis with sea views in Dorrins Strand, a new development, for 350,000 off the plans.

Close to Strandhill, Rosses Point is a very upmarket residential location, with new houses rarely built and some saying that locals have been priced out of the market. Property here is typically in the region of 700,000 and upwards. A four-bed house in the area recently sold for 900,000.

Those looking for value will find good choice and better prices around Collaney, Grange, Carney or even Dromahair in Co Leitrim, where a lot of new property has tax relief status.

"A lot of people from Sligo look for housing in Dromahair, which is under 15 miles away on Lough Gill, " says Kelly.

"You'll find a good, fully fitted out, fourbed detached house there for around 270,000, and a three-bed semi for under 200,000."

Dublin is just 40 minutes away with Aer Arann, and good road, rail and bus links makes this a very popular location with young professionals from Dublin, according to estate agents. Holiday rentals start around 250 per week, rising to 350 at the height of the season.

MULLAGHMORE Distance from Dublin: 145 miles Key attractions: Mullaghmore Sailing Club and Centre, Blue Flag beach, Inishmurray monastic site Shopping and eating: Eithna's Restaurant Entertainment: Beach Hotel and Leisure Centre, Pier Head Hotel Average price of a holiday home:

detached bungalows 400,000 A lovely little fishing harbour to the north of the county, Mullaghmore attracts a mix of tourists particularly from the North and Britain, as well as people from Dublin. In fact, the village is so popular that it's not unheard of for locals to decamp during the summer in order to rent out their own houses.

Close to Bundoran, on the southern end of Donegal, the village boasts good hotels, holiday homes, leisure facilities, a Blue Flag beach, golf courses and sailing clubs. With planning permission severely restricted new homes rarely come on the market, so demand is high.

Detached bungalows in the Mullaghmore area start from around 400,000, according to Frances Kelly of Sligo Estates, but you're likely to find more choice and better prices in Cliffoney, a few miles down the road where threebed semis start at around 240,000.

Grange, around halfway between Mullaghmore and Sligo town, and close to the beach at Streedagh Point, offers good quality housing. Prices there start at 350,000 for a detached house and about 250,000 for a semi-detached. Grange has become a popular location for commuters from Sligo, as have Ballinful and Muninane, where prices start around 250,000.

Average rental in Mullaghmore is around 350 per week in high season and around 250 for the rest of the year.