N15

N15

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From:

Sligo (G689367)

To:

Lifford (H329983)

Length:

111.2 km (69.1 miles)

Meets:

N4, N16, N3, N56, N13, N14

Primary Destinations

Ballyshannon • Donegal • Letterkenny • Lifford • Sligo • Strabane • Stranorlar •

Highways Authorities

National Roads Authority

Traditional Counties

Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo

Route outline (key)

N15

Sligo – Lifford

Route

The N15 is a fantastic road, rejoicing in many recent upgrades which serves the north west of Ireland, following the coast to start with and then crossing County Donegal to Lifford on the border.

Section 1: Sligo - Donegal

We start our journey in Sligo, with a traffic-light junction where three N roads terminate. The N4 heads South East to Dublin, the N16 heads east, to become the A4 on it's way to Enniskillen, and our road, the N15 heads north. Almost immediately, the R291 turns off to the left, running out to Rosses Point.

We are heading almost due north, with the characteristic Irish 'slow lanes' on the outside which are used to allow overtaking. A large loop bypasses Tully Hill, and then the road turns north west to Drumcliff. Just north of the village, a maze of roads lead out along the headland, and if you are lucky you will find your way to Lissadell House, a rather splendid Georgian place. We then pass through several villages, the road occasionally narrowing, as we pick up the coast and turn northeastwards. At Cliffony the R279 heads north to Mullaghmore and it's beaches.

The Ballyshannon Bridge at Night.

Eleven km later, we reach the Bundoran bypass, where the R237 takes the old route through the town. After crossing the R280, we stay on the new road until Ballyshannon is passed too. Just before crossing the River Erne, the N3 joins at a GSJ from Belleek to the east, and then the road strides across the river on the graceful bridge.

At the next roundabout, we meet the R231 which follows the coast, and return to the old alignment. However, long sections feature those 'slow lanes', so progress is normally good. At Ballintra the R231 rejoins, and we head for the coast ourselves, without ever quite reaching it. Much of this road appears to be a post-war new build, and maps / aerial photography back up this thought, but perhaps someone with local knowledge could clarify.

Six km further north, we reach Laghy, where the R232 heads east to Pettigo and the border. another kilometre north and the old route into Donegal turns left along the R267. I think this is now a roundabout junction. The N15 then sweeps across virgin countryside to the east of Donegal, meeting the N56 at another roundabout.