Placed at the centre of the South Sligo region, Gurteen village is one of the larger communities of the area. The village is undergoing an enhancing of the village and its environs. In the village itself one can find two local pubs that serve the highest quality food and where one can always find some one local to point an interest rambler on a trail of discovery. Accommodation of the B&B or self-catering variety can be found in the village and information on these locations can be found through the Coleman Heritage centre.

The area of South Sligo is known internationally for its contribution to the world of traditional Irish music. Based on the unique history of traditional music in the area the Coleman irish Music Centre highlights this history and keeps it alive through musical instructions and events throughout the year. The name Michael Coleman is known world-wide in music circles both in Ireland and the USA and his ground-breaking work has been influential on modern musicians today like Christy Moore, etc. This centre is open to the public and offer s a place where people can hear, see, study and taste the joys of a tradition going back many hundreds of years. The centre has also reconstructed Michael Coleman's home cottage. Musicians can come to study traditional music here.

The centre serves as a hub for the local area and can point travellers to the varied and many attractions in the locality. For more info www.colemanirishmusic.com

St. Patrick's and St. Attracts wells are found nearby and there are old cemeteries at Templeronan and Killaraght. The other areas of historical interest include Moygara Castle (dated to the 12th Century) and Doballa (little Dublin). There is a megalithic tomb just across the Roscommon border.

The pier and picnic area along the shore of Lough Gara have toilet and shower facilities. The area is known locality for its fishing and wonderful selection of birds and wild life.

Clan Name

Gurteen is part of the ancestral home of the O'Gara and forms a stage of the Beara-Breifne Greenway which is based on the historic march of O'Sullivan Beara in 1603.

Greenways Festival 2003

Gurteen is talking part in the Greenways Festival in summer 2003 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the legendary 1603 march of O’Sullivan Beara from the Beara Peninsula to the Breifne area. Click here for info on the events