Claudius Ptolemy the second century Greek geographer, produced a map of Ireland which roughly identified the location of the present day Sligo Town or as it was then called Nagnata.
On his map, Ptolemy named several rivers, town’s and tribes which were then situated on the western coast of lreland.
Nagnata was, according to Ptolemy, situated roughly when the present day Sligo Town has grown, and it was, in its day, a trading centre of sufficient importance to be known to the Romans.
Over the centuries many people have openly debated whether Ptolemy’s accounts were in fact authentic or not, with native Irish historians having called into question the authenticity of his writings.
The Nagnatae or Magnatae were as described as a people of ancient Ireland, recorded in Ptolemy‘s 2nd century geography as living in northern Connaucht.
Ptolemy records the Nagnatae as an Irish tribe, and their coastal town of Nagnata as being situated on the west coast of Ireland with Benbulben and Truskmore to the north, and Knocknarea to the south, guarding (what would have been) one of Ireland‘s major population centres.
In the medieval period Nagnata (Sligo) was an important crossroads strategically and commercially.
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