The Sligo GAA colours are shown on the emblem adopted by Sligo County Council in 1980. The design on the black shield, which shows an open book on which there is a Celtic Cross and a red rose, represents collectively the literary and cultural history of Sligo. These refer to such early works as the Books of Ballymote and Lecan, while the rose was a significant theme in the poetry of W.B.Yeats. The escallop shells sprinkled on the shield refer to the origin of the word Sligeach -- "a place abounding in shells". The boar's head refers to the "wild boar of Benbulben" in the Diarmuid and Gráinne myth.
"Land of Heart's Desire" is taken from the title of a play by Yeats which has a local setting.

Sligo footballers and hurlers proudly wear the black and white colours, bearing the emblem (shown on the left above) appropriately placed over the heart.