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The word Longford comes from the Irish word Longphort Uí
Fearraill - the fort of the O'Farrell family. Longford features in many
Irish myths such as the Black Pig's Dyke near Granard and the Táin route
which crosses the county. A trackway of oak planks have been discovered
in a bog at Corlea. As a result Bog Oak sculpturing has become quite
popular in County Longford.
County Longford, the third smallest county in Ireland,
lies in the Shannon basin and the upper catchment of the Erne. The
county town of Longford is the progressive administrative centre of the
county.
Sights to see include the heritage village of Ardagh, which was built in
the 1860s to a Swiss design, and the recently discovered Old Bog Road,
an Iron Age trackway of large oak planks in a bog at Corlea.
The true beauty of Longford lies in its quiet countryside of farmlands,
bog, the occasional low hill and its pleasant views. An ideal spot for a
get-away-from-it-all relaxing break.
In lovely County Longford the visitor is never far from
water – The River Shannon, Lough Ree, the River Inny and Lough Gowna
where the angler can enjoy the finest fishing. The “hot water” stretch
at Lanesboro is famous. Every canoeist knows the White water stretch at
Ballymahon.
The Royal Canal joins the Shannon at Clondra with its magnificent cut
stone harbour.
The county town is Longford, with its fine modern St. Mels cathedral,
and beautiful Ardagh is a designated heritage village. The county has
several literary associations including Maria Edgeorth, Edgeworthstown,
Padraic Colum, Longford Town, and Oliver Goldsmith who was born at
Pallas. Some of the many visitor attractions include the 1978 Heritage
Centre in Ballinamuck, the Corlea Trackway Centre near Kenagh,
Carrigglass Manor, and Bog Oak Sculptures in Newtowncashel. Abbeyshrule
hosts and annual air show.
The lakes provide some prime sites for angling and
Longford is justly famous for its fishing. The county's extensive
waterways are stocked with enough variety of fish to sate even the most
ambitious of anglers.
As well as the other typical delights of an Irish holiday such as
walking and cruising Longford is also a delight for the flying
enthusiast with an airfield at Abbeyshrule. Greyhound racing is very
popular in Longford as well and a night at the dog track is a typically
Longford experience.
Longford is a county with a rich heritage situated, as it is where the
provinces of Connacht, Leinster and Ulster converge. The 'Black Pigs
Dyke', was once the defensive boundary between Ulster and the rest of
the country. It is in Longford that many of the sagas of Irish heroes
took place and it is also in Longford that heroes of another generation
fell in the 1798 Rebellion, the last battle of which was fought at
Ballinamuck. A lively exhibition there gives the details of what took
place.
At Kenagh the visitor's centre there will take you back in time to a
construction project over 2,000 years old. The oak road over the
boglands of Longford is believed to have been the largest of its kind
discovered in Europe.
Longford's County Town, situated on the banks of the Camlin River, acts
as an administrative centre for the area, and is spaciously laid out,
with pleasant wide streets. A Dominican friary was founded there in
1400. St Mel's Cathedral, a 19th century Renaissance building, is worth
visiting. Longford is also the site of the County Museum.
With a host of small towns and medieval structures to lure the traveller
off the roads Longford's welcoming arms reach out to embrace visitors
and take them into their hearts and homes.
HOSPITALS
Mount Carmel / St. Joseph's Geriatric
Hospital
Dublin Road, Longford
Tel: 043 46211
ESTATE AGENTS
McDonagh Casey & Co Ltd
Dublin Street
Longford
Phone : (043) 46810
Fax : (043) 46010
E-Mail : irene@bmdc.ie
 Longford
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