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Longford Hotels & Information |
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Information on County Longford
Longford possesses some of the countries best and totally unspoilt scenery. For many years it has been ignored by the tourist guidebooks, which has resulted in these remote parts of Ireland being unaffected by the mass tourist market.
If you want coach loads of tourists, gaming machines, chip shops, unsightly housing schemes this is not the place for you, Longford remains unspoilt.
North of the county and south county Leitrim you will find a rugged and harsh landscape dotted with a mass of lakes and hills, the scenery is breathtaking.
South County Longford along the Shannon and Lough Ree has to be seen to believe it. It is difficult to imagine how this part of Ireland has been ignored for so long. The land is low lying and with large stretches of bog. A drive from Lanesborough down along the Shannon to Elfeet, Barley Harbour and Saints Island is one not to be missed.
The County's main town is named like the county itself, Longford. The village is beautiful and picturesque. Longford town is situated in the heart of Ireland, on the south bank of the River Camlin and on the main Dublin to Sligo road. It is a progressive town and the County administrative centre. It is also a convenient crossroad for Belfast, Mayo, Galway or Limerick routes and is ideally placed as a tourist centre for the Lakeland District of Irelands Midlands and the beautiful Shannon River. There is much to attract the tourist to Longford. A Cathedral town, it is the seat of the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise. Saint Mels Cathedral and Saint Johns Church, both dating from the 19th Century, stand at the East and West entrances to the town. The visitor is well catered for in Longford with activities to suit all tastes. The town is spaciously laid out with wide streets and pleasant buildings and recent impressive urban development. It is a good shopping centre. The dome of the 19th Century St. Mels Cathedral, a renaissance style building of grey limestone with a lofty steeple, may be seen from quite a long way from outside the town. There is an ecclesiastical museum, situated at the rear of this Cathedral. The courthouse is the oldest building in the town and was erected in 1792. The Mall is a beautifully landscaped park on the banks of the River Camlin. This park is ideal for picnics, walks or sporting activities.
Other interesting towns and villages include the town of Ballymahon and its surrounding area with its literary heritage in Oliver Goldsmith and John Keegan Casey. The village of Ballinamuck in North Longford marks the site of General Humberts retreat at the battle of Ballinamuck. Edgeworthstown is the home of the Edgeworth family most notably Maria Edgeworth and her literary achievements. Steeped in archaeological heritage is the town of Granard and its surrounding villages such as Aughnacliffe.
Throughout the county there is a wealth of folklore and heritage, open friendly people who indulge in the finest of food and drink and plenty of activities to entertain all needs from fishing to archery.
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