Longford Ireland

An interesting antiquity is the leather shield discovered in 1008 in a bog at Clonbrin, Co. Longford; it probably belongs to the La Tone period

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Antique. Tags: Clonbrin, Co. Longford, La Tone, leather shield. Comments: None

This village has the unique distinction of having won both the National Tidy Towns Competition and the Nationwide CARE Award in the same year (1980). Newtowncashel village is specially featured for its stone walls built with artistry and the well kept Garda Station, Church, National School and Hertiage Centre. A number of fine outdoor sculptures designed by bog-wood sculptor Michael Casey that create a unique atomosphere in the village is prominent in its recent highlights. The restored Abbey of Saints Island to the left, and Barley Harbour on the right add up to the excellence of this village. Providing a pleasant amenity for walking, boating, fishing and picnic along the Lough Ree shoreline there situates Elfeet Bay nearby.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Town. Tags: Abbey, Barley Harbour, Church, Elfeet Bay, Garda Station, Hertiage Centre, National School, Newtowncashel, Saints Island. Comments: 1

Near the village of Abbeylara 4km south-west of Granard and close to the shore of Lough Kinale you will see the remains of a 13th century Cistercian abbey founded by an Anglo-Norman, Richard Tuite. Edward Bruce captured Granard and plundered this abbey. People believe that the semicircular earthwork north of the village is the site of the original church founded by Saint Patrick about 460. Parts of the ancient defensive earthwork known as the black Pig’s Dyke extends from the shore of Lough Kinale, north-east of Abbeylara to the north-westward direction towards the shore of Lough Gowna. Remains of two stone circles are still preserved in the parish of Abbeylara. There are also the surviving traces of what seem to be megalithic burials. There is no doubt about the antiquity of these stone circles which are import archaelogical remains of the Bronze Age period of human history. They stand as witnesses to those who recognised the sun as the centre of the universe, the source of all life.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Town. Tags: Abbeylara, black Pig's Dyke, Bronze Age, Cistercian, Granard, Lough Gowna, Lough Kinale, Saint Patrick. Comments: None

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Accommodation. Tags: Annaly Hotel, Clondra, County Longford, Longford, Longford Arms Hotel, Longford Town, Main Street, Richmond Inn Guesthouse. Comments: 1

Land Area: 1,091 km

County Town: Longford

Code: LD

Population: 31,068 (2002)

Province: Leinster

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under County Facts. Tags: Land Area, Leinster, Longford, Population. Comments: None

County Longford is the third smallest county in Ireland. The true beauty of Longford lies in its quiet countryside of farmlands, bog, the occasional low hill and its pleasant views. 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. If you’re a fan of Irish music, there are a number of great old pubs where one can wine, dine and listen to the locals.

Edward J Valentine is a popular pub, or more correctly, it’s divided into two, for alongside it is the ‘The Spiral Tree Bar‘. Both establishments offer different experiences. Edward J’s has a turn-of-the-century style, while the other bar is more contemporary in design. However, the two blend in well, old-style and new, and both have a warm welcoming atmosphere. The pleasant and friendly folk who these days descend on the pub, along with a pint of Guinness make it one of the most popular pubs in the area. A Carvery lunch is served daily or you may choose from the bar menu which is served throughout the day. Once you’re in the door, you’ll find it hard to go, for after an hour you’ll feel a part of it and it’s a part of you. Patrick V Fallon’s, is an award winning pub; located in the heart of Longford ( Hotels, Longford, Ireland) town. There is a renowned welcome to this fine, smart and friendly pub. This is a well run family pub that serves excellent fresh food, which is prepared from local produce. Patrick V Fallon’s ensures the most memorable evening as possible with its warm ambience and delightful service.

The pubs of Longford (Accommodation, Longford, Ireland) are not simply places in which to satisfy your thirst. They are theatres for storytelling, backdrops for romance, homes away from home and keepers of the spirit of the city, in more ways than one.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Entertainment. Tags: Ballymahon, County Longford, Edward J Valentine, Guinness, Ireland, Lanesboro, Longford, Lough Gowna, Lough Ree, Patrick V Fallon, pubs, River Inny, River Shannon, The Spiral Tree Bar, White water. Comments: 1

Longford is in the Irish Midlands. It lies in the basin of the River Shannon, and the upper part of the County is in the catchment area of the River Erne, having Lough Gowna on its border with neighbouring County Cavan. County Longford ( Self Catering, Longford, Ireland) s a comparatively small county. The County was created in 1564, and took its name from the principal town, properly known as Longfort U�Fearghail, “O’Farrell’s landing place”. Known in earlier times as Annaly, the association of the area with the O’Farrells goes back to the ninth century. Despite the grant of the territory to the de Lacys in the twelfth century, the O’Farrells ruled until the beginning of the seventeenth century, when some plantation of English settlers took place.

Today, O’Farrell or Farrell is still the most dominant surname in the County. Other common surnames are, Quinn, Kenny, Kiernan, Mulvey, Smith, Leavy, Kelly, Glennon, Keenan, Casey and Murphy.

Longford (Accommodation, Longford, Ireland) lost almost one-third of its people to starvation and emigration between 1841 and 1851, the years of the Great Famine. And the loss continued in subsequent emigration: by 1986 the population was only a quarter of what it had been in 1841.

Longford Research Centre, Longford Roots, 1 Church Street, Longford, Co Longford, Ireland

Longford Roots undertakes research into the histories of families who were resident in County Longford before 1900. The Longford Heritage Company operates the Centre with the assistance of FAS. Since 1990 there have been trainees employed every year to index the parish records. FAS have a big input in Longfords Genealogy, and without their assistance we would have no Genealogy Centre in Longford.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Genealogy. Tags: 1 Church Street, Co. Longford, County Cavan, County Longford, English, FAS, Great Famine, Ireland, Longford, Longford Research Centre, Longford Roots, Lough Gowna, O'Farrell's, River Erne, River Shannon, susnames. Comments: 1

Antiquities

An interesting antiquity is the leather shield discovered in 1008 in a bog at Clonbrin, Co. Longford; it probably belongs to the La Tone period

History

The name Longford ( Self Catering, Longford, Ireland) comes from the Gaelic Longford (Accommodation, Longford, Ireland) Ui Fearraill, meaning the fortress of the OFarrell clan. The patriarch, OFarrell, reigned over the in the 12th century, although the official borders of today were not established until 1547 by the Tudors.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Uncategorized. Tags: Argentina, Ballymahon, Cam Clonhugh, Central Plain, Clonbrin, Co. Down, Co. Longford, dgeworthstown, Drumlish, emigrations, Erne River, Gaelic, Ireland, La Tone, leather shield, Longford, Lough Gowna, OFarrell, Rebellion, Royal Canal, Shannon, Silurian, Sligo. Comments: None

The name Longford ( Self Catering, Longford, Ireland) comes from the Gaelic Longford (Accommodation, Longford, Ireland) Ui Fearraill, meaning the fortress of the OFarrell clan. The patriarch, OFarrell, reigned over the in the 12th century, although the official borders of today were not established until 1547 by the Tudors.

During the rebellion of 1798, Longford was the site of numerous bloody battles. The Great Famine decimated the population through starvation and emigration. It was such emigrations that established a link between Longford and the South American county of Argentina, where many people from Longford fled.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under History. Tags: Argentina, Ballymahon, Cam Clonhugh, Central Plain, Co. Down, Co. Longford, dgeworthstown, Drumlish, emigrations, Erne River, Gaelic, Ireland, Longford, Lough Gowna, OFarrell, Rebellion, Royal Canal, Shannon, Silurian, Sligo. Comments: None