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.