History of Longford
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.
Co. Longford
Longford is a small county. The north is somewhat hilly, rising in Cam Clonhugh to 912 ft; the rest is typical Central Plain country-chiefly low pastures, with a good deal of bog and marsh. The hills in the north are due to the presence, of Silurian slates, the continuation of the great area of these rocks which runs south-west from Co. Down : the rest of the county is composed of the drift-covered limestone which prevails over the greater part of middle Ireland. The Shannon forms much of the western boundary, which includes half the eastern shore of Lough Ree. In the north, the major portion of the mazy Lough Gowna, the source of the Erne River, lies within the county. The largest town is Longford, the county town, in the centre of the county; the Midland Great Western Railway runs through it on its way to Sligo, and it is also served by a branch of the Royal Canal, which crosses tlie county further south, Granard stands high, in the north-west, and its lofty church spire and great Norman moat are visible from afar. .Edgeworthstown, Ballymahon, and Drumlish are smaller places.