Heritage

A focal point of the northern midlands where the provinces of Leinster, Ulster and Connaught converge, Longford, where history and literature, tragedy and triumph are all woven together, takes its name from the ancient stronghold of the OFarrell family (Long Fort - Fort of the OFarrells).

Bordered to the west by the majestic River Shannon, Longford is a county of rolling plains and picturesque stretches of water. The highest point of the county, Cairn Hill, is only 279m high, but from atop the summit glorious views in all directions are afforded.
Farbuide Fer Benn, renowned in Irish mythology for revenging the death of his mother who was killed by Queen Maeve, is supposedly buried here.

St. Mels Cathedral

The present county came into being under the Tudors in 1547, based largely on a region which had previously been known after two of its most prominent rulers, Queen Teffia (pre 800 a.d.) and King Annaly (post 800 a.d.). From the eleventh century the region has been ruled by the descendants of Ferghall (the valiant one), a hero of the Battle of Clontarf (1014 a.d.), who had marched westwards and forcibly taken control of the area.

It was in Longford that some of the fiercest fighting of the 1798 rebellion took place when the Year of the French came to a bloody end at Ballinamuck; where Edgeworth and Goldsmith were inspired to write several of the most acclaimed works of the English language and where General Sean McEoin,the Blacksmith of Ballinalee, conducted the War of Independence with cunning and bravery during the early 1920s.
Longfords motto emblazoned across its county crest declares it to be Daingean agus Dilis - Strong and Loyal; without doubt it has lived up to its self-set standards and profoundly influenced the Ireland of today.