Things To See & Do in Dromard.

Bogs in Dromard.

As the Ice Age passed, the depressions, which were hollowed out, filled with water and were colonised by sphagnum’s, large sponge-like mosses with water retaining properties. These mosses decomposed and formed peat at the rate of approximately 1 inch every 30 years. Peat is highly acidic, with water content of up to 90%. Oxygen is absent but carbon dioxide is present at high pressure. Bogs have heathers as well as sphagnums. They are also associated with sedges, grasses, insectivorous, sundews, pitcher plants, many orchids and desmids or single-cell green algae. nnThe main bogs in Dromard Parish are Edenmore, Cammagh, Garvary and Firmullagh, with smaller areas such as in Dromard, Clonelly, Ballduffy and Crott.

The Latin School

Originated as a hedge school, became a permanent building in 1897, remained open until 1973 when it was closed and replaced by a state of the art community school. During its 100 years in education, many famous scholars went through its doors. Out of this small school over 700 pupils went on to become priests, some bishops - a record that Dromard can be proud of. The present community centre started life in September 1897 as a two-roomed male secondary school. Its first principal and only teacher was Fr Philip Duffy. Here young men who wished to go join the priesthood were taught Latin and Greek, hence it was known as the Latin School. There were 33 young students in its first year but the school expanded over the years and the number of teachers increased most of who were clergy. In 1967 it became a mixed school and later in the summer of 1974 it ceased functioning as a school. All staff and pupils moved to the Community School half a mile up the road. The Latin School lay idle until 1983 when a local committee suggested that it be used as a community centre. With the aid of a FÁS scheme it was converted into the present community centre. It was opened in September 1984 and was renamed the Latin School Community Centre.

Tubberpatrick

There is a strong tradition that Dromard was one of the parishes visited by St. Patrick. Certainly the ancient holy well of Tobar Phadraig in the townland of Cornakelly has been venerated for centuries. Beside the well is an ancient cemetery of the same name, and it is likely that a primitive church also existed here. Every year on St Patrick’s Day many people visit the well and cemetery to do the Patricians Stations.

Tubberpatrick Graveyard: Said to be visited by St. Patrick in 435, where he blessed it as well. The oldest headstone carries the inscription JACOBUS FARRELL 1671. Around the parameter wall are stations of the cross, which were donated by Fr. Lawrence Cosgrove, St Pauls, Minnesota, USA - a native of Dromard. He also donated a bell which was donated in 1910, but only installed in 1993. The best-known monument in the cemetery was erected over the grave of General George Blake, who was executed after the Battle of Ballinamuck in 1798.

Meeting of places:

At Drumury, The counties of Longford, Leitrim and Cavan ,the provinces of Leinster, Connaught and Ulster, the parishes of Dromard, Carrigallen and Killeshandra as well as the dioceses of Ardagh, Clonmacnoise and Kilmore meet.

Natural Amenities:

Like so many places in County Longford Dromard is blessed with an abundance of lakes and rivers. All well stocked with fish. If properly planned the natural beauty of the Dromard countryside together with the unpolluted waters should be Dromards best hope of a rosy future in tourism.