Longford Literary Trail Audio Tour

Longford Tourism launch the Longford Literary Trail Audio Tour

Longford Literary Trail Audio Tour was launched at The Maria Edgeworth Centre in Edgeworthstown on Wednesday 21st February 2024. Including interviews from local people and actors from Backstage Theatre, this Audio Tour covers the exciting and interesting story of Literature in County Longford.

The literary tradition in Longford is very strong and includes connections with Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde. Maria Edgeworth was based in Edgeworthstown and her story is well presented in the Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre. Oliver Goldsmith was born in Longford also and was educated in Edgeworthstown. You can visit his birthplace and many of the locations included in his poems and plays. Ardagh Village is the location of his romantic famous play ‘She Stoops to Conquer’. Carry on into Ballymahon where Goldsmith lived for many years and travel back in time to a rural Irish Town.

The whole Longford Literary story can be explored through this driving trail with an option of Audio in English and Irish. There are QR codes at each of the nine stops to access the audio. The addition of the audio to this trail enhances and brings the experience to life. In 2022, Longford Tourism also enhanced the Longford Rebel Trail with the addition of QR codes and audio at each stop. The audio for the Longford Rebel Trail is available in English, Irish and French. All audio is available on the audio section of Longford.ie.

County Longford has three driving trails, The Longford Literary Trail with a distance of 73km, The Longford Rebel Trail with a distance of 71km and the Mid Shannon Trail with a distance of 98km.  Work will commence shortly on the enhancement of the Mid Shannon Trail and when complete, this will give County Longford three excellent driving trails all with their own story to tell and a high-end product for visitors to the County.

Longford Tourism would like to thank Inhand Guides, the company who carried out the project and all those involved in the project, including all interviewees and actors, Longford County Council Archivist Martin Morris, and employees of The Maria Edgeworth Centre.

For further information, including the monthly local events guide, check out Longford.ie. Follow Longford Tourism on social media to stay up-to-date on all there is to do in County Longford.