What's On Guide: May 2025

May Events Guide

Get into the Summer spirit and join in on events across County Longford this May!

Maria Edgeworth Literary Festival – Edgeworthstown, 8-11 May

One of the most important festival events of the year in Longford takes place in Edgeworthstown this weekend, with a jam-packed line up including events such as Fashion in the Lifetime of Maria Edgeworth, A Glimpse into the Georgian Wardrobe, Address by the Provost of Trinity College Dr Linda Doyle, Make your Own Georgian Petticoat sewing lesson; Art workshops & exhibitions, Open Mic, Mostrim Youth Theatre, Live Music, Song and Comedy performances, Pop Up Bookshop, Storytelling, Lace Making, Writing, Culture, Ballroom Dance & Etiquette and Poetry workshops, Outdoor Yoga. Also featuring the two-day Mindful Meadow Event including various stands and a yoga tent, the Artisan and Craft Market and the famous 18th Century Mostrim Tea Party. For full details see mariaedgeworthcenter.com

Sunday Night Dancing, Longford Arms Hotel

Sunday, 11 May - Patrick Feeney with Damian Davis. Sunday, 25 May - Declan Nerney with Shaun Loughrey

Afro-Dance, Temperance Hall, Longford

8-week AFRO-Dance fitness program commencing Saturday, 3rd May from 11am - 12noon. Free weekly event; all welcome.

Darkness into Light, Dromard Walk in aid of Cycle Against Suicide - Saturday, 10 May

Dromard GAA and Dromard LGFA 5k walk, registration from 3.45am, starting at 4.15am at Parc Na Gael, Dromard. Light Refreshments afterwards in Clubhouse - all wellcome to join our walk for a great charity. Donations accepted on the day.

Gaelforce Great River Swim and Riverfest, Lanesborough 16-17 May

Gaelforce River Fest celebrates open-water swimming in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands! Join us as we gather on the scenic banks of the River Shannon in Lanesborough to cheer on competitors as they reach the finish line of the Great River Swim and enjoy the festival of excitement, family activities, and memorable experiences. Whether you're an avid swimmer or just after a grand day out, the Gaelforce River Fest offers something for everyone. Lanesborough and Ballyleague will be the place to be this weekend! For full details and programme timeline, see gaelforceevents.com

May Events in Longford Library

Art Workshop - Story Stones with Anna Wiercioch for kids aged 8-13yrs - Saturday, 10 May at 10.30am. Book on Eventbrite.ie
Nutrition for Falls Prevention and Bone Health in the Older Person talk - Tuesday, 27 May at 11am - book online at www.longfordlibrary.ie
Musical Performance from Harp Duets - Friday, 30 May at 2pm - book online at www.longfordlibrary.ie
Regular Library Events:
- Age Action Digital Skills every Tuesday at 10.30am
- Community mornings every Thursday at 10.30am
- Ciorcal Comhrá every Thursday at 12.30pm
- Knitter Natters every Friday at 11am
- Monthly Book Club
- Monthly Writer's Group

Bealtaine Festival 

Taking place across all of May in County Longford Libraries: Ireland's national celebration of the arts and creativity as we age has plenty in store for County Longford audiences. Events include: Songbirds in Ballymahon Library on Thursday, 1 May from 6.30pm-8.30pm, and a talk on 'Protecting brain health and function talk' in Granard Library on Thursday, 1 May at 2pm. There will also be performances from Harp Duets in Granard Library (Friday, 2 May, from 7-8pm), Edgeworthstown Library (Friday, 16 May from 7-8pm), and Longford Library (Friday, 30 May from 2-3pm). Bealtaine is an Age and Opportunity arts initiative, funded by the Arts Council and the HSE. 

Ballymahon Market

Friday, 2 May in Skelly's Yard, part of Skelly's Restaurant, Pub and Guesthouse: A brand new outdoor market with up to 20 stalls filled with tasty culinary delights and creative art and craft pieces. This new market will take place on the first Friday of every month.

Camlin Keys Music Festival

May Bank Holiday Weekend in various venues in Longford: Back for its third year, come along and listen to exceptional classical performances and take part in classes for all ages and abilities. Stunning venues include St John's Church, St John's Hall and Backstage Theatre, with the latter venue hosting the Irish Midlands Youth Orchestra for a performance on Sunday, as part of the festival. Find out more at CamlinKeys.ie.   

Daytime Barn Dance

Saturday, 3 May in Connolly Barracks: A KSSL fundraiser in aid of Mary's Meals, come along and dance away to Bríd Shaughnessy, Claudia Buckley, Robert Mizzel, Pascal and Davey, Seamus Farrel and Tommy Flaherty, Sean Hussey and the Brendan Kelly Band. There will also be line dancing and jiving competitions on the day. Takes place from 2-6pm. Get your tickets on Eventbrite. 

Live Music and Dancing in Murphy's Cross Roads Inn

Various dates in Murphy's Cross Roads Inn in Lisryan: Get your dancing shoes on for the following performances: Chris Loughrey (Saturday, 3 May), Eddie Quinn (Saturday, 17 May), Philip English (Saturday, 24 May), Sean Corrigan (Saturday, 31 May). There will also be plenty of time to practice your jive, waltz, quickstep, foxtrot and line dancing with lessons for beginners and improvers every Thursday night in May, starting at 8.30pm. 

Cloughan Farm and Cookery School events

Various dates at Cloughan Farm and Cookery School in Abbeyshrule: Join Fiona Egan for her in-house demonstrations and hands-on workshops. Events include Dine at Mine workshop (Saturday, 3 May, from 10am-2pm), Summer Entertaining Demo and Dine (Friday, 9 May, from 6.30pm-9.30pm), and Fabulous Baking and Desserts (Saturday, 24 May from 10am-12pm). Find out more at FionaEgan.com. 

Clondra Art Exhibition

Saturday and Sunday, 3-4 May in Clondra Community Hall: See works from artists Alanna Hanley, Jeanne Reynolds, Martha Corcoran and more. Artworks will be available to purchase on the day. Light refreshments will be served. Takes place from 7pm-9pm on Saturday and 12.30pm-2pm on Sunday. 

W.A.L. Festival

Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, 4-5 May in various venues in Longford Town: A family-friendly festival with plenty of performance art, music, poetry and dance. Venues include: Temperance Hall, the Red Room, Athena Gallery and Market Square. Find out more on WALFestivalLongford.ie. 

Tri-a-Tri

Bank Holiday Monday, 5 May in Longford Coral Sports and Leisure Complex: Limited spaces remain for this event which includes a 100m or 250m pool swim, a 16km road cycle and a 3k run. Organised by Longford Triathlon Club, in partnership with Longford Sports Partnership and Longford Coral Sports and Leisure Complex. See Longford Triathlon Club on Facebook for more information. 

Teach Ceoil

Bank Holiday Monday, 5 May in Clondra Community Hall: Musicians and singers are welcome to come and join in at these performances which will be taking place on the first Monday of every month from 8.30pm. Refreshments will be served. 

Painting Words Book Launch

Bank Holiday Monday, 5 May at the Temperance Hall, Longford Town: An anthology of poetry and art, the book launch of Painting Words will take place at 3.30pm as part of the W.A.L. Festival.

National Bike Week 2025 Longford Events

From Saturday, 10 May to Sunday, 18 May in various locations across County Longford: National Bike Week is a nationwide initiative, and plenty is happening in County Longford to get us all up on the saddle! Events include:

• Women's Introductory Gravel Cycle in Kenagh Community Centre (Saturday, 10 May)
• Inclusion Learn to Cycle Taster in Longford Athletics Centre (Saturday, 10 May)
• Children's Cycle Challenge and Bike Maintenance Workshop at The Green, Egdeworthstown (Monday, 12 May)
• Biker's Lunch Longford Town Cycle starting at the rear of Market Square in Longford Town (Tuesday, 13 May)
• Children's Fun Cycle Challenge at both Ardnacassa Communuty House and McEoin Park Community House (Tuesday, 13 May)
• Older Adult Greenway Cycle starting at Richmond Harbour in Clondra (Friday, 16 May)
• Royal Canal Leisure Cycle starting at Richmond Harbour Clondra (Saturday, 17 May)
• Family Fun Cycle starting at Read Market Square, Longford (Sunday, 18 May)

For full details of the above events, including starting times, follow Longford Sports Partnership on Facebook.

Goldsmith Literary Festival

Friday, 30 May to Sunday, 1 June in various locations across County Longford and County Westmeath: Now in its 41st year, this festival celebrates the life and literary works of Oliver Goldsmith. Find out more at OliverGoldsmithFestival.com.