Driving Routes
Longford Rebel Trail Driving Route
On the Longford Rebel Trail Driving Route, you will learn about the county's involvement in insurrections and rebellions from the Normans up to the War of Independence. The entire route covers a distance of 71 kilometres and you can join in at any point and complete at your own pace.
On this route, you will visit Connolly Barracks in Longford Town. Constructed in the 1700s, it was a centre of operations for the British Forces, and a place where many of the Irish prisoners were held and executed.
You will also visit Granard's Norman Motte and learn of its history related to Michael Collins and the War of Independence, 1919-21.
You will see Ballinamuck, a location of the 1798 Rebellion. You will also see Ballinalee and learn of its connections to the North Longford Flying Column (1919-21) and see McKeon's Forge and Rose Cottage.
You will see Clonfin, where General McKeon's Flying Column was defeated by British forces and the site of the Clonfin Ambush, which took place during the Irish War of Independence.
Visit any local visitor centre for Rebel Trail maps, and follow the trail of the rebels around County Longford. You can also now listen to the Longford Rebel Trail Audio Tour as you make your way around! You can listen in English, Irish and French. There are also QR codes at each stop for you to scan and listen!
Longford Literary Trail Driving Route
On the Longford Literary Trail Driving Route, you will learn of County Longford's strong literary tradition. This 73km route has an accompanying Audio Tour, accessible by scanning the QR codes at the various stops on the trail.
The route includes Edgeworthstown's Maria Edgeworth. You can follow the Edgeworthstown Walking Trail and learn of the area's history, including visiting the grave of Oscar Wilde's much-loved sister, Isola Francesca Emily Wilde, buried in St John's Courtyard.
You can visit the birthplace of Oliver Goldsmith in Longford, as well as visiting Ardagh village, the location of his famous romantic play She Stoops to Conquer. In Ballymahon, you will see where Goldsmith lived for many years.
Irish rebel poet and songwriter, Leo Casey, was closely connected with Ballymahon and Shrule bridge, with the rebel song At the Rising of the Moon based here. See the places associated with Casey.
Visit Columcille, where Irish poet and novelist Padraic Colum was born.
Carriglass Manor was the ancestral home of Thomas Langlois Lefroy. In 1796, Lefroy began a flirtation with English novelist Jane Austen. Jane Austen wrote two letters to her sister Cassandra mentioning Tom Lefroy, and some have suggested that it may have been he whom Austen had in mind when she invented the character of Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, as the courtship between Tom Lefroy and Jane Austen took place over the year or so that Pride and Prejudice was written.
Mid Shannon Trail Driving Route
The Mid Shannon Trail explores the south of the county, covering an entire distance of 98 kilometres.
On route, you will take in the Royal Canal, the River Shannon and beautiful views of Lough Ree from Saints Island and Barley Harbour. You can also pay a visit to Corlea Trackway or dine at the waters edge in the lovely village of Clondra.
In Newtowncashel, you can visit sculptors Michael Casey and his son Kevin and their business, Bog Oak Sculptures.
