Longford
Discover one of the Midland’s best-kept secrets
Sightseeing
Enjoy a thoroughly scandalous historical house, an Iron Age bog road and a beautiful 18th century mansion
Belvedere House and Gardens
Steeped in scandal and filled with intriguing history, Belvedere House opened in 2000 following a multi-million pound restoration project. The beautiful gardens are extensive and are filled with several follies, including the Jealous Wall, a Gothic arch and octagonal gazebo. Meanwhile, you can learn all about the ribald lives and loves of the Anglo-Irish gentry.
Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre, County Longford
Amazingly, an Iron Age bog road that was built in 148BC close to the River Shannon was uncovered at this spot. It’s one of the largest oak roads to have been discovered in Europe, and this centre tells its story.
Midland Lakes, County Longford
The Midland Lakes are justly famous for the quality of their brown trout fishing and are a must for all “lock style” enthusiasts.
See more highlightsRiver Shannon, County Longford
The west of Longford is bordered by the Upper River Shannon. Rising in County Cavan, the river flows 250km to the sea at Limerick, the longest river in the British Isles.
Strokestown Park House, Gardens and Famine Museum
This 18th-century mansion has been beautifully restored to its former glory and includes a four-acre pleasure garden, which contains the longest herbaceous border in the UK and Ireland, and a Famine Museum, which contains an extensive collection of original documents and images.
Activities
Discover your wild side with some archery, canoeing and a spot of flying!
Angling
Longford is a great spot for fishing with game fishing also available in some areas. Expect pike, bream, roach and tench
Archery
There are two archery clubs in Longford, Littlewood Archers, a field archery club, plus Warriors of Queen Maeve in Glannagh, also a field archery club with traditional equipment and methods of shooting.
Canoeing
Test your stamina against the white water rapids at The River Inny in Ballymahon – they’re reputed to be among the best in the country.
See more highlightsCycling
Try the Tain Trail – it’s one of the newest, longest and most historic cycling routes in Ireland and runs a length of over 365 miles from County Roscommon, through Longford, to the Cooley Peninsula, County Louth, and back again.
Flying
There’s a tradition of flying in the Abbeyshrule that dates back to the 1950s with and Abbeyshrule Airfield is a popular spot amongst Ireland’s light aircraft enthusiasts. So why not take to the skies and learn to fly.
Woodland Walks, Dring
Derrycasson Wood at the edge of Lough Gowna offers a variety of tranquil and scenic woodland walks.
Children
Sample some rural entertainment with a super-cute pony show
Ballinalee Connemara Pony Show, Ballinalee
This annual event takes place June and features a Connemara pony show, a dog show and plenty of family entertainment.
Go Karting at Midland Karting, Edgeworthstown
Enjoy some fast-paced fun with this new karting track, which is a whopping 1,000 metres in length.
Culture & Festivals
From a gorgeous Gothic-Revival manor to a traditional harp festival
Ardagh Visitor Centre, Longford
Learn all about the history of Ardagh, a forested hill that was once a renowned centre of pre-Christian worship. The village and of Ardagh has a colourful history with lots of elegant Victorian buildings.
Carrigglas Manor, Ballinalee/Granard Road
A romantic, turreted, Gothic-Revival style manor built in 1837, Carrigglas enjoys impressive stables designed by the prominent architect James Gandon, as well as a museum and gardens, all of which are open to the public from May to September.
Granard Traditional Harp Festival, Granard
The first ever Granard Harp Festival incredibly dates back to 1781, and two hundred years later the tradition was revived. This festival now draws competitors from all over the world and includes traditional sessions and a harp workshop.
Eating, Drinking & Luxury
Indulge yourself in delightful restaurants and elegant Georgian accommodation
Augergine Gallery Café, Longford
A popular and refined restaurant/café overlooking Market Square, Aubergine Gallery Café serves up delicious Irish/Mediterranean food.
Viewmont House
Elegant, quiet, restful and comfortable, Viewmont is a wonderful Georgian house just outside Longford Town. There are five beautiful ensuite rooms with period furniture and plenty of charm.
