Situated deep within Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, County Longford warmly invites you to explore its exceptionally serene landscapes, gently meandering waterways, and rich, layered history. It is a county that quietly celebrates enduring heritage, perhaps best showcased by the ancient wooden roads of the Corlea Trackway, an incredible, beautifully preserved Iron Age marvel tucked away in the local boglands.
Longford’s history is as profound as it is beautifully preserved. Beyond the fascinating Iron Age discoveries at Corlea, the county is dotted with monuments that chronicle its turbulent and triumphant past. The imposing neoclassical façade of St. Mel’s Cathedral dominates the skyline of Longford town, while the spectacular 13th-century Granard Castle ruins offer visitors sweeping, panoramic views and a captivating glimpse into medieval defences. From ancient Gaelic lordships to the dramatic shifts of the Williamite settlement, Longford’s rich narrative is woven seamlessly into its historic sites and rolling landscapes.
The county’s true magic lies in its peaceful natural surroundings and dynamic outdoor life. The scenic towpaths of the Royal Canal provide an idyllic setting for a leisurely stroll or cycle, eventually leading to the majestic River Shannon, where visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, and vibrant riverside cafés. For those seeking modern thrills, the sprawling 400-acre Longford Forest resort offers a spectacular subtropical swimming paradise and thrilling woodland adventures. Complemented by a lively calendar of events, including the spirited Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival and traditional Fleadh Ceoil celebrations, County Longford offers a wonderfully warm and authentic Irish escape.
Abbeylara, longford
The ruins of Abbeylara Cistercian Abbey stand in the fields east of Granard, founded in 1205 and free to visit year-round. The site holds a Sheela-na-gig carved into the south chapel wall, rare in the midlands, and a graveyard in continuous use since the 16th century, with the Black Pig's Dyke earthwork a kilometre north.
Abbeyshrule, longford
Cistercian monks from Mellifont founded Abbeyshrule’s abbey on the River Inny in 1150; the ruins are free, open dawn to dusk and lit each evening from late June to early August. The Royal Canal Greenway runs traffic-free through the village and over the Whitworth aqueduct a kilometre west, and the Rustic Inn hosts an Argentine asado every July. An hour covers the abbey – longer if the canal tempts you onward.
Aughnacliffe, longford
The Aughnacliffe Dolmen is the third-largest portal tomb in Ireland and the only one in the area you can easily reach on foot, a rare two-capstone monument a short walk north of the village. Around it sit an accessible lakeside boardwalk at Leebeen Park and a short waterfall trail on the River Pulliness.
Ballinalee, longford
Ballinalee is where Seán Mac Eoin and the North Longford Flying Column drove off around 100 Black and Tans and Auxiliaries on 4 November 1920 – the only successful defence of a town in the War of Independence. His headquarters, Rose Cottage, opened to the public in 2023 as a War of Independence exhibition and café on Longford’s Rebel Trail. Beyond that it’s a small village with a short forest loop and two quiet lakes.
Ballinamuck, longford
The 1798 Battle of Ballinamuck marked the final stand of the French-led Irish rebellion. Today, the village blends poignant heritage with rare bogland ecosystems, offering guided trails, a dedicated visitor centre and quiet lakeside walks.
Newtowncashel, longford
Barley Harbour is a plain community slipway on Elfleet Bay, not a marina, with a grassy lawn running down to the water and a long view across to Inchcleraun, a 6th-century monastic island tied to Queen Maeve's death. The Casey family carves bog oak in a studio by the slip. Come in late afternoon for the light on the water.
longford
The Camlin is the slow lowland river that gave Longford its name – the O'Farrells built their fortress, the longfort, on its bank. Today it offers a 10 km Blueway paddling loop where it meets the Shannon at Cloondara, coarse angling along its quiet reaches, and an easy riverside walk through Longford town.
Ballinalee, longford
Set in the rolling limestone landscape west of Granard, Clonbroney Abbey preserves the quiet legacy of Ireland’s early monastic period. Visitors can wander among low stone walls, explore nearby historic churches, and enjoy peaceful walks along the River Camlin.
Cloondara, longford
Cloondara is the western end of the Royal Canal, where it drops through its final lock into the Shannon at the cut-stone Richmond Harbour. The harbour village is a trailhead for the 130km Royal Canal Greenway, with free parking, bike and paddle hire, and the Richmond Inn for a pint by the water.
Keenagh, longford
Corlea Trackway is an oak bog road built across the Longford bogland in 148 BC – the largest prehistoric wooden causeway found in Europe. An 18-metre stretch is preserved in a humidified hall at the free visitor centre near Keenagh, seen on a short guided tour, with a bog boardwalk loop outside. Open mid-March to early November.
Mullinaghta, longford
Set on the gentle shore of Lough Gowna, Derrycassan Wood blends tranquil forest walks with the lingering stone traces of an 18th-century estate and a prehistoric ringfort. Visitors can wander among bluebells and spruce, pause at a lakeside viewing platform, and discover the foundations of a once-grand walled garden.
Dublin, dublin
The Dublin-Galway Greenway is a planned 276 km coast-to-coast route, but only the eastern part is built: over 100 km along the Royal Canal towpath and the Old Rail Trail from Mullingar to Athlone, all flat and traffic-free. The long gap from Athlone to Galway is still mostly unbuilt, so for now this is a midlands canal-and-rail ride, best taken in sections off the train line.
Edgeworthstown, longford
Edgeworthstown is the Longford town that took its name from the Edgeworth family, whose most famous member, novelist Maria Edgeworth, lived here for most of her life. The Maria Edgeworth Centre, in an 1841 national school, anchors a short heritage and literary trail past the family's walled garden, two churches and the graves of Maria and Oscar Wilde's sister Isola. The Centre charges admission and shuts on Mondays.
Edgeworthstown, longford
Step back into Ireland’s Enlightenment era at Edgeworthstown House, once home to novelist Maria Edgeworth and her pioneering family. Though the mansion now operates as a care facility, the surrounding grounds, walled garden and nearby Maria Edgeworth Centre offer a rich, free-to-explore journey into Irish literary history.
Tullamore, meath
The Esker Riada is a chain of low gravel ridges left by Ice Age meltwater that runs across the midlands from Dublin to Galway. As the only dry path over the bogs it became the Slí Mhór, the Great Way, linking Clonard, Durrow and Clonmacnoise and marking the ancient boundary between the north and south of Ireland. The N6 still roughly follows it, and the Esker Hills golf course near Tullamore is built on it.
Granard, longford
Granard is a hilltop market town in north Longford, crowned by the highest Norman motte in Ireland – a 1199 earthwork topped by a St Patrick statue, with a short climb to views over five lakes and parts of nine counties. At its foot, the Knights & Conquests centre tells the Norman story and that of Kitty Kiernan, the Granard woman engaged to Michael Collins.
Newtowncashel, longford
Set in the heart of Lough Ree, Inis Clothrann (Quaker Island) is a tranquil haven of early-Christian ruins and grazing wildlife. Reachable only by boat from Newtowncashel, the island invites visitors to wander ancient stone cashels, explore St Diarmuid’s oratory, and soak in the quiet beauty of the Shannon.
Keenagh, longford
Step back in time at Keenagh, where a thriving village life meets one of Europe’s largest prehistoric bog roads. Explore the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre, wander accessible raised-bog trails, and enjoy traditional hospitality in County Longford’s midlands.
Granard, longford
Walk the slopes of Ireland’s highest Norman motte and explore an interactive heritage centre featuring medieval crafts, a replica ship and a mini archaeology lab. Just a short walk away, the Norman Heritage Park is taking shape as a living-history village.
Lanesborough, longford
Straddling the River Shannon at the northern tip of Lough Ree, Lanesborough blends centuries of bridge-building history with modern waterways tourism. From Ireland’s largest recorded pike catch to hands-on gin distilling and scenic cycling trails, it’s a vibrant stop for anglers, families, and heritage seekers.
Aughnacliffe, longford
Leebeen Park is a community-run space on the shore of Lough Leebeen outside Aughnacliffe, built and kept up by local volunteers. A flat 1.5km boardwalk loops the water past swans and wetland birds, with a zip-wire playground, a fairy garden and an outdoor gym near the car park. Within a short walk are an illuminated waterfall trail and two Neolithic dolmens, one of them the third-largest of its kind in Ireland.
Longford town, longford
Longford town sits at the crossroads of the N4 and N5, offering a lively weekly market, scenic canal greenway and easy-going streets. At its heart stands the restored St Mel’s Cathedral, a neoclassical landmark with towering columns and a 2,300-pipe organ. Together they showcase the town’s blend of history, culture and outdoor recreation.
Longford, longford
Lough Gowna’s sheltered bays and historic Inchmore island draw anglers and walkers, while the nearby Sonnagh Fort crowns a drumlin ridge with sweeping lake views and a tangible link to early medieval Ireland.
Granard, longford
Lough Kinale is a shallow, reed-fringed lake where quiet waters and marshy banks meet early medieval history. Discover the site of a remarkable 1986 book shrine find, watch overwintering wildfowl, and follow gentle lakeside paths through the heart of the Irish midlands.
Edgeworthstown, longford
Housed in a historic 19th-century schoolhouse, the Maria Edgeworth Centre brings to life the world of Ireland’s highest-paid English-language author of her era. Visitors explore original period desks, rare family artefacts, and interactive displays that trace her literary legacy and the Edgeworth family’s pioneering work in Irish education.
Portlaoise, laois
The Midlands sits at the geographical and mythological centre of Ireland, spanning four counties of gentle plains, winding rivers and rich heritage. From the druidic Hill of Uisneach and the Iron Age Corlea Trackway to the Norman walls of Athlone Castle and the scientific legacy of Birr’s Great Telescope, this inland region offers a deeply layered travel experience.
Newtowncashel, longford
Morning mist rolls over Lough Ree as the village’s tidy-town charm greets visitors. Beyond the calm waters lie the ruins of Elfeet Castle and Inchcleraun Island’s early monastic churches, echoing a landscape shaped since the 6th century.
Granard, longford
Ireland’s tallest Norman motte, Granard Motte at 163 m, anchors this ambitious heritage park. Visitors can explore a fully accessible replica ship, wander a recreated banqueting hall and step into an underground treasure tunnel, all within a 15-acre living museum of 12th-century life.
Longford, longford
The River Inny winds 88 km from County Meath to Lough Ree, passing through limestone lakes, ancient boundaries and the striking Whitworth Aqueduct. Its clear waters attract anglers and kayakers, while local legends and wildlife watching make it a rewarding midland escape.
Dublin, dublin
The Royal Canal stretches 130 km of level towpath from Maynooth to Cloondara, winding through five counties, 90 stone bridges and 33 working locks. Cyclists, walkers and runners can soak up wildlife, historic sites such as Maynooth Castle and the Hill of Uisneach, and the award-winning scenery of Ireland’s longest greenway.
Newtowncashel, longford
Where 12th-century Augustinian ruins meet the calls of wintering waterfowl, Saints' Island offers a quiet sanctuary on Lough Ree. Sir Henry Dillon's stone chapel stands beside marshy fringes teeming with curlews and lapwings, just a short walk from Newtowncashel.
Aughnacliffe, longford
Perched on a drumlin ridge above Lough Gowna, Sonnagh Fort stands as one of County Longford’s finest surviving early medieval ringforts. Its distinctive double earthworks and natural spring mark the site of a high-status homestead that once sheltered a farming family. Today, it remains a free, unguided heritage stop where visitors can walk the perimeter and trace the landscape of ancient Ireland.
Longford Town, longford
Step inside St Mel's Cathedral to discover a soaring Neoclassical space rebuilt after a devastating 2009 fire. The restored nave showcases hand-carved limestone columns, historic stained glass and a grand pipe organ, all open to visitors free of charge.
