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Longford

Coordinates:53°43′37″N7°48′00″W/ 53.727°N 7.800°W/53.727; -7.800
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This article is about the Irish town. For other uses, seeLongford (disambiguation).

Longford
An Longfort
Town
St Mel's Cathedral, Longford
St Mel's Cathedral,Longford
Longford is located in Ireland
Longford
Longford
Location in Ireland
Coordinates:53°43′37″N7°48′00″W/ 53.727°N 7.800°W/53.727; -7.800
CountryIreland
ProvinceLeinster
CountyCounty Longford
Elevation
72 m (236 ft)
Population
(2022)[1]
• Rank46th
•Urban
10,952
Time zoneUTC±0(WET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+1(IST)
Eircoderouting key
N39
Telephone area code043
Irish Grid ReferenceN135750
Websitewww.longford.ie

Longford(Irish:An Longfort) is thecounty townofCounty Longfordin Ireland. It had a population of 10,952 at the2022 census.[1]It is the biggest town in the county and about one third of the county's population lives there. Longford lies at the meeting of Ireland'sN4andN5National Primary Routeroads, which means that traffic travelling betweenDublinandCounty Mayo,or northCounty Roscommonpasses around the town.Longford railway station,on theDublin-Sligo line,is used heavily by commuters.

History[edit]

The town is built at a fording point on the banks of theRiver Camlin(fromIrishCamlinn,meaning 'crooked pool'), which is a tributary of theRiver Shannon.According to several sources, the name Longford is an Anglicization of the IrishLongphort,referring to a fortress or fortified house.[2][3]

The area came under the sway of the local clan which controlled the south and middle of the County of Longford (historically calledAnghaileor Annaly) and hence, the town was known asLongfort Uí Fhearghail(fort/stronghold of O'Farrell).[4]

ADominicanpriorywas founded there in 1400. St. John's Church of Ireland (formerly known as Templemichael Parish Church) was built on the site of the priory in 1710.[5]

Places of interest[edit]

Located to the south of Longford, inKeenagh,is the visitor centre of theCorlea Trackway.It houses a preserved 18-metre stretch ofIron Agebog road, which was built inc. 148 BC.There are also a number ofportal dolmenslocated around Longford.

The town serves as the cathedral town of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise.St Mel's Cathedral,[6]dedicated toSaint Mel,the founder of thediocese of Ardagh,was built between 1840 and 1856. It was designed by architectJohn Benjamin Keane,who also designedSt Francis Xavier's Churchon Gardiner Street in Dublin. St Mel's Cathedral features several stained glass windows byHarry Clarkestudios. These include one of Clarke's earliest works,The consecration of St. Mel as Bishop of Longford,which was exhibited at the RDS Annual Art Industries Exhibition in 1910, where it received second prize. The cathedral was extensively damaged in a fire on Christmas Day 2009.[7]It remained closed for five years after the fire, while it was the centre of one of the largest restoration projects undertaken in Europe. It reopened for services at midnight mass on Christmas Eve 2014 and has since become a tourist attraction. Two of the intricate stained-glass windows in the transepts of the cathedral, depicting St Anne and the Resurrection, have been restored.[citation needed]

Longford town has a 212-seat theatre called Backstage Theatre just outside of the town, and a four-screen multiplex cinema, with restaurants. The Irish Prison Service HQ, which is in the Lisnamuck area of the town, has a sculpture by artistRemco de Fouw,which is one of the largest pieces of sculpture in Ireland.[citation needed]

In a 2003Guardianarticle aboutPatrick McCabe,Longford's "features of distinction" are described as including "a hulking cathedral,a rash of fast-food joints, a grubby cinema and a shopping mall ".[8]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18133,062—
18213,783+23.5%
18314,516+19.4%
18414,966+10.0%
18514,467−10.0%
18614,819+7.9%
18714,375−9.2%
18814,380+0.1%
18913,827−12.6%
19013,747−2.1%
19113,760+0.3%
19263,685−2.0%
19363,807+3.3%
19464,020+5.6%
19513,845−4.4%
19564,167+8.4%
19614,073−2.3%
19664,129+1.4%
19714,791+16.0%
19816,548+36.7%
19866,835+4.4%
19916,824−0.2%
19966,984+2.3%
20027,557+8.2%
20068,836+16.9%
20119,601+8.7%
201610,008+4.2%
202210,952+9.4%
[9][10][11][12][13][14][1]

Economy[edit]

Longford Chamber of Commerce
Longford Railway Station
Homebase and Argos outlets in the town (2007)

Longford's main industries are food production, sawmills, steelworking, generator retailing, cable making and the production of medical diagnostics. It is the major services centre for the county as well as the location of the Department of Social Welfare and the Irish Prison Service. The town is also a local commercial centre, with a number of retail outlets including multiples such asTesco,andArgos,Germandiscount retailers,AldiandLidland Irish retail outlets such asDunnes StoresandPenneys.A retail park, the N4 Axis Centre, opened in Longford in October 2005.[15]

Longford town has a decentralized government department which employs approximately 300 people,[citation needed]and a further 130 are employed at the Irish Prison Service's headquarters in the town.[citation needed]Connolly Barracksonce employed approximately 180 soldiers, many of whom were involved in UN peace-keeping duties, until the barracks closed in January 2009.[16]

While construction was formerly a major local employer, following thepost-2008 Irish economic downturn,there were job losses in the construction industry and an increase in unemployment in the region.[citation needed]

Education[edit]

Longford town has a number of primary schools (for ages 4–12) and three secondary schools (for ages 12–19): two single-sex schools,St. Mel's College(aCatholicboys' school),[17]andScoil Mhuire(a Catholic girls' school run by theSisters of Mercy), as well as a mixed school, (Templemichael College,formerly known as LongfordVocational School). Primary schools in Longford include aGaelscoiland St. Joseph's. There is also an adult education centre in Longford.[citation needed]

St. Mel's College is the oldest of these schools, being founded in the 1860s by theRoman Catholic Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoisas a diocesan seminary to train students for the priesthood. While the school only briefly functioned as a seminary, it served for many years as a boarding school, while also admitting day students. The boarding school was discontinued after 2000 and the school is now only a day school, with the largest student enrolment in County Longford.[citation needed]

Transport[edit]

Road[edit]

Longford is at the point of divergence of theN5 roadtoCastlebar/Westport/Ireland West Airport Knockand theN4 roadwhich continues onwards toSligo.

The N5 originally started in the town centre, causing occasionaltraffic congestion.The town's bypass opened on 3 August 2012.[18]

The N4 Sligo road has a bypass around the town, which consists of single carriageway with hard shoulders and four roundabouts. It was opened on 2 June 1995.[citation needed]

Rail[edit]

Longford railway station(opened 8 November 1855)[19]is on theDublin-Sligo lineof theIrish railway network.About 91 kilometres (57 mi) fromSligoand 122 km (76 mi) fromDublin,it is served by Sligo-Dublin intercity services. Despite its distance from Dublin, there is a regular, well-utilised commuter service to Dublin with journeys toDublin Connollygenerally taking about an hour and three-quarters.

Canals[edit]

TheRoyal Canalreopened in October 2010 after years of being derelict and overgrown. Navigation is now possible from Spencer Dock, in Dublin, tothe Shannon,in Clondra.

Bus[edit]

There are a number of bus services toDublinand other towns both outside and inside the county provided by both the state (Bus Éireann) and private bus companies (Kane's, Donnelly's and Farrelly's.) Third level colleges are also served by the private companies during the academic year.[citation needed]

Donnelly's Pioneer Bus Service, a local bus company based inGranard,operate a route from Longford toGranardviaBallinalee.There are three journeys each way daily (no Sunday service).[20]

Whartons Travel, which is also a local bus service, operate a route fromLongford railway stationand Longford toCavanviaDrumlish,ArvaghandCrossdoney.[21]As of 2014, this service is funded by theNational Transport Authority.

Air[edit]

Longford's main air transport centre is located south-east of the town, atAbbeyshrule.Abbeyshrule Aerodromereceives a regular influx of small general aviation aircraft, including theCessna 182and150.[citation needed]The airport also has two flight training centres; one for general aviation fixed wing aircraft training (Aeroclub 2000) and one for microlight aircraft flight training (Ultraflight).[citation needed]

Arts and culture[edit]

The Backstage Theatre and Centre for the Arts is a facility for arts and culture projects in the town and surrounding areas.[22]It is funded byLongford County Councilwith support from theArts Council.Backstage is a member of two arts touring networks: Nasc a nationwide network of seven venues and Nomad a north midlands based network.[23]

Sport[edit]

The town has a number of sports clubs and facilities, including theGaelic Athletic Association,rugby and tennis clubs, a League of Ireland soccer club (Longford Town FC), two indoor swimming pools, a gym and an 18-hole golf course. A swimming pool was opened in Longford in 2007.[citation needed]

Gaelic football and hurling[edit]

The sport with most support in County Longford isGaelic football.[citation needed]The headquarters ofthe Longford Gaelic Athletic Associationis located in Pearse Park in Longford Town, with a ground capacity of around 11,000. The Longford Gaelic football team won a Leinster title at Senior level in 1968 and a National League title in 1966. The minor (under-18) Longford county team won the Leinster title in 2002 and 2010. The major boys' secondary school in Longford town,St. Mel's College,also has a tradition in secondary schools' football (known as Colleges A), winning 29 Leinster and 4 All-Ireland titles (in the Hogan Cup). The main local GAA club isLongford Slashers,based in Longford town, who have won moreLongford Senior Football Championshiptitles (16) than any other team in the county,[citation needed]including a win in 2013.[24]

Soccer[edit]

Longford town's mainassociation football(soccer) club,Longford Town FC,was founded in 1924 and was elected to theLeague of Irelandin 1984.[25]The club's ground is atStrokestown Road.[26]Longford Town FC has twice won theFAI Cup,in 2003 and 2004.[25]

Other sports[edit]

The localrugby unionclub,Longford RFC,was formed in the 1960s and participates in theLeinster League.[27]

Longford Sports & Leisure Centre, located in an area known locally as The Mall, contains a swimming pool, gym, and indoor and outdoor football and basketball facilities.[28]

People[edit]

Climate[edit]

Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. TheKöppen Climate Classificationsubtype for this climate is "Cfb"(Marine West Coast Climate/Oceanic climate).[33]

Climate data for Longford
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean maximum °C (°F) 12.3
(54.1) 		13.4
(56.1) 		16.7
(62.1) 		19.3
(66.7) 		22.9
(73.2) 		24.8
(76.6) 		25.2
(77.4) 		24.9
(76.8) 		22.1
(71.8) 		19.0
(66.2) 		15.6
(60.1) 		12.8
(55.0) 		19.1
(66.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 7.6
(45.7) 		8.4
(47.1) 		10.3
(50.5) 		13.2
(55.8) 		16.3
(61.3) 		18.1
(64.6) 		20.4
(68.7) 		19.3
(66.7) 		17.1
(62.8) 		13.6
(56.5) 		9.4
(48.9) 		7.8
(46.0) 		13.5
(56.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.7
(40.5) 		5.3
(41.5) 		6.8
(44.2) 		9.4
(48.9) 		11.7
(53.1) 		13.8
(56.8) 		16.2
(61.2) 		15.5
(59.9) 		13.2
(55.8) 		10.1
(50.2) 		6.4
(43.5) 		4.8
(40.6) 		9.8
(49.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.7
(35.1) 		2.1
(35.8) 		3.3
(37.9) 		5.6
(42.1) 		7.1
(44.8) 		9.5
(49.1) 		12.1
(53.8) 		11.3
(52.3) 		9.3
(48.7) 		6.6
(43.9) 		3.4
(38.1) 		1.8
(35.2) 		6.1
(43.1)
Mean minimum °C (°F) −2.1
(28.2) 		−1.3
(29.7) 		0.3
(32.5) 		2.6
(36.7) 		5.6
(42.1) 		7.6
(45.7) 		10.5
(50.9) 		9.7
(49.5) 		7.8
(46.0) 		4.8
(40.6) 		1.2
(34.2) 		−1.9
(28.6) 		3.9
(39.0)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 78.8
(3.10) 		58.6
(2.31) 		67.4
(2.65) 		55.0
(2.17) 		59.5
(2.34) 		66.5
(2.62) 		59.4
(2.34) 		81.6
(3.21) 		66.4
(2.61) 		94.2
(3.71) 		74.7
(2.94) 		83.8
(3.30) 		845.7
(33.30)
Source: Weatherbase[34]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abc"Interactive Data Visualisations: Towns: Longford".Census 2022.Central Statistics Office.Retrieved26 September2023.
  2. ^Gearty, Sarah; Morris, Martin; O'Ferrall, Fergus (2010)."No. 22 - Longford"(PDF).Irish Historic Towns Atlas.Royal Irish Academy.Longford stands on a fording point of the Camlin River though the town's name does not derive from its position on a ford, but comes from the Irish Longphort, meaning fortress or stronghold
  3. ^Smyth, Daragh (2020).Earthing the Myths: The Myths, Legends and Early History of Ireland.Merrion Press.ISBN9781788551373.Longford / Longphort, 'fortified house' [..] The early name for Longford was Longphort Uí Fhearghail ('stronghold of the man of valour', or 'O'Farrell's fortress')
  4. ^Woulfe, Patrick (1923)."Ó Fearghail".Irish Names and Surnames.Dublin: M. H. Gill.The head of the family resided at the town of Longford, which was formerly known as Longphort Ui Fhearghail, or O'Farrell's fortress
  5. ^"St. John's Church of Ireland Church, Church Street, Battery Road, Abbeycarton, Longford Town, County Longford".buildingsofireland.National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.Archivedfrom the original on 26 September 2021.Retrieved17 April2020.
  6. ^"St Mels Cathedral, Longford, Ireland, Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Cathedral Fire, Friends of St Mels Cathedral".Stmelscathedral. 25 December 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 2 March 2012.Retrieved23 June2012.
  7. ^"RTÉ News: Longford Cathedral gutted in fire".25 December 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 15 January 2010.Retrieved25 December2009.
  8. ^abKing of Bog Gothic.The Guardian.30 August 2003
  9. ^"Census for post 1821 figures".Cso.ie. Archived fromthe originalon 20 September 2010.Retrieved23 June2012.
  10. ^histpop.orgArchived7 May 2016 at theWayback Machine
  11. ^"NISRA – Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency".Nisranew.nisra.gov.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 4 April 2010.Retrieved23 June2012.
  12. ^Lee, JJ(1981). "On the accuracy of thePre-famineIrish censuses ". In Goldstrom, J. M.; Clarkson, L. A. (eds.).Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell.Oxford, England: Clarendon Press.
  13. ^Mokyr, Joel;O Grada, Cormac (November 1984)."New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850".The Economic History Review.37(4): 473–488.doi:10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x.hdl:10197/1406.Archived fromthe originalon 4 December 2012.
  14. ^"Sapmap Area – Settlements – Longford".Census 2016.CSO.2016.Archivedfrom the original on 13 January 2018.Retrieved12 January2018.
  15. ^https:// independent.ie/news/homebase-and-argos-declared-for-30m-longford-centre/25998887.html
  16. ^"Longford County Council to sell of Connolly Barracks".The Irish Times.6 April 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 9 April 2016.Retrieved7 January2016.
  17. ^"stmelscollege.ie".Archivedfrom the original on 2 December 2005.Retrieved1 January2019.
  18. ^"N5 Longford Bypass – Opens Friday, August 3rd".Transport Infrastructure Ireland(Press release).Archivedfrom the original on 16 November 2017.Retrieved1 January2019.
  19. ^"Longford station"(PDF).Railscot – Irish Railways.Archived(PDF)from the original on 26 September 2007.Retrieved5 September2007.
  20. ^"Journey Planner"(PDF).Transport for Ireland.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^"Whartons Travel - Cavan to Longford Bus - Longford to Cavan Bus".Archived fromthe originalon 9 February 2013.Retrieved19 December2015.
  22. ^"Backstage".Backstage.Archivedfrom the original on 10 August 2020.Retrieved4 July2020.
  23. ^"Networks - Irish Theatre".Irish Theatre Institute.Archivedfrom the original on 3 July 2020.Retrieved4 July2020.
  24. ^"Slashers storm to title".Irish Examiner.7 October 2013.
  25. ^ab"Longford Town Club Information".airtricityleague.ie.9 February 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 22 September 2012.Retrieved7 September2012.
  26. ^"Visiting Bishopsgate".ltfc.ie.Retrieved26 July2023.
  27. ^"Longford RFC: A Look Back In Time".irishrugby.ie.Retrieved26 July2023.
  28. ^"Coral Leisure Longford".longford.coralleisure.ie.Retrieved26 July2023.Longford Sports & Leisure Centre [..] includes a 25m Swimming Pool, a Learner Pool, Sauna & Steam Room, Gym, Weights Room, Sports Hall, Astro Turf and Mugga facility [..] Longford Sports & Leisure, The Mall, Longford Town
  29. ^"How the Wild West stage was won by a Longford man".Longford Leader.16 April 2015.Retrieved5 May2023.Francis 'Frank' E Butler was born in Longford town on January 20, 1847
  30. ^Kinsella, Michael A. (2009)."Colum, Padraic".Dictionary of Irish Biography.Royal Irish Academy.doi:10.3318/dib.001889.v1.Retrieved5 May2023.
  31. ^"Bo xing: Gomez finally to fight for Irish title".independent.ie.11 January 2006.Retrieved5 May2023.
  32. ^Maume, Patrick (2019)."Ó Brádaigh, Ruairí".Dictionary of Irish Biography.Royal Irish Academy.doi:10.3318/dib.010082.v1.Retrieved5 May2023.
  33. ^"Climate Summary for Longford".Archivedfrom the original on 22 September 2015.Retrieved12 July2013.
  34. ^"Weatherbase".Weatherbase. 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 3 September 2014.Retrieved12 July2013. Retrieved on 12 July 2013.

External links[edit]

  • Media related toLongfordat Wikimedia Commons
  • The dictionary definition ofLongfordat Wiktionary
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