Longford

{{short description |Town in County Longford, Ireland}} {{about|the Irish town}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}} {{Infobox settlement | settlement_type = Town | name = Longford | native_name = {{nativename|ga|An Longfort}} | native_name_lang = ga | image_seal = | motto = | image_skyline = {{multiple image |border = infobox |total_width = 280px |image_style = border:1; |perrow = 1/2/2 |image1 = Longford - aerial - 2024-12-27 04.jpg |caption1 = Town skyline |image2 = Longford St. Mel's Cathedral SE 2019 08 23.jpg |caption2 = St Mel's Cathedral |image3 = Longford Courthouse - 2024-12-27.jpg |caption3 = Longford Courthouse |image4 = Main Street, Longford - 2024-12-27.jpg |caption4 = Main Street |image5 = Connolly Barracks - aerial - 2024-12-27 01.jpg |caption5 = Connolly Barracks }} | image_caption = | pushpin_map = Ireland | pushpin_label_position = left | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland | coordinates = {{coord|53.727|-7.800|dim:100000_region:IE|display=inline,title}} | blank_name_sec1 = Irish Grid Reference | blank_info_sec1 = {{iem4ibx|N135750}} | unit_pref = Metric | elevation_m = 72 | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Ireland | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Leinster | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = County Longford | population_urban = 10,952 | population_rank = 46th | population_footnotes = <ref name=cso2022>{{cite web | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=d59e5a9a-7476-4049-ba88-18d34093d4bc | title = Interactive Data Visualisations: Towns: Longford | work = Census 2022 | publisher = Central Statistics Office| access-date = 26 September 2023}}</ref> | population_as_of = 2022 | website = {{URL|www.longford.ie}} | area_code_type = Telephone area code | area_code = 043 | postal_code_type =Eircode routing key | postal_code =N39 |timezone = WET |utc_offset = ±0 |timezone_DST = IST |utc_offset_DST = +1 }}

'''Longford''' ({{lga|An Longfort}}) is the county town of County Longford in Ireland. It had a population of 10,952 at the 2022 census.<ref name="cso2022"/> 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's N4 and N5 roads, which means that traffic travelling between Dublin and County Mayo, or north County Roscommon passes around the town. Longford railway station, on the Dublin-Sligo line, is used heavily by commuters.

==History== The town is built at a fording point on the banks of the River Camlin ({{Irish derived place name|Camlinn|crooked pool}}), which is a tributary of the River Shannon. According to several sources, the name Longford is an Anglicization of the Irish {{lang|ga|Longphort}}, referring to a fortress or fortified house.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url = https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets.ria.ie/ihta/ihta-digital/early-modern-gaelic-and-plantation-towns/longford/IHTA_22_Longford_Text.pdf | chapter = No. 22 - Longford | title = Irish Historic Towns Atlas | first1 = Sarah | last1 = Gearty | first2 = Martin | last2 = Morris | first3 = Fergus | last3 = O'Ferrall | date = 2010 | publisher = Royal Irish Academy | quote = 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 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title = Earthing the Myths: The Myths, Legends and Early History of Ireland | first = Daragh | last = Smyth | date = 2020 | isbn = 9781788551373 | publisher = Merrion Press | quote = Longford / Longphort, 'fortified house' [..] The early name for Longford was Longphort Uí Fhearghail ('stronghold of the man of valour', or 'O'Farrell's fortress') }}</ref>

The area came under the sway of the local clan which controlled the south and middle of the County of Longford (historically called {{lang|ga|Anghaile}} or {{Not a typo|Annaly}}) and hence, the town was known as {{lang|ga|Longfort Uí Fhearghail}} (fort/stronghold of O'Farrell).<ref>{{cite book | chapter = Ó Fearghail| chapter-url = https://www.libraryireland.com/names/of/o-fearghail.php | title = Irish Names and Surnames | date = 1923 | first = Patrick | last = Woulfe | publisher = M. H. Gill | place = Dublin | quote = The head of the family resided at the town of Longford, which was formerly known as Longphort Ui Fhearghail, or O'Farrell's fortress }}</ref>

A Dominican priory was 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13002006/st-johns-church-of-ireland-church-church-street-battery-road-abbeycartron-longford-town-county-longford|title=St. John's Church of Ireland Church, Church Street, Battery Road, Abbeycarton, Longford Town, County Longford|publisher=National Inventory of Architectural Heritage|website=www.buildingsofireland.com|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926214010/https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13002006/st-johns-church-of-ireland-church-church-street-battery-road-abbeycartron-longford-town-county-longford|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1605, King James I granted Baron Delvin (Sir Richard Nugent) the right to hold a Thursday market, a fair in August, and the related baronial courts in Longford/Annaly.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Farrell |first=James P. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/History_of_the_county_Longford/q87LDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=market%20and%20fair |title=History of the County Longford | page = 123 |date=1894-01-01 |publisher=Dalcassian Publishing Company |language=en}}</ref>

In 1815, the Longford Cavalry Barracks was established by the British Army in the town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=LF&regno=13008020|title=Sean Connolly Barracks, Sean Connolly Barracks, Church Street, Longford Town, County Longford|publisher=National Inventory of Architectural Heritage|accessdate=7 January 2016}}</ref>

A spur of the Royal Canal, linking the main canal to Longford town was completed in 1831.{{sfn|Clarke|1993|page=49}} Construction on the Royal Canal had begun in May 1790 and concluded in 1817 with the successful joining of Dublin with the River Shannon at Cloondara, County Longford, but had bypassed Longford town itself.{{sfn|Clarke|1993|page=47}}{{sfn|Clarke|1993|page=49}}

From at least the 1830s, The Royal Canal Company offered cheap fares on night boats along the canal for passengers wishing to get from Longford to Dublin, and vice versa.<ref name = IWH_passengerboats>{{cite web|last=Goggin|first=Brian J. |title=The passage boat services (Page 2/6 of a series of IWH articles about the sinking of the Longford)|url=https://irishwaterwayshistory.com/abandoned-or-little-used-irish-waterways/the-royal-canal/the-sinking-of-the-longford-in-1845/the-passage-boat-services/#_edn5 |publisher=Irish Waterways History|date= 2015-11-24|access-date=2025-02-07}}</ref> The Irish Waterways History website describes the conditions under which the night boat service operated in the late 1830s: "From 1838 the night boat from Dublin left at two o'clock each afternoon; the boat from Longford left at half-past two. The night boat schedule was arranged to allow links with Charles Bianconi's cars, which linked Longford with Carrick-on-Shannon, Boyle and Sligo".<ref name = IWH_passengerboats/><ref name = FJ_a>{{Cite news |date=1838-09-24|title=Night Boat from Dublin to Longford Schedule|newspaper=Freeman's Journal|language=en}}</ref> The journey from Dublin to Longford by boat took 17 hours.<ref name = IWH_passengerboats/> In November 1845, one of the night boats sank en route to Longford on the outskirts of Dublin, killing 15 people.<ref name = IWH_Between>{{cite web|last=Goggin|first=Brian J. |title=Remember, remember the twenty-fifth of November|url=https://irishwaterwayshistory.com/2015/11/20/remember-remember-the-twenty-fifth-of-november/ |publisher=Irish Waterways History|date= 2015-11-20 |access-date=2025-02-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=1998-07-01|url = https://www.askaboutireland.ie/learning-zone/primary-students/looking-at-places/fingal/blanchardstown-through-ti/the-royal-canal/ | publisher = Ask About Ireland | website = askaboutireland.ie | title = The Royal Canal - A Tragic Accident | accessdate = 2025-02-05 }}</ref>

In February 1922, following Irish independence, the Cavalry Barracks in Longford were handed over to the Irish Free State and renamed Connolly Barracks after Sean Connolly, an Irish republican.<ref name=defence>{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.ie/WebSite.nsf/Speech+ID/C2CFF8A95644D37380257A05004C185A?OpenDocument|title=Speech by the Minister for Justice, Equality & Defence at the formal hand over of Longford Barracks following its sale to Longford County Council|date=2012|publisher=Department of Defence|accessdate=7 January 2016}}</ref>

==Places of interest== Located to the south of Longford, in Keenagh, is the visitor centre of the Corlea Trackway. It houses a preserved 18-metre stretch of Iron Age bog road, which was built in {{circa|148 BC}}. There are also a number of portal dolmens located around Longford.

The town serves as the cathedral town of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise. St Mel's Cathedral,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stmelscathedral.com |title=St Mels Cathedral, Longford, Ireland, Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Cathedral Fire, Friends of St Mels Cathedral |publisher=Stmelscathedral.com |date=25 December 2009 |access-date=23 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302053610/http://www.stmelscathedral.com/ |archive-date=2 March 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> dedicated to Saint Mel, the founder of the diocese of Ardagh, was built between 1840 and 1856. It was designed by architect John Benjamin Keane, who also designed St Francis Xavier's Church on Gardiner Street in Dublin. St Mel's Cathedral features several stained glass windows by Harry Clarke studios. 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.<ref>{{cite news | title=RTÉ News: Longford Cathedral gutted in fire | url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1225/longford.html | access-date=25 December 2009 | date=25 December 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115080553/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1225/longford.html | archive-date=15 January 2010 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref> 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|date=May 2021}}

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 artist Remco de Fouw, which is one of the largest pieces of sculpture in Ireland.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

In a 2003 ''Guardian'' article about Patrick 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".<ref name=kingof>[https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/aug/30/fiction.patrickmccabe King of Bog Gothic]. ''The Guardian''. 30 August 2003</ref>

{{Historical populations|state= |1813|3062 |1821|3783 |1831|4516 |1841|4966 |1851|4467 |1861|4819 |1871|4375 |1881|4380 |1891|3827 |1901|3747 |1911|3760 |1926|3685 |1936|3807 |1946|4020 |1951|3845 |1956|4167 |1961|4073 |1966|4129 |1971|4791 |1981|6548 |1986|6835 |1991|6824 |1996|6984 |2002|7557 |2006|8836 |2011|9601 |2016|10008 |2022|10952 | footnote=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cso.ie/census |title=Census for post 1821 figures. |publisher=Cso.ie |access-date=23 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920090814/http://cso.ie/census |archive-date=20 September 2010 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.histpop.org histpop.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023856/http://www.histpop.org/ |date=7 May 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census |title=NISRA – Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency |publisher=Nisranew.nisra.gov.uk |access-date=23 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404114651/http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census/ |archive-date=4 April 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last=Lee | first=JJ | author-link=J. J. Lee (historian) | editor-last=Goldstrom | editor-first=J. M. | editor2-last=Clarkson | editor2-first=L. A. | title=Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell | year=1981 | publisher=Clarendon Press | location=Oxford, England | chapter=On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Mokyr | first1 = Joel | author-link = Joel Mokyr | last2 = O Grada | first2 = Cormac | title = New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850 | journal = The Economic History Review | volume = 37 | issue = 4 | pages = 473–488 |date=November 1984 | url = http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract | archive-url = https://archive.today/20121204160709/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract | url-status = dead | archive-date = 4 December 2012 | doi = 10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x | hdl = 10197/1406 | hdl-access = free }}</ref><ref name="sapmap2016">{{cite web | url = http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST2016&Geog_Code=B6928243-67FB-4B00-96C3-9881FCB67058#SAPMAP_T1_100 | publisher = CSO | work = Census 2016 | title = Sapmap Area – Settlements – Longford | date = 2016 | access-date = 12 January 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180113150308/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST2016&Geog_Code=B6928243-67FB-4B00-96C3-9881FCB67058#SAPMAP_T1_100 | archive-date = 13 January 2018 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="cso2022"/> }}

==Economy== thumb|left|Longford Shopping Centre [[File:Longford railway station - 2024-12-27 04.jpg|thumbnail|Longford railway station]] thumb|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 as Tesco, German discount retailers, Aldi and Lidl and Irish retail outlets such as Dunnes Stores and Penneys. A retail park, the N4 Axis Centre, opened in Longford in October 2005.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.ie/news/homebase-and-argos-declared-for-30m-longford-centre/25998887.html | title=Homebase and Argos declared for ?30m Longford centre | date=9 February 2005 }}</ref>

Longford town has a decentralized government department which employs approximately 300 people,{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} and a further 130 are employed at the Irish Prison Service's headquarters in the town.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} Connolly Barracks once employed approximately 180 soldiers, many of whom were involved in UN peace-keeping duties, until the barracks closed in January 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/longford-co-council-to-sell-off-connolly-barracks-1.2598814|title=Longford County Council to sell of Connolly Barracks|newspaper=The Irish Times |date=6 April 2016|access-date=7 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409070403/http://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/longford-co-council-to-sell-off-connolly-barracks-1.2598814|archive-date=9 April 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

While construction was formerly a major local employer, following the post-2008 Irish economic downturn, there were job losses in the construction industry and an increase in unemployment in the region.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==Education== 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 (a Catholic boys' school),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.stmelscollege.ie/ |title=stmelscollege.ie |access-date=1 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202010156/http://www.stmelscollege.ie/ |archive-date=2 December 2005 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and Scoil Mhuire (a Catholic girls' school run by the Sisters of Mercy), as well as a mixed school, (Templemichael College, formerly known as Longford Vocational School). Primary schools in Longford include a Gaelscoil and St. Joseph's. There is also an adult education centre in Longford.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

St. Mel's College is the oldest of these schools, being founded in the 1860s by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois as 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|date=May 2021}}

==Transport== ===Road=== Longford is at the point of divergence of the N5 road to Castlebar/Westport/Ireland West Airport and the N4 road which continues onwards to Sligo.

The N5 originally started in the town centre, causing occasional traffic congestion. The town's bypass opened on 3 August 2012.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.tii.ie/news/press-releases/n5-longford-bypass-opens-/|website=Transport Infrastructure Ireland|title=N5 Longford Bypass – Opens Friday, August 3rd|access-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116183850/http://tii.ie/news/press-releases/n5-longford-bypass-opens-/|archive-date=16 November 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

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|date=May 2021}}

===Rail=== Longford railway station (opened 8 November 1855)<ref>{{cite web | title=Longford station | work=Railscot – Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=5 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926042407/http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | archive-date=26 September 2007 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref> is on the Dublin-Sligo line of the Irish railway network. About {{convert|91|km|mi}} from Sligo and {{convert|122|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Dublin, 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 to Dublin Connolly generally taking about an hour and three-quarters.

===Canals=== The Royal Canal reopened in October 2010 after years of being derelict and overgrown. Navigation is now possible from Spencer Dock, in Dublin, to the Shannon, in Cloondara.

===Bus=== There are a number of bus services to Dublin and 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|date=May 2021}}

Donnelly's Pioneer Bus Service, a local bus company based in Granard, operate a route from Longford to Granard via Ballinalee. There are three journeys each way daily (no Sunday service).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.journeyplanner.transportforireland.ie/nta/TTB/EFA03__00004495_TP.pdf|title=Journey Planner|publisher=Transport for Ireland}}{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Whartons Travel, which is also a local bus service, operate a route from Longford railway station and Longford to Cavan via Drumlish, Arvagh and Crossdoney.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whartonstravel.com/longford-bus.html |title=Whartons Travel - Cavan to Longford Bus - Longford to Cavan Bus |access-date=2015-12-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209080718/http://www.whartonstravel.com/longford-bus.html |archive-date=9 February 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> As of 2014, this service is funded by the National Transport Authority.

===Air=== Longford's main air transport centre is located south-east of the town, at Abbeyshrule. Abbeyshrule Aerodrome receives a regular influx of small general aviation aircraft, including the Cessna 182 and 150.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} 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|date=May 2021}}

==Arts and culture== The Backstage Theatre and Centre for the Arts is a facility for arts and culture projects in the town and surrounding areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Backstage |url=https://www.backstage.ie/ |website=Backstage |access-date=4 July 2020 |archive-date=10 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810060032/https://www.backstage.ie/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is funded by Longford County Council with support from the Arts Council. Backstage is a member of two arts touring networks: Nasc a nationwide network of seven venues and Nomad a north midlands based network.<ref>{{cite web |title=Networks - Irish Theatre |url=http://www.irishtheatre.ie/network-index.aspx |website=Irish Theatre Institute |access-date=4 July 2020 |archive-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703201017/http://www.irishtheatre.ie/network-index.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Sport== The town has a number of sports clubs and facilities, including the Gaelic 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|date=May 2021}}

===Gaelic football and hurling=== The sport with most support in County Longford is Gaelic football.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} The headquarters of the Longford Gaelic Athletic Association is 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 is Longford Slashers, based in Longford town, who have won more Longford Senior Football Championship titles (16) than any other team in the county,{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} including a win in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Slashers storm to title |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-20245449.html |website=Irish Examiner |language=en |date=7 October 2013}}</ref>

===Association football=== Longford town's main association football (soccer) club, Longford Town FC, was founded in 1924 and was elected to the League of Ireland in 1984.<ref name="LOI">{{cite web |url=http://www.airtricityleague.ie/clubs/first-division/longford-town/club-information |title=Longford Town Club Information |date=9 February 2009 |work=airtricityleague.ie |access-date=7 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922045422/http://www.airtricityleague.ie/clubs/first-division/longford-town/club-information |archive-date=22 September 2012 }}</ref> The club's ground is at Strokestown Road.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://ltfc.ie/visiting-bishopsgate/ | website = ltfc.ie | title = Visiting Bishopsgate | accessdate = 26 July 2023 }}</ref> Longford Town FC has twice won the FAI Cup, in 2003 and 2004.<ref name="LOI"/>

===Other sports=== The local rugby union club, Longford RFC, was formed in the 1960s and participates in the Leinster League.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishrugby.ie/2007/12/04/longford-rfc-a-look-back-in-time/ | website = irishrugby.ie | title = Longford RFC: A Look Back In Time | accessdate = 26 July 2023 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://longford.coralleisure.ie/ | website = longford.coralleisure.ie | title = Coral Leisure Longford | accessdate = 26 July 2023 | quote = 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}}</ref>

==People== *Willie Browne (1936–2004), Republic of Ireland international footballer{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} *Francis "Frank" Butler (1847–1926), rifleshot who toured the US (1876–1884) and husband-manager of American sharpshooter Annie Oakley<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/local-news/145929/How-the-Wild-West-stage-was.html | work = Longford Leader | title = How the Wild West stage was won by a Longford man | date = 16 April 2015 | accessdate = 5 May 2023 | quote = Francis 'Frank' E Butler was born in Longford town on January 20, 1847}}</ref> *Padraic Colum (1881–1972), Irish poet, novelist and playwright<ref>{{cite journal|url = https://www.dib.ie/biography/colum-padraic-a1889 |journal=Dictionary of Irish Biography| publisher = Royal Irish Academy | doi = 10.3318/dib.001889.v1| title = Colum, Padraic | last = Kinsella | first = Michael A. |date=2009 |access-date=5 May 2023 | doi-access = free }}</ref> *Ray Flynn (b.1957), Irish mile record holder{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} *Gareth Ghee, inter-county hurler{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} *Michael Gomez (b.1977), champion professional boxer was born in an Irish Traveller family in Longford<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/sport/boxing-gomez-finally-to-fight-for-irish-title/26403417.html | website = independent.ie | title = Boxing: Gomez finally to fight for Irish title | date = 11 January 2006 | accessdate = 5 May 2023 }}</ref> *Brandon Ly (b.2005), Irish-Vietnamese footballer{{fact|date=November 2025}} *Patrick McCabe (b.1955), novelist, has lived in Longford<ref name=kingof/> *Ruairí Ó Brádaigh (1932–2013), founder of Republican Sinn Féin<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/o-bradaigh-ruairi-a10082|title=Ó Brádaigh, Ruairí|journal=Dictionary of Irish Biography| publisher = Royal Irish Academy | doi = 10.3318/dib.010082.v1 |last=Maume|first=Patrick|date=2019 |access-date=5 May 2023 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

==Climate== Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfb" (Marine West Coast Climate/Oceanic climate).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=39650&cityname=Longford%2C+Ireland&units= |title=Climate Summary for Longford |access-date=12 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922000101/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=39650&cityname=Longford%2C+Ireland&units= |archive-date=22 September 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> {{Weather box |location = Longford |single line = Yes |metric first = Yes |Jan avg record high C = 12.3 |Feb avg record high C = 13.4 |Mar avg record high C = 16.7 |Apr avg record high C = 19.3 |May avg record high C = 22.9 |Jun avg record high C = 24.8 |Jul avg record high C = 25.2 |Aug avg record high C = 24.9 |Sep avg record high C = 22.1 |Oct avg record high C = 19.0 |Nov avg record high C = 15.6 |Dec avg record high C = 12.8 |year avg record high C = 19.1 |Jan high C = 7.6 |Feb high C = 8.4 |Mar high C = 10.3 |Apr high C = 13.2 |May high C = 16.3 |Jun high C = 18.1 |Jul high C = 20.4 |Aug high C = 19.3 |Sep high C = 17.1 |Oct high C = 13.6 |Nov high C = 9.4 |Dec high C = 7.8 |year high C = |Jan mean C = 4.7 |Feb mean C = 5.3 |Mar mean C = 6.8 |Apr mean C = 9.4 |May mean C = 11.7 |Jun mean C = 13.8 |Jul mean C = 16.2 |Aug mean C = 15.5 |Sep mean C = 13.2 |Oct mean C = 10.1 |Nov mean C = 6.4 |Dec mean C = 4.8 |year mean C = |Jan low C = 1.7 |Feb low C = 2.1 |Mar low C = 3.3 |Apr low C = 5.6 |May low C = 7.1 |Jun low C = 9.5 |Jul low C = 12.1 |Aug low C = 11.3 |Sep low C = 9.3 |Oct low C = 6.6 |Nov low C = 3.4 |Dec low C = 1.8 |year low C = |Jan avg record low C = -2.1 |Feb avg record low C = -1.3 |Mar avg record low C = 0.3 |Apr avg record low C = 2.6 |May avg record low C = 5.6 |Jun avg record low C = 7.6 |Jul avg record low C = 10.5 |Aug avg record low C = 9.7 |Sep avg record low C = 7.8 |Oct avg record low C = 4.8 |Nov avg record low C = 1.2 |Dec avg record low C = -1.9 |year avg record low C = 3.9 |Jan precipitation mm = 78.8 |Feb precipitation mm = 58.6 |Mar precipitation mm = 67.4 |Apr precipitation mm = 55.0 |May precipitation mm = 59.5 |Jun precipitation mm = 66.5 |Jul precipitation mm = 59.4 |Aug precipitation mm = 81.6 |Sep precipitation mm = 66.4 |Oct precipitation mm = 94.2 |Nov precipitation mm = 74.7 |Dec precipitation mm = 83.8 |year precipitation mm = 845.7 |source 1 = Weatherbase<ref name=Weatherbase>{{cite web |url = http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=39650&cityname=Longford- |publisher = Weatherbase |title = Weatherbase.com |year = 2013 |access-date = 12 July 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140903223941/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=39650&cityname=Longford- |archive-date = 3 September 2014 |url-status = live |df = dmy-all }} Retrieved on 12 July 2013.</ref> |date=July 2013 }}

==See also== * Carn Clonhugh * List of towns and villages in Ireland

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Sources== {{refbegin}} * {{cite journal |last = Clarke| first = Peter|title =The Royal Canal 1789-1993 | journal = Dublin Historical Record| volume = 46| issue = 1| pages = 46–52| publisher = Old Dublin Society| location = Dublin| date = 1993-02-17| jstor = 30101021| url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/30101021}} {{refend}}

==External links== * {{Commons category-inline|Longford, County Longford|Longford|inline=yes}} * {{wiktionary-inline|Longford}}

{{County Longford}}

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Category:Longford (town) Category:County towns in the Republic of Ireland Category:Towns and villages in County Longford Category:Former urban districts in the Republic of Ireland Category:Former boroughs in the Republic of Ireland