Longford

Longford is located in the heart of the Lakelands, making it the ideal location for angling, kayaking or perhaps a boat trip to experience the stunning lakes and river first-hand. Most of Longford lies in the basin of the River Shannon with Lough Ree forming much of the county’s western boundary.

The Royal Canal Greenway is a great way of discovering Longford on the 144-kilometre trail that follows the towpath of the canal from Dublin to Clondra, County Longford.

The counties extensive waterways of the Shannon basin and the upper river Erne and of the 150km Royal Canal linking Dublin to the River Shannon, make Longford a popular stopover for boat cruises. Lough Ree is a scenic lake with endless outdoor opportunities. It is the second largest lake on the River Shannon and comes alive each spring and summer as outdoor adventurers and boating enthusiasts take to the waterway for water skiing, canoeing, rowing, boating, or fishing.

The provision of the Lough Ree Access For All boat provides an adapted integrated water based experience for people with disabilities for the very first time – allowing access for up to 3 wheelchair users at the same time.

The boat is the ONLY licenced vessel of its kind in Britain or Ireland for passenger travel of this nature and will provide daily sailings for people with disability.

Another must see is the Corlea Trackway, a unique wooden road through the boglands. The CorleaTrackway was laid with oak planks between 148 and 147 BC and can still be enjoyed today. Set near the town of Keenagh, this Iron Age walkway offers its visitors a scenic stroll in the countryside.

Center Parcs, opened in the summer of 2019 and is a purpose-built, state-of-the-art holiday park for families, couples, and solo travellers with over one hundred indoor and outdoor activities as well as a world-class indoor tropical waterpark.

St. Mel’s Cathedral is also recommended, as the newly-restored stunning 19th Century building, has been recently reopened and is considered ‘the flagship cathedral of the midlands’ dating back to 166!

Famous people with roots in County Longford

Mel Gibson; Oliver Goldsmith, born at Pallas, Abbeyshrule, County Longford; Maria Edgeworth and Kitty Kiernan from Granard, fiancee of Irish Leader Michael Collins

Learn more about Longford on https://www.longford.ie/en/visit/