10 things to do in Longford

1. Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre

Hidden away in the boglands of County Longford, not far from Kenagh village, is an inspiring relic of prehistory: a togher – an Iron Age road – built in 148 BC. Known locally as the Danes’ Road, it i

ial highway connecting the Hill of Uisneach, the ritual centre of Ireland, and the royal site of Rathcroghan. The trackway was built from heavy planks of oak, which sank into the peat after a short time. This made it unusable, of course, but also ensured it remained perfectly preserved in the bog for the next two millennia. Inside the interpretive centre, an 18-metre stretch of the ancient wooden structure is on permanent display in a hall specially designed to preserve it. Don’t miss this amazing remnant of our ancient past. Heritageireland.ie

s the largest of its kind to have been uncovered in Europe.

Historians agree that it was part of a routeway of great importance. It may have been a section of a ceremon

2. National Famine Way

A once in a lifetime experience, it follows in the footsteps of 1,490 famine-stricken tenant farmers and their families who were forced to march to Dublin by their Strokestown Landlord in 1847 and compelled to emigrate to Canada via Liverpool. From the glass memorial wall at the National Famine Museum in Strokestown Park, the NFW meanders BY the quaint towns and villages of Longford before ending at the Famine Statues in Dublin’s Docklands near the Jeanie Johnson Famine Ship and EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum. nationalfamineway.ie

3. Longford Rebel Trail

On the Longford Rebel Trail Driving Route, you will learn about the county’s involvement in insurrections and rebellions from the time of the Normans up to the War of Independence. The entire route covers a distance of 71 kilometres and you can join in at any point and complete at your own pace. The Trail takes in Longford Town where you can also visit St Mel’s Cathedral as well as Granard which is home to the Knights and Conquests Visitor Centre and Ireland’s highest Norman motte and bailey. The route also traces the historical sites of the 1798 Battle of Ballinamuck as well as the home of General Sean McEoin and the North Longford Flying Column of the Irish War of Independence. An audio guide on the trail of the rebels is freely available to listen to, in French, English and Irish as you travel from the audio section on VisitLongford.ie

4. Dive into authentic Ireland at Cloughan Farm & Cookery School

Visit Cloughan Farm & Cookery School in Cloughan, County Longford and dive into sustainable farm living. Get hands-on cooking experience using farm ingredients. Learn, laugh, taste great food and fall in love with farming life.

Reconnect with land and food in the company of Longford Hero Food Champions Fiona Egan and her husband Michael Farrell at Cloughan Farm & Cookery School in Cloughan, County Longford. Fiona and Michael are renowned for their warm welcome and down to earth approach. The farm location is beautifully framed within spectacular rural countryside and is only 2km from the picturesque village of Abbeyshrule. Cloughan Farm & Cookery School is alive with activity from hens, dogs, chickens, cows, pigs and lambs.

fionaegan.com

5. Maria Edgeworth Centre, Edgeworthstown

The Maria Edgeworth Centre is a literary and heritage museum in Edgeworthstown, celebrating the life and legacy of Maria Edgeworth, a foundational figure in the development of the modern novel. Often described as the “Irish Jane Austen”, she influenced many notable writers of her time. Beyond her literary legacy, the Centre shares the story of Ireland’s early national education system, offering a fascinating glimpse into the country’s cultural and educational history. In the heart of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, nestled in rural Ireland, the Maria Edgeworth Centre is housed in a nineteenth-century national school.  mariaedgeworthcenter.com/

6. Guided and Self-Guided Walking & Cycling Tours

As a regenerative and sustainable tourism destination, County Longford has invested heavily in slow tourism alternatives to enjoy with a wonderful selection of off route and on-road walking and cycling trails. Be active in nature, find yourself soaking up the peace and quiet along the waters edge or relish the walking and cycling trails in the woodland and bogland. Companies like Midlands Cycle Hub, Ballymahon Greenway Cycles and Ethical Tours offer inclusive, sustainable opportunities to get active in nature while soaking up the heritage, history and biodiversity along the way.

Visitlongford.ie/see-do

7. Meet the Maker on the Irish Whiskey Way (Lough Ree Distillery)

Lough Ree Distillery is one of the few remaining sites along the Irish Whiskey Way where you are much more likely to meet the makers themselves on a tasting, tour or gin-school experience. A smaller family-run and multiple award-winning distillery, this is a family business, located in our hometown of Lanesborough, in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. It’s a simple story – 3 siblings with complementary skillsets following careers in Business, Engineering and Finance decided to go into business together, embarking on what continues to be a remarkable, sometimes challenging, journey. lrd.ie

8. Sauna, Spa and wellness breaks

Experience the world of wellness in Longford with a range of operators to cater for your every need. Sweati Yeti in Lanesborough and Firecracker Sauna in Aughnacliffe offer visitors the chance to soak up the scenery in their lakeside locations. Aqua Sana Spa in Centre Parcs is one of the top day spas in Ireland with over 20 hydrotherapy experiences to choose from. With ample tree-bathing opportunities, yoga, pilates and sound bath experiences – Longford is the ideal place to slow down, reconnect and recharge.
VisitLongford.ie/see-do

9. Tour the Monastic Heritage Islands of Lough Ree

With multiple operators offering boating and angling trips, Lough Ree Access for all invites you to set sail on Lough Ree with boat trips designed for everyone to enjoy!  Comfortable, safe, and inclusive – the roll-on, roll-off model offers the perfect outing for all generations. Learn about the legends of Lough Ree, the flora and fauna and biodiversity of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. VisitLongford.ie – See & Do

10. Celebrate the ancient beginnings of Halloween in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands

A celebration of ancient traditions, the Home of Halloween programme of festivals and events in Longford and Westmeath runs for four weeks from mid October through to the marking of the Celtic New Year on November 7th and 8th. The programme features firelit processions, ghostly storytelling, traditional music, seasonal food, contemporary art, and interactive performances that bring Ireland’s Halloween heritage to life throughout both counties. In Longford Westmeath, we are celebrating Samhain at its source – here in the ancient landscapes of bogs and waterways in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands where tracks and trails lead to most sacred of locations. Each event is unique in style, but together they weave a story of fire, folklore, and community that is deeply rooted in place.
visitlongford.ie