Longford
St Mel's Cathedral, rebuilt after the Christmas Day fire of 2009, is the town's landmark and its story of recovery. Longford is the county town of County Longford in the midlands.
Best sites to see in Longford
St Mel's Cathedral
Longford's 19th-century cathedral, extensively restored and reopened in 2014 after a major fire on Christmas Day 2009, with a diocesan museum in its grounds.
Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
The centre near Keenagh, south of Longford, preserving an Iron Age oak bog road and displaying an 18-metre section of it under cover.
The Royal Canal harbour
The Longford branch of the Royal Canal ends at a harbour in the town, with towpath walking along the canal.
Market Square and Main Street
The commercial heart of the county town, with the courthouse and the town's main shops and services.
Where to stand, and when
- St Mel's Cathedral west front: Morning light shows the restored stonework and the cathedral's twin-towered frontage.
- Royal Canal harbour: Golden hour suits the still canal water and moored boats at the harbour.
- Corlea Trackway exhibition hall: Indoor photography of the preserved oak timbers works best without flash, in the centre's even lighting.
Longford through history
St Mel's Cathedral was built in the 19th century, badly damaged by fire on Christmas Day 2009, and restored before reopening in December 2014.
The Corlea Trackway is an Iron Age road of oak planks laid across the bog near Keenagh, dated by tree-ring analysis to 148 BC.
Longford is the county town of County Longford in the Irish midlands.
The Longford branch of the Royal Canal, opened in the 19th century, linked the town to the main canal line to Dublin.
Practical tips
- Corlea Trackway entry includes a guided tour; check seasonal opening hours before driving out, as it closes in winter.
- The Royal Canal Greenway can be joined at Longford for flat walking and cycling along the towpath.
- Allow time to visit the small St Mel's Diocesan Museum beside the cathedral, which has limited opening hours.
What's on
No anchor festival is based here, but the Irish year is full: next up nationally is TradFest (20–24 Jan 2027, Temple Bar, Dublin). See the full events calendar