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Longford in the Lens, Longford (2026)

21/04/2026

BARD OF OUR TIME - Peter Reynolds

An interesting meeting took place at the Athena Gallery – the artistic heart of our town – where Peter Reynolds held his author's evening. Peter, a Longfordian by choice, is a local writer who writes poetry and verse. His work is a journey through the past, a search for detail, and observations of everyday life. In his poetry, readers will find a unique sense of humor, a dose of diverse memories, and all of this is wrapped in the most important of emotions: love. 💖

In a charming café on Longford's main street, we witnessed a passionate and lively speech by the author, during which we learned about the creative process, where his inspirations came from, and Peter's creative path. It's important to note that this isn't his literary debut, as he published his latest book, "Phraseology," in 2003, and has written over twenty other, smaller works before that. It's also known that two more publications will be released in the future, as "Bard of Our Times" is part of a trilogy. 🤩

Coffee, tea, and sweet snacks were available for guests at the Athena Gallery. Peter signed books and posed for souvenir photos. The atmosphere was truly pleasant; people engaged in conversation, congratulated the hero of the evening, and after an hour, everyone went their separate ways. Anyone who would like to purchase Peter's book can do so on Amazon. It's at a really affordable price, and I'm sure it can be signed by the author himself. 🙂

Congratulations Piter, and I wish you all the best in the future and a head full of ideas! 😉
Longford Library Services County Longford Arts Services

15/03/2026

CLOONDARA BOGLAND
🌿🪻🍃

A lake has formed in the wilds of our county, just near the small village of Cloondra. The low bushes and grasses that grew in the area have been covered by water. The depth is unknown, and I wouldn't expect fish, but it's certain that various waterfowl are having a great time, including swans, specifically one swan, which slowly glides across the water. 🦢

The gorse bushes are covered in yellow; we see them occasionally. The gorse has bloomed, as it always does in spring, but the cattails are clearly dying. They caught my attention, as did other small plants growing from the wetland.

We are surrounded by two different worlds: the world of wetlands and lakes, and the world of empty spaces with small bushes and small trees. It all intertwines and creates a whole. Here and there, the ground is pitch-black and soft as a sponge – the peaty nature of this place reveals its true colors.

In its heyday, turf was mined here, used by local residents to heat their homes and cook. Today, the peat is no longer mined; remnants of old machinery remain, and the entire area serves as a nature reserve.

A potholed and very uneven road – a remnant of the railway track used to transport excavated peat – leads us to the Royal Canal. Here, various objects are reflected in the water, a runner is in the middle of his training session, and two horses are quietly grazing on the grass for their early dinner. 🐎

Do you know this area? You can drive to the peat bog; there is a small carpark. It's very peaceful, a perfect place to relax and escape the daily grind. 😎

The photos were taken in April 2025.
Longford Tourism

13/03/2026

BEREHYNIA - An exibition by Gordon Farrell.

Longford. An interesting gathering took place in the main hall of the County Council building. A large group of people, colorful birds, and curious souls gathered to see an exhibition by local artist Gordon Farrell. 👨‍🎨

"Berehynia" is a protective female spirit in Slavic mythology, particularly in Ukrainian folklore, symbolizing protection and resilience. Gordon brilliantly portrayed the history of Ireland and Ukraine, immersing the viewer in the depths of the mythology of these two countries and using a variety of materials to create thought-provoking and engaging works. One of the goals was to showcase the multicultural identity of contemporary Ireland and our county, and it must be admitted that he succeeded admirably. 👌

People at the opening mingled leisurely, approaching each work with interest and reading short descriptions. There were conversations, souvenir photographs, ceremonial speeches, and even a television appearance. Some were meeting each other for the first time, others knew each other very well, and Gordon, ever the kind host, made time for everyone, chatting pleasantly and posing for photos. 📸

I invite you to view the photo gallery from this event, and if you'd like to see it all up close, you'll have the chance, as the exhibition will run for the next six weeks (9 a.m.–6 p.m.) at Longford County Hall on Great Water Street. You can meet Gordon Farrell on Monday and Wednesday of next week (March 16 and 18). 🙂
County Longford Arts Services Gordon A Farrell

09/03/2026

Recently, photos from Ardagh Hill were posted here. Here's a short video from that spot. Several people commented under last post that this felling will be replaced in the future with new trees, perhaps even native species. If that happens, that's great, but it's important to remember that it will take a long time for such a new forest to emerge. We'll see what happens 🤷

05/03/2026

LONGFORD LIGHTS FESTIVAL 2026

I invite everyone to the second part of the photos from the festival, which took place at Connolly Barracks from 19 to 22 February, 2026. Congratulations to all the artists and organizers. You put in a lot of work, and we were able to see the results. Bravo and thank you! 👏

County Longford Arts Services Longford Tourism

05/03/2026

LONGFORD LIGHTS FESTIVAL 2026

The fascinating display of lights, colors, and eye-catching art installations has unfortunately come to an end. Once again, we (Longford) were very fortunate to host the Festival of Lights, and I am convinced that those who participated and witnessed it will remember these moments for a long time.

The festival took place for the first time in 2022. With each subsequent edition, it has become better, larger, and more colorful. Every year, thousands of people visit Connolly Barracks during the festival weekend, immersing themselves in the world created there. This year's edition was the fifth and final one in its current form. The barracks area will be closed for at least two years, and unfortunately, no illuminated attractions will be allowed there during this period. The future remains unclear, but organizers are reportedly working on a solution.

Sunday, February 22nd, was the last day of the festival. By 8 p.m., the large crowds had disappeared; the paths were empty, and it seemed as if the beautifully illuminated installations were theirs alone. Everyone, of course, had a very convenient way to see what had been created. And there was a plethora of it all: illuminated animals, round, colorful shapes, sidewalk lights, and hanging lanterns. There were mysterious figures emerging from behind trees, beautiful little houses, and enormous, round eyes. Artists wandered the streets, giant lizards crawled along the walls of the building, and all around we could hear music and the rhythmic sounds of drums. We saw a smoky, enclosed room and neatly stacked peat, a colorful dog wagging its tail, and a huge, beautiful illumination created on the main building.

I would like to congratulate and thank everyone who contributed to creating all this and giving the residents of Longford the opportunity to participate in the festival. I am convinced that a great deal of work and time was invested. It's not easy, but I don't think anyone regrets it. We'll see what happens, but I hope that in the future we will be able to organize a similar event in some new, perhaps different format. I keep my fingers crossed and in the meantime I invite you to see my photo report from the Festival of Lights 2026. 😉
County Longford Arts Services Longford Tourism

Photos, Part 1

04/03/2026

ARDAGH HILL STRIPPED OF TREES... 😐

Much of Ardagh Hill doesn't look the same today. The main walking route hasn't changed, but the surroundings have. What exactly? Trees. Or rather, the lack thereof...

Where there was once a forest, today we see only clearings and roots sticking out of the ground. The walking route hasn't changed; there are still the same twists and turns, hiking up or down, but the views are completely different. And it doesn't look good. And the questions arise: why was this done? Because there must be a reason, right? 🤨

At the beginning of last year, we had a terrible storm, and most of the forest was badly damaged, including Ardagh Hill. Many trees fell, and I'd like to believe that was the main cause. That the area should have been cleared and the fallen trees removed. But one might get the impression that they went a bit too far with this clearing... 🧐

I don't know about you, but I have mixed feelings about this situation. I really like the peaceful paths here, but I don't like the changes taking place there. 🙄

01/03/2026

The second part of the photos from the Longford walk. A leisurely stroll took place on October 23, 2022. The photos include the areas of SuperValu, Ganlys, Teffia Park, Leader Street, and Leader Park. Since it was likely Sunday and the afternoon sun was shining, there weren't many people walking around.

The photos mainly feature places, buildings, car fragments, and small, seemingly inconspicuous things. Most people don't even notice them, but the guy with the camera is looking for such moments. There are colors here, the vegetation changing to autumn - a part of our town captured on this particular October day. 😉

11/02/2026

WALK AROUND LONGFORD, OCTOBER 2022 - Part 1

October 23, 2022, was a sunny day. Colorful leaves shimmered on the trees, some lay on the paths, and the road leading to College Park was temporarily closed. I strolled leisurely, feeling the gaze of a large, supernatural squirrel and a curious, silver and black crow. In the distance, the slender tower of St. John's Church was visible; it has stood proudly for at least 320 years. ⛪️

I'm in the oldest part of our town. This is where the first market days were held centuries ago (today's Church Street), and this is where Longford Castle (1627-1972) stood, near the entrance to Connolly Barracks. Today, in this place, we have a cinema and a large, incomprehensible monster – the empty and never opened Longford Shopping Centre...😵‍💫

The marching people below, chatting and walking in a direction known only to them. High above, a group of nine tired and lazy looking pigeons rest peacefully atop a moss covered roof.

St. Michael's Road seems remarkably peaceful. I spot a yellow and white football, forgotten, worn out, lying lonely against a wall. It reminds me of the old, good days of the 1990s, when many footballs looked just like that... The black, hooded figure doesn't notice me – I do, and I know he's looking forward to Halloween, after all, a parade will soon roll through the city, with crowds of people in costumes, lights, colors, fireworks, and candy landing in the baskets of the youngest children. 🍬🍭🍫

My moment of joy is a walk through the town with my camera in hand. Wandering and observing. Looking out for and searching for moments. All sorts of situations, interesting gestures, inconspicuous things. You can always find them, you just have to look carefully. 😉

06/02/2026

ST. CATHERINE'S CHURCH, BALLYMACORMACK, LONGFORD

As we travel from Longford to Keenagh, we pass this Church. Just after Stonepark School, it emerges from around a bend and stands inconspicuously in the surrounding meadow. There are many churches of this type in Ireland, and we have them in our county as well: they usually consist of a two or three-bay nave and a tower towering over the surrounding area.

St. Catherine's Church was built of high-quality dressed limestone in 1826 "thanks to a donation of 900 pounds" – at that time, the pastoral ministry was held by Father Henry Maxwell.

Perhaps the most distinctive feature is the massive, square tower, with beautiful stonework, particularly at the top, around the windows, and the main entrance. There's a touch of Gothic charm here; the large window at the rear is clearly Gothic. Ivy grows on part of the tower, and crows perch on the pointed turrets. 🐦‍⬛

Graves are scattered all around the Church, some standing, others lying, and some adorned with metal railings. The oldest legible grave is that of Thomas Verner Richardson, dated January 15, 1855. I glance at the Celtic crosses, struggle through the tall grass, and try to read the inscriptions on the tombstones. 👌

We know that Father Francis Gregg was the parish priest here in 1864, Father John Irwin in 1881, and Father Thomas Reilly in 1894. The entire area is surrounded by a stone wall, behind which cows graze, and I'm not even sure if they've noticed me. 🫣

I leave the church grounds and stand on the street for a while. I take a photo of an interesting bend, look at a house in the distance, which is reached by a small road, and wave to the driver of a red tractor (a 1975 Massey Ferguson). 🚜

29/01/2026

RATHCLINE CEMETERY, Lanesborough (Co. Longford)

People were buried in Rathcline Parish Cemetery as early as the Middle Ages. The church ruins, visible from afar, date from that period, specifically the 12th century. It was built on the site of a prehistoric stone fort, and the first vicar was Luke Megruni (1397).

Due to its proximity to Lake Ree, Rathcline Church had connections with the monasteries located on that lake. Unfortunately, today the church is a ruin and far from its former glory. The entire church is surrounded by a stone wall, and access is through a metal gate.

The graves are densely packed, making it difficult to walk at times, but we slowly move through the cemetery, observing and reading various information about those who have passed away. We discover many ornate tombstones, some dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, and the oldest dates back to November 1696.

Unfortunately, I can't find "Sheela-na-Gig," a simple but interesting sculpture of a naked woman that adorns one of the windows. We chat for a while with the woman and an older man, asking about the history of the place. The tall, elderly man is named Kevin, and both he and the woman seem friendly.

To reach this cemetery in Lanesborough, turn south and after about six minutes (driving along Rathcline Road), turn right at one point to reach the cemetery gate. 🙂

Have you been to this cemetery? Do you know this place?
Longford Tourism

Longford in the Lens

21/04/2026

15/03/2026

13/03/2026

09/03/2026

05/03/2026

05/03/2026

04/03/2026

01/03/2026

11/02/2026

06/02/2026

29/01/2026

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