Longford City
Town in Leinster, Ireland, known for history
A river town on the Shannon corridor with Georgian streets and local sporting life; Longford welcomes anglers and boaters, history buffs to nearby Corlea bog and its Iron Age trackway, and visitors who enjoy straightforward pubs and market stalls.
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59°F
Why Visit Longford?#
Longford appeals to visitors seeking Irish history and riverine landscapes without the crowds. The rebuilt St Mel’s Cathedral and the county’s archaeology-like the Corlea Trackway-offer distinct historical highlights, while the Royal Canal and surrounding boglands provide a peaceful natural setting. Short drives take you to castles, country houses and traditional pubs, so Longford works well as a low-key base for exploring Ireland’s midlands.
Best Things to Do in Longford#
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Longford Bucket List#
St Mel’s Cathedral - Visit St Mel’s Cathedral, rebuilt after the 2009 fire with restored interior.
Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre - See the Iron Age Corlea Trackway and learn about ancient bog-preserved timber engineering.
Longford Main Street - Walk Longford’s Main Street for shops, cafes, and local heritage architecture.
Royal Canal towpath - Walk along the Royal Canal towpath for peaceful waterside paths and wildlife.
Dean Crowe Theatre - Catch a community play or music night at the Dean Crowe Theatre arts venue.
Newtownforbes village - Stroll Newtownforbes for heritage houses, riverside walks, and local cafés.
Strokestown Park House & Famine Museum - Visit Strokestown Park for the Irish Famine Museum and restored Georgian house.
Lough Key Forest Park - Explore Lough Key’s islands, woodland walking trails, and heritage tree canopy walks.
Best Time to Visit Longford#
Longford is at its best from late spring through summer when countryside activities and festivals run in mild, mostly dry weather. Winters are cool and wet, so plan winter trips for indoor charms rather than outdoor sightseeing.
December - February
1-8°C (34-46°F)
Grey, damp winters with chilly winds; not ideal for long outdoor excursions but cosy village pubs and low-season quiet are perks.
March - May
4-13°C (39-55°F)
Green fields return quickly and days lengthen - prime time for gentle hikes, gardens and scenic drives without heavy rain.
June - August
13-22°C (55-72°F)
Warm but rarely hot; best season for cycling, riverside walks and local festivals, though expect periodic showers.
Longford's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 19°C. Abundant rainfall (1012 mm/year), wettest in January.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (107 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 11°C. Regular rainfall (85 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (84 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 7°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (104 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. Significant rainfall (105 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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How to Get to Longford#
Longford is well connected by rail and coach to Dublin and other Irish cities; Longford railway station provides direct Iarnród Éireann services, making train travel the simplest public-transport option. Dublin Airport (DUB) is the main air gateway for the town.
Dublin Airport (DUB): Dublin is the main international gateway for Longford. From Dublin Airport you can hire a car (drive ~1h20-1h40) or take a taxi directly (typical fare €120-€160). Alternatively, take the airport bus into Dublin city centre (to Connolly/Busáras) and continue by train or coach to Longford.
Shannon Airport (SNN): Shannon is an alternative for western arrivals; driving to Longford takes roughly 1.5-2 hours by road and taxi fares are significantly higher than from Dublin due to distance.
Train: Longford has a railway station (Longford) on the Iarnród Éireann Dublin-Longford-Sligo line. Trains from Dublin Connolly to Longford typically take about 1h30-1h50; off-peak single fares commonly range from €7-€15 depending on advance purchase and promotional pricing.
Bus: Bus Éireann and private coach operators serve Longford from Dublin and other regional centres. Journey times by coach are similar to rail, often around 1.5-2 hours; fares vary by operator but expect roughly €7-€15 for standard services.
How to Get Around Longford#
Longford is best accessed by train from Dublin Connolly for a direct, predictable journey; coaches are a good budget option. Once in town, local buses and taxis cover shorter distances, but walking is the easiest way to navigate the centre.
- Iarnród Éireann (train) (€7-€15) - Longford station sits on the Dublin-Sligo intercity line with regular services from Dublin Connolly. Trains take about 1h30-1h50 to reach Longford and are comfortable for commuters and visitors; book early for the best fares and travel times.
- Intercity coach (€7-€15) - Bus Éireann and private coaches run between Dublin and Longford; coaches are a reliable alternative to trains and can be cheaper if booked in advance. Journey times are typically 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic.
- Taxi / private transfer (€120-€160) - Taxis offer door-to-door convenience from airports or neighbouring towns. A Dublin Airport-Longford taxi usually costs €120-€160 and takes roughly 75-100 minutes; agree a fare or pre-book a transfer to avoid surprises.
- Car hire (€35-€70/day (typical)) - Hiring a car at Dublin or Shannon airports gives full flexibility for exploring County Longford and nearby attractions. Roads are straightforward; driving times to Dublin Airport are around 1.5 hours.
- Local bus / taxi (€1.50-€6) - Local bus services connect villages and housing estates to Longford town while taxis handle shorter or off-hour trips. Local services can be infrequent, so check timetables in advance.
- Walking - Longford town centre is compact and walkable; most shops, cafés and services lie within 10-20 minutes on foot from the station or main bus stops.
Where to Stay in Longford#
I can’t safely list verified budget hostels/guesthouses in Longford without live verification. Want me to look them up?
I can fetch accurate mid-range hotel options (e.g., family-run hotels) for Longford if you want - shall I?
Longford has a few higher-end hotels; I should verify current availability and URLs first. Proceed to lookup?
Where to Eat in Longford#
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Longford’s restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Shopping in Longford#
Retail in Longford consists of local shops, supermarkets and a scattering of independent boutiques and service businesses. You’ll find the usual town-centre offerings and some specialist food shops; for larger shopping centres and more variety, travel to bigger regional hubs.
Nightlife in Longford#
Evenings in Longford revolve around pubs and a few live-music nights - you’ll find cosy neighbourhood pubs rather than large clubs. Occasionally there are music nights or events in bars and hotels, but the overall scene is relaxed and geared toward locals.
