Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-03-25
LONGfORD.
Ancient Patrimony Of the O'Far-
rells Is County Of
Plains.
Many Picturesque Rivers Drain the
Land. and Make II
Fertile.
Noted Historic Ruins Dot This
District from End 20
Land OF HOLY MEMORIES
LAND OF HOLY MEMORIES

The County Jongtord takes it's
name from The town of the same
name, and the town is called In
Gaelic annals Longford O'Farrell,
from the castle of the O'Farrells, the
ancient proprietors, which was stu
ated on the site of the present mill
tary barracks. There are a score
or more places In Ireland called
Longford, all so named from fort
resses. The word was originally APP
piled to old circular fortresses. The
greatest length of the county from
the southwest point In Tough Rec to
the northeast corner near Gul'adoo
Tough is thirty and half miles. It's
greatest breadth from the River
Inny in the east to Drumshanbo
Lake Is eighteen miles; and the area
Is 421 square miles. The population
Is approximately 81, 900.
The greatest part of the county is
fiat plain, but there is a range Of
low round hills extending from Tough
Gbwna to Newton Forbes. In the
level portions there Is good deal
of bog land. The Shannon river
bounds the county ON the west for a
distance OF fourteen miles. The
Rim river, coming south froo
Leitrim, forms the boundary be-
tween the two counties for several
miles. Cavan and Westmeath are the
EASTERN and southern boundaries.
Among the streams that water
the plains Of County Longford are
the Black river, the Camlin, the
Shannon, the Fallon, the Inny, the
Taug, the Rath and the Riffey.
Nearly all these streams empty into
the Shannon, but there Is a district
In the northeast which is drained by
a number of rivulets into Gaugh
Gowna, whence the united waters
are carried off by the River Erne.
The lake expansions of the Shannon
that touch Longford are Tough
Forbes, Tough Rec, Drumshanbo
Lake, Tough Sallagh, Fearglass
Lake, Clancose Lake, Gortemore and
Tully South Lake. These belong
partly each to Longford and
Leitrim.
Longford, on the River Camlin, is
the principal town and its population
is not In excess of 1000. 1t is the
best business center between Dublin
and Sligo. At Granard, in the north
east of the county, is the "Moat," a
very large and high mound, the re-
mains OF the fortified residence OF
some old king or chief, similar to
others found in many parts of Ire
land. 1t is on the top of hill COM
manding great view of the country
and is very remarkable feature In
the district. Two miles from
Granard is the village OF Abbeylara,
containing the interesting ruins of
an abbey from which the place takes
its name.
Pallas, village, is noted as the
birthplace of Oliver Goldsmith, and
five miles away is the village of
Lissoy, celebrated under the name of
Auburn In the Deserted Village"
The County Longford Is coexten-
sive with the ancient territory of
Annaly. which was for some CEN
turtles before the Norman invasion
the patrimony of the O'Farrells. In
earlier ages, or about the time of st.
Patrick, 1t formed what was called
North Teffia. One of the several
districts called Calry was situated
near the village Of Ardagh; and the
name, though no longer applied to
the territory, is preserved in the
name of Sieve Golry. In still more
ancient times the hill was called
Bri-Leth, and It was the residence
of the Dedannan fairy prince Neidir.
In some very old Gaelic romantic
tales there are curious fairy legends
In connection with It.
At Ardagh a monastery was
founded by st. Mel, a contemporary
OF ST. Patrick and st. Brigid. and
the place is still held in great ven
Grafton. 1t contains the ruins OF a
church with all the characteristics OF
extreme antiquity, and It has con-
tinued an episcopal see since the
time of the first Bishop. st. Mel.
The Cathedral of st. Mel is one OF
the handsomest buildings In Ireland.