County Longford - Towns

Ballymahon is picturesquely situated on the River Inny near the heart of the Goldsmith country. In 960 Mahon, King of Thomond, defeated Fergal, son of Ruarc, King of Breifne and Connacht, near Ballymahon. The town has a fine wide main street, and has many associations with Oliver Goldsmith. The Ballymahon area is said to have had a seminal influence on Goldsmith and formed the inspiration for his future works. Ballymahon is also the centre of John Keegan "Leo" Casey country, and the River Inny and surrounding localities feature prominently in the poet's work.

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The village of Drumlish is west of a ridge of low hills running north-eastwards from Newtownforbes to Arva in County Cavan. A famous episode of the Land War took place in Drumlish which is documented in the book "The Land War in Drumlish" by Fr. P. Conefrey. The village is the starting point for the climb of Cairn Hill. It is a pleasant climb and there are extensive views from its summit, which is crowned by a cairn.

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Edgeworthstown/(Mostrim) is a successful centre located on the N4. The town has a long association with the celebrated family of Edgeworth, who first settled here in 1583. The story of the Edgeworths is almost as entertaining as that of "Arabian Nights". Among the eminent members of the family were Richard Lovell Edgeworth, inventor and surveyor, "The ingenious Mr. Edgeworth", Desmond Clarke has entitled him in his fine biography. Of his twenty four children, Maria the novelist is best known for work such as "Castle Rackrent". Edgeworthstown House formed the centre of the cultivated Edgeworth circle which included the Pakenhams, Earls of Longford and the Lefroys, Chief Justices of Ireland. Maria was a friend of Sir Walter Scott, and it is said that her influence on his "Waverly" was considerable. In his preface to the work Sir Walter stated: "I feel that something might be attempted for my own country of the same kind as that which Miss Edgeworth so fortunately achieved for Ireland". The Abbe Edgeworth who attended Louis XVI on the scaffold during the French revolution and later escaped to Russia to tell the tale is a member of this family. Edgeworthstown House is now a nursing home being run by the Sisters of Mercy and is therefore in an excellent state of preservation. The Edgeworth family vault, in which Richard Lovell and Maria are interred, is in the churchyard of Saint John's. Isola Wilde, sister of Oscar Wilde is buried there too. A new visitor Centre is being developed in the town which will interpret the many famous people and events associated with the area.

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Granard was the home of Kitty Kiernan. She was a girlfriend of Michael Collins and he was a frequent visitor at the Granard area. Their relationship was recreated in the recently released film "Michael Collins". "Black 47" as the great Famine is sometimes called had its effects on Granard. A large number of people died in the workhouse, now the site of the Secondary School in Barrack Street. A number of these unfortunate people were burried in a mass grave near Carra Church (known as "Bully's Acre") where a plaque was recently errected in their memory. In 1798 on the 5th September a fierce battle took place in Granard town when a number of insurgents attacked the local forces. The main fight took place in the Gortawillian Lane The insurgents were defeated and a large number executed and burried near the base of the Motte. North of Granard lies the village of Mullinalaghta near Lough Gowna. Derrycasson wood is on the shore of the lake and provides a scenic view from the car park at Dring. This is an ideal area for fishing, water activities and nature walks.

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