Longford has a long and varied history, stretching back about 9,000 years.

Conmac was the eldest son of the 1st century Queen Maeve and Fergus. He erected his inheritance into the Kingdom of Conmacne. Centuries later Anghaile (anglicized as Annaly) ruled part of the kingdom bounded on one side by the Shannon and on the other by the river Inny.

Anghaile’s grandson Fearghail the clan leader took part in the Battle of Clontarf on the side of Brian Boru. He became so distinguished and powerful that his descendants were called O’Fearghail’s, which was anglicized into O’Farrell’s, the family name of the old inhabitants of Annaly to this present day.

Maine, a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, received Saint Patrick with relatively open arms and Patrick established a monastery in Ardagh where he placed his nephew, Mel. The original Cathedral ruins are still there on the grounds of St…