- OBreda Sullivan: Poet and writer contributing to the modern literary scene in Longford.
- Felispeaks (Felicia Olusanya): A Nigerian-Irish poet and performer who grew up in Co. Longford.
- John Keegan Casey (Leo): Born in Mount Dalton, near Mullingar, County Westmeath; lived in Gurteen, near Ballymahon, County Longford . (1846-1870): A nationalist poet known as “Leo,” Casey wrote patriotic ballads and poems, including The Rising of the Moon, which became an anthem. His work, published in newspapers like The Nation, reflected Longford’s rural life and the Fenian movement. He died young in Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison due to harsh conditions following his arrest for Fenian activities.
- Kathy Rodgers & Mary Melvin Geoghegan: Contemporary poets associated with the county
- Oliver Goldsmith: Born in Pallas, near Ballymahon, County Longford; lived in Lissoy (Auburn), County Longford . (c.1728-1774): One of Ireland’s most celebrated 18th-century writers, Goldsmith is best known for his pastoral poem The Deserted Village (1770), which reflects the rural life of Lissoy, often identified as the poem’s “Auburn.” His poetry, including The Traveller (1764), blends social commentary with lyrical beauty. He moved to London, where he became part of the literary establishment, but his Longford upbringing deeply influenced his work.
- Noel Monahan: A poet and playwright from Granard.
- Pádraic Colum: Born in Longford Town, County Longford (in Longford Workhouse, where his father was master) . (1881-1972): A key figure in the Irish Literary Revival, Colum wrote poetry, plays, and children’s literature. His poetry collections, such as Wild Earth (1907) and The Collected Poems (1953), evoke the landscapes and folk traditions of Longford. He worked as a clerk in Dublin, joined the Gaelic League, and later lived in the United States, where he taught and wrote extensively. His life is seen as a bridge between Ireland’s literary past and present.
- Vona Groarke: Born in Edgeworthstown, County Longford . (1964-): A contemporary poet, Groarke has published collections like Shale (1994), Flight (2002), and Spindrift (2009), earning national and international recognition. Her poetry often explores themes of place, memory, and community, with Longford’s influence evident in her reflections on The Deserted Village by Goldsmith. She has taught at universities in Ireland, England, and the US, and is a prominent voice in modern Irish poetry.
Poets
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County Longford:
Ireland’s county Longford offers a peaceful blend of history and countryside, with the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre showcasing an ancient Iron Age road. The county’s St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford town provides architectural beauty, while the River Inny offers opportunities for kayaking and fishing. Other attractions include the rolling farmlands and historic Ardagh village. Longford is Ireland’s fourth smallest county by size and second smallest by population (46,751). Population peaked at 115,491 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 28,250 in 1971. In terms of hospitality, Longford is Ireland’s 32nd most visited and Ireland’s least visited tourist county with around 22,000 international visitors per year.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
