Region
County Longford
One night is enough: Corlea Trackway, the Royal Canal at Abbeyshrule, then move on.
Key facts · Ireland
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- English everywhere
- Plugs
- G · 230 V
- Time zone
- GMT in winter
Rules in force · 10Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- Ireland ↗Ireland is in the EU but not in the Schengen area; it sets its own entry rules and a Schengen visa is not valid for Ireland. Check Irish immigration for your passport.
- Ireland ↗Ireland and the UK form the Common Travel Area, with no routine checks on the land border. Visitors who are not Irish or British must still meet UK rules (including the UK ETA where it applies) to enter Northern Ireland.
- Ireland ↗Driving is on the left; rural roads are narrow with hedges and few passing places.
- East Coast and Midlands ↗A TFI Leap card or contactless taps work on Dublin commuter trains, DART and city buses; buy inter-city tickets online in advance.
- East Coast and Midlands ↗Drive on the left; motorways radiate from Dublin and the M50 ring road is tolled.
Longford is lowland Ireland between the Shannon and the Erne watershed: bog, canal and small towns, with no big-name sight. It works as a single night on the Dublin–Sligo road or rail line, or as a half-day off the N55 between Athlone and Cavan. Come for Corlea Trackway (open May–September), the Royal Canal towpath at Abbeyshrule, and Granard's Norman mound and museum; skip it if your trip is already full of cliffs and coast.
Sleep
Which bed, for how many nights, and what to do from it
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- LongfordCity guide
Rail and bus hub, St Mel's Cathedral, Pearse Park for GAA.
Best May–Sep
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Day trip
- BallymahonPlanned
Royal Canal at Abbeyshrule, Goldsmith links, Wide Street Brewing.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- GranardPlanned
Norman motte and Knights and Conquests museum (Tu–Sa 10:00–16:00), north of the county.Norman motte and Knights and Conquests museum (Tu–Sa 10:00 AM–4:00 PM), north of the county.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Night sequences
- 1 nights
- Longford town 1 night: Corlea Trackway and the canal on the way in or out
- 2 nights
- Longford 1 + Athlone 1, using the N55 and Bus Éireann 466
- Corlea Trackway visitor centre is seasonal (about May–September); outside that window the boardwalk and bog are still there but the centre may be shut — check before travelling.
- Longford town and the larger villages have rougher estates and back lanes off the main street; stay on lit main streets at night and avoid outlying neighbourhoods.
- The Royal Canal spur into Longford town is disused — a reedy ditch with towpath trails, not a navigable arm; boat traffic stays on the main line via Abbeyshrule, Keenagh and Termonbarry.
- Buses 65 and 975 are limited (Bus 65 runs on Fridays, Wharton 975 five times Monday–Saturday); do not build a plan on them without checking the current timetable.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballymahon | Longford | 30 min | unknown | Bus Éireann 466 runs every couple of hours; the canal at Abbeyshrule is a short drive further. |
| Athlone | Longford | 60 min | unknown | Bus 466 or the N55 by car; castle and a bigger town for an evening. |
| Mullingar | Longford | 60 min | unknown | Train or bus toward Dublin; cathedral and Belvedere House. |
Bags between cities
No left-luggage or luggage-forwarding service in the county; travel with bags you can carry, or leave them at your Longford town hotel while you do Corlea and the canal by car.
When and how
Months, arrival and passes
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longford | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × |
| East Coast and Midlands (country-wide) | ok | ok | ok | go | go | ok | ok | ok | go | ok | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Longfordlowland midlands, Shannon and Royal Canal | cool | cool | ok | best | best | ok | ok | ok | best | ok | cool | cool |
- County Longford
- Midlands rain falls year-round; May–September is the driest window and the only reliable time for the Corlea centre. Winter days are short and bog paths are wet.
No coast and no mountains means fewer crowds than the west; the trade-off is grey, damp weather on most trips.
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin Connolly | Longford / Edgeworthstown | Irish Rail train via Maynooth and Mullingar | ~2 h | About six trains a day; the line continues to Carrick-on-Shannon, Boyle and Sligo. |
| Dublin Busáras or Dublin Airport | Longford | Expressway Bus 22 / 23 | ~2 h | About six a day; Bus 23 continues to Sligo, Bus 22 west to Ballina. |
| Athlone | Ballymahon / Longford | Bus Éireann 466 | ~1 h to Longford | Every couple of hours; also serves Keenagh, Edgeworthstown and Cavan. |
| Dublin by car | Longford | M4 then N4 past Mullingar | ~1 h 45 | The N4 continues northwest to Sligo; the N5 branches west at Longford for Castlebar and Westport. |
Regional passes
TFI Leap Card
buyCovers Dublin commuter rail and Bus Éireann services in the region; fares are cheaper than cash.
Irish Rail online fares
buyAdvance online tickets on the Dublin–Sligo line are usually cheaper than walk-up; book before the day.
Eat and move on
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Pub lunches and carvery | Longford town, Ballymahon, Granard | Towns have sit-down restaurants and takeaways; kitchens often stop early evening in smaller villages. |
| Craft beer | Ballymahon (Wide Street Brewing) | Dry, yeast-forward beers; taproom days are limited, so confirm before travelling. |
| Gin, vodka and whiskey | Lanesborough, on the Roscommon boundary | Lough Ree Distillery sits on the county line; tours need booking ahead. |
Go next
Athlone
Bus 466 or N55, ~1 h
Castle and a larger town; good second night.
Mullingar
Train or N4, ~1 h
Cathedral and Belvedere House, on the Dublin side.
Roscommon
N63 or via Athlone
Prehistoric, Norman and Georgian sites west of the Shannon.
East Coast and Midlands
Region hub
Plan the wider loop before fixing nights.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source