#creativeardagh

It's been a while since we blogged our last "A Day Out in County Longford" as we have been busy little bees with our many events and tours. In the meantime, all of County Longford has also been busy creating more for people to do and see here. There is a greater availability of places to stay too.

We have always felt a day is never long enough to fall in love with County Longford so let's check in and see how the Smith family from Manchester will spend some of their week next July :

When Jessica Smith was booking her family break in CenterParcs Ireland at Longford Forest she felt it might be nice to stay a few days extra in the vicinity with her family and explore the area. She knew she had some links to Longford as she had found some through many long nights exploring her family tree on Ancestry and she wanted to find out more.

Jessica booked her four day stay at CenterParcs and then searched Airbnb for a few more nights. Top of the list on the Longford listing was a town house in Longford Town hosted by the lovely Lorraine. It was ideal, reviews were great, location central and it was newly renovated. The house is located right next to the historic St. Mels' Cathedral with easy access to the main road routes. Booking made, she planned her itinerary for the days before they were to check in at the Longford Forest.

Jessica and Tim have two children, Samantha is fourteen and Paul is eleven, both like to spend most of their time on their phones but when new activities are presented to them they always enjoy them even if they are reluctant at first.

Jessica had found links in her family tree to the village of Ardagh, County Longford so when googling it she found just the spot to visit with her family while finding out a little more of where she came from at the same time. Creative Ardagh, based in Ardagh Heritage and Creativity Centre, an old schoolhouse at the edge of the pretty little village looked like an interesting hub to spend a few hours.

Jessica rang Creative Ardagh and booked a family workshop slot to explore the iron age history of Ardagh through the story of The King at the Back of the Hill and try some weaving while they were there. For a little extra, Annette, of Creative Ardagh, suggested they do a walking tour of the village with them. She also told Jessica about their Craft Shop that stocks creations by over 50 local crafters, artists and writers and about the new walk on Brí Leith that the family would surely enjoy. She talked of the state of the art Knights and Conquest centre in Granard where the highest Motte and Bailey of the country is located. Lots to awaken her children's imagination and to keep her history buff husband Tim interested too.

Exchanging emails, Annette sent Jessica on a few ideas of what else they could do in the area and Jessica was getting quite excited about the stay. Nice cafes, restaurants and boutiques within walking distance of the town house and lots to see and do within a half hour drive meant it would be an easy, relaxed holiday. Four days in CenterParcs doing all sorts of outdoor and indoor adventure activities with their children meant everyone was going to be happy. This was going to be a lovely holiday she would never forget. She was beginning to think she might need to add a few days to the end of the visit too.

We'll check in again soon with Jessica and see what else she has planned. We're off now to plan our many workshops and storytelling sessions for the tour groups that are visiting us shortly and for our slot in Roosky Heritage Festival. We also have our annual Bilberry Walk, part of Cruthú Arts Festival, to organise.

Remember we can scale up or down the packages we offer to suit your group size and ages! Email us at [email protected] to find out more.

Slán go fóill,

Ann

It has been a while but Tom Jones and his wife Mary, our lovely retired couple from Sligo have been spreading the news about Lovely Longford yet again. Tom’s brother Joe and his American wife Sue have been planning a trip to Ireland. Joe want’s his wife to see some of our ancient sites and traditions while still getting the comfort she has grown accustomed to on their journey from Dublin to Sligo so he asked Tom for some suggestions. Tom has it all worked out and has emailed Joe below, although perhaps it is Mary who has been working it out and typing his mail! We’ll never know.

“ Joe,

 I have been counting down the days ‘til you arrive here in Sligo. It has been way too long. There aren’t too many of the old crew around but we will still get a memorable sing song or two. I know you have your days all figured out for Dublin, but I was thinking you’ll be needing a day of rest for your weary bones after being pulled and dragged through the shops  and perhaps you could enjoy a bit of culture on your way down to us too. I have a plan!

Mary and I were thinking we might travel halfway up and meet you in Longford. There is an award winning restaurant and guest house called Viewmount House just at the edge of Longford town on the Dublin Road. Mary has been dying to go there since our last visit to Longford as everyone seems to rave about it but we haven’t had a proper excuse until now. I think Sue would love it.  Maybe I could book us in for dinner and the night on Friday 29th January seeing as it is your anniversary and we were your bestman and bridesmaid. Check it out here and see what you think, http://www.viewmounthouse.com/  and for Sue and her Facebook she can look here: https://www.facebook.com/Viewmount-...

It seems that on Saturday, 30th January, those lovely ladies I was telling you about in Creative Ardagh, are hosting a Saint Brigid’s Day workshop. Now, don’t have palpitations, I have looked into it and  it won’t be too difficult for your rusty old brain. They will be getting the visitors, young and old, to try their hands at making a Brigid’s Cross and perhaps add a bit to a Brigid’s Cloak while they impart some local knowledge about the connections with Brigid and St. Mel etc. ( I won’t spoil it for you, they tell it so well!!) This would be right up Sue’s street and her into crafting and what not.  Sue can fill her shopping bags with handmade crafts from their Craft Shop, quality, locally made products that won’t break the bank, while she is there and you can spend a while browsing the heritage exhibition. It’s well worth a visit. Sure you can find out more yourself on their website, www.creativeardagh.com or if Sue wants to facebook it she will find it on www.facebook.com/creativeardagh.  Have a look here and see what you and Sue think and get back to me. https://www.facebook.com/events/870...

If you want, we can take a stroll through the village and look for the mysterious Brigid’s Well and get lost on the way in the ‘Local’ https://www.facebook.com/lyonspubsa...  while our better halves have a cupán tae in the centre and they take over the wheel from then on.

The last time we called in to the centre we met the husband of one of the ladies who is involved in the development of a tourist centre beside Granard Motte, the highest Motte & Bailey in Ireland. https://www.facebook.com/GranardMot... He has offered to bring me up the Motte and to visit the Dolmen in Aughnacliffe on my next visit so maybe we could do that too in the morning as the workshop doesn’t start until 3pm and we will be carrying a hearty breakfast. That’ll be your exercise covered. I’ll give him a ring.

We can take our time heading back to Sligo. You can follow me because I know you have forgotten the way by now.