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Ardagh
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The attractive
heritage village of Ardagh lies 10 km south east of Longford town.
The village is set on high ground with good agricultural lands.
About 1km from the village lies a hill called Brí Leith, referred to
locally as "Ardagh Mountain", which in very old times was a centre
of pre-Christian religious worship.
There are several important Early Christian sites in and near Ardagh,
including the Church of St. Mel. It is suggested that Saint Patrick
built a church here in the 5th century and installed Saint Mel as
bishop. The ancient ruins of Saint Mel's Cathedral are near the
present Church of Ireland and St. Mel himself is said to be buried
within the walls. The focal point of the village green is the clock
tower. Built during 1862, it commemorates Sir George Ralph
Fetherston
Much of the village was built as an 'Estate Village' in the 19th
century, based on a Swiss design. This has given the village a very
distinctive character in the Midlands region has led to its
designation as a Heritage Village. In recent years the villages
charm and architectural beauty have won high praise both at home and
abroad and the village is three-time Supreme Winner of the
prestigious National Tidy Towns Competition. It has also claimed
several European Awards including the Prix d'Honneur of the Entente
Florale.
Ardagh Heritage Centre has a unique selection of local artefacts and
is based in the old schoolhouse, built in 1898. The story of Ardagh
is one of history, literature and storytelling, and the exhibition
in the Heritage Centre draws on the fabric of Ardagh life down
through the ages, from the roots of the village in Irish mythology,
to its development as an important early church and its emergence as
a model estate village. It also focuses on the village's literary
association with Goldsmith, Sir Walter Scott, Maria Edgeworth and
Eavan Boland. |
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Ardagh Holiday Homes - County Longford, Ireland