LONGFORD

Irish An Longfort county in the province of Leinster, central Ireland. It is bounded by Counties Leitrim and Cavan to the northwest and northeast, respectively, by Westmeath on the southeast, and by Roscommon on the west. The main features of drainage are the valleys of the Rivers Shannon, Erne, and Inny and Loughs (lakes) Gowna and Ree. The surface of the county, generally a part of lowland Ireland, rises from the Shannon to 200400 feet (60120 m), but there are isolated hills and ranges. The lowland is thickly plastered with glacial drifts and has large areas of bog. Longford, whose early name was Annaly, or Anale, was a principality of the O'Farrells and was originally part of the county of Meath. In the 12th century it was granted by Henry II to Hugh de Lacy, who started an English colony there. On the division of Meath into two counties in 1543, Annaly was included in Westmeath. By 1569 it was a shire under the name of Longford. One-tenth of the county's farmland is given to crops, mainly oats and potatoes. Most farms occupy less than 30 acres (12 hectares), and their main concern is the pasturing of cattle, chiefly for export to the richer and larger farms of County Meath. Some dairying is carried on. One-quarter of the county's population lives in towns, of which the largest is Longford, the county seat. Area 403 square miles (1,044 square km). Pop. (1986) 31,491; (1991) 30,296.