According to several sources, the name Longford is an Anglicization of the Irish Longphort, referring to a fortress or fortified house.

[2][3] The area came under the sway of the local clan which controlled the south and middle of the County of Longford (historically called Anghaile or Annaly) and hence, the town was known as Longfort Uí Fhearghail (fort/stronghold of O'Farrell).

[9] In November 1845, one of the night boats sank en route to Longford on the outskirts of Dublin, killing 15 people.

It houses a preserved 18-metre stretch of Iron Age bog road, which was built in c. 148 BC.

St Mel's Cathedral features several stained glass windows by Harry Clarke studios.

[15] It remained closed for five years after the fire, while it was the centre of one of the largest restoration projects undertaken in Europe.

Two of the intricate stained-glass windows in the transepts of the cathedral, depicting St Anne and the Resurrection, have been restored.

[citation needed] In a 2003 Guardian article about Patrick McCabe, Longford's "features of distinction" are described as including "a hulking cathedral, a rash of fast-food joints, a grubby cinema and a shopping mall".

[citation needed] St. Mel's College is the oldest of these schools, being founded in the 1860s by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois as a diocesan seminary to train students for the priesthood.

[26] The N4 Sligo road has a bypass around the town, which consists of single carriageway with hard shoulders and four roundabouts.

Longford's main air transport centre is located south-east of the town, at Abbeyshrule.

Abbeyshrule Aerodrome receives a regular influx of small general aviation aircraft, including the Cessna 182 and 150.

[citation needed] The sport with most support in County Longford is Gaelic football.

The major boys' secondary school in Longford town, St. Mel's College, also has a tradition in secondary schools' football (known as Colleges A), winning 29 Leinster and 4 All-Ireland titles (in the Hogan Cup).

[33] The local rugby union club, Longford RFC, was formed in the 1960s and participates in the Leinster League.

[35] Longford Sports & Leisure Centre, located in an area known locally as The Mall, contains a swimming pool, gym, and indoor and outdoor football and basketball facilities.

[36] Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round.