Longford Rebel Trail - Driving Trail

Listen to the Audio Tour as you drive around ↓

Longford has a wonderful and unique history of involvement in insurrections and rebellions from the Normans up to the War of Independence. The Longford Rebel Trail identifies all the important locations and presents their history in an easy way and enjoyable trail to follow. You can join the trail at any of the important locations such as Edgeworthstown, Granard, Ballinalee, Longford Town and Ballinamuck.

A new audio tour which was launched in November 2022 complements the existing Longford Rebel Trail. Available in English, Irish and French with QR codes at each stop to access the audio. There are 10 stops starting in Longford Town, Drumlish, Ballinamuck, Moyne, Aughnacliffe, Dring, Granard, Clonfin, Ballinalee and back to Longford Town.

The Audio is also available under the Audio section of this website. CD’s are available from the Tourist Office for people who may not be online. The Longford Rebel Trail Audio includes interviews from local people and actors from the Backstage Theatre.

Longford Tourism commissioned In Hand Guides to take on the project. We would like to thank all the people who were interviewed, the actors and Archivist, Martin Morris for his input. The driving trail, identifying the important locations along the route is a distance of 71km and can be joined at any point on the trail.

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Ballinalee was the centre of the very effective North Longford Flying column (1919-21) and you can see McKeons Forge and Rose Cottage which was the centre of operations. Clonfin is the site of the famous battle where General McKeons Flying Column defeated the forces of the British Crown and Empire. The Clonfin Ambush was an ambush carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 2 February 1921, during the Irish War of Independence.

Connolly Barracks Longford Town was the centre of operations for the British Forces since its construction in the 1700’s. Many of the Irish prisoners were held and executed at the Barracks.

Granard has the extraordinary Gaelic and Norman Motte as well as being an important location in the 1798 rebellion. It was burnt by the Black and Tans during the war of Independence 1919-21. Michael Collins was a frequent visitor to Granard as it was Kitty Kiernan’s home in the Greville Arms Hotel.

Ballinamuck was the site of the defeat of the joint Irish and French forces by the British in 1798. It is an amazing battlefield where you can still get a clear sense of history in the landscape. Visit any of the local visitor centres for information and maps of the Rebel Trail, follow the trail of the rebels and enjoy this unique Longford experience.

Useful websites relating to locations on the Longford Rebel Trail: Knights & Conquests - Granard, County Longford Historical Society

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Download map here: Longford Rebel Trail

Distance: 71 kilometres

Duration: 70 minutes non-stop

Watch a documentary on Clonfin - Irish War of Independence