Longford (County Galway barony)

Longford An Longfort (Irish)
Barony
Longford Castle, the O'Madden stronghold
Barony map of County Galway, 1900; Longford is in the southeast, coloured green.
Longford
Coordinates: 53°12′N8°14′W / 53.2°N 8.23°W / 53.2; -8.23
Sovereign state	Ireland
Province	Connacht
County	Galway
Area
• Total	390.5 km2 (150.8 sq mi)

Longford (Irish : An Longfort) is a historical barony in southeastern County Galway, Ireland. ^{[1] [2]}

Baronies were mainly cadastral rather than administrative units. They acquired modest local taxation and spending functions in the 19th century before being superseded by the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. ^[3]

History

The name is from a medieval longphort (ship landing-ground used by Vikings) that was located on the River Shannon east of Killimor, called Longphort Uí Mhadadhain ("landing-place of the O'Maddens"); their castle was located 2.8 km (1.7 mi) northwest of the river. ^[4]

This region was anciently called Síol Anmchadha, and its medieval Gaelic lords were the Ó Madagáin or O Madadhain (O'Madagan or O'Madden), based in Portumna, ^[5] who also ruled Garrycastle, County Offaly. ^{[6] [7]}

Longford barony was created before 1574.

Geography

Longford is in the southeast of the county, on the west bank of the River Suck, where it forms part of the border with County Roscommon, and the west bank of the River Shannon and north bank of Lough Derg where they form the border with County Tipperary. ^[2]

List of settlements

Settlements within the historical barony of Longford include: ^[8]

• Clonfert
• Clontuskert
• Eyrecourt
• Kiltormer
• Lawrencetown
• Portumna

References

1. "An Longfort/Longford". logainm.ie.
2. "Barony of Longford, County Galway".
3. General Register Office of Ireland (1904). "Alphabetical index to the baronies of Ireland". Census of Ireland 1901: General topographical index. Command papers. Vol. Cd. 2071. HMSO. pp. 966–978.
4. "Irish Root Words".
5. Wills, J. (1841:310). Lives of illustrious and distinguished Irishmen .... Ireland: (n.p.).
6. "The Baronies of Ireland - History". 17 July 2019. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019.
7. O'Laughlin, M. C. (2002:186). The Book of Irish Families, Great & Small. United States: Irish Genealogical Foundation.
8. "Sub-units of: An Longfort/Longford". logainm.ie.