LONGFORD, a town of Ireland, situated on the river Cromlin, in the county of Longford and province of Leinster, 64 miles from Dublin; which river falls a few miles below this place into the Shannon. It is a borough, post, market, and fair town; and returns two members to parliament; patron, Lord Longford. It gave title of earl to the family of Aungier; of essequai, to the family of Mickelthwaite; and now gives that of baron to the family of Packenham. Within a mile and a half of the town is a charter-school for above 40 children. This place has a barrack for a troop of horse. It is large and well built; and in a very early age an abbey was founded here, of which St Idus, one of St Patrick's disciples, was abbot. In the year 1400, a fine monastery was founded to the honour of the Virgin Mary, for Dominican friars, by O'Ferral prince of Annaly. This monastery being destroyed by fire, Pope Martin V. by a bull in the year 1429, granted an indulgence to all who should contribute to the rebuilding of it. In 1433, Pope Eugene IV. granted a bull to the same purpose; and in 1438 he granted another to the like effect. The church of this friary, now the parish-church, is in the diocese of Ardagh. The fairs are four in the year.