a county of Ireland, in the province of Leinster, bounded by the counties of Leitrim and Cavan on the north, Meath on the east and south, and Roscommon on the west. It contains 143,700 Irish plantation acres, 24 parishes, and above 50,000 inhabitants; and returns two members to the imperial parliament. It is small, and much encumbered with bog, intermixed with a tolerable good soil; and is about 25 miles long, and 24 broad. See LONGFORD, Supplement.

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 formerly returned two members to parliament. Patron Lord Longford. It gave title of earl to the family of Augier; of viscount, to the family of Micklothwaite; 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.