'Ardagh' () is a town in
County Longford,
Ireland about 10 km from
Longford Town. It is located off the
N4 road.
There are several important
Early Christian sites in and near Ardagh, including the ''Church of St. Mel''. (It is suggested that
Saint Patrick built a church here in the fifth century and installed
Saint Mel as
bishop.)
Adragh's Heritage Centre tracks the history of the town, including its literary associations, which include featuring pseudonymously in
Oliver Goldsmith's ''
She Stoops to Conquer'', and in a poem by
Eavan Boland.
Much of the town was built as an 'Estate Village' in the 19th century, based on a
Swiss design, and has received some acclaim for its beauty, being awarded the ''Prix d'Honneur'' of the
Entente Florale and winning the National
Tidy Towns Competition on three occasions.
External links and sources
★
Ardagh Village - History and Information
★
Ardagh Village - Pictures of heritage town housing
★
Longford County Council Website - Ardagh - History and attractions