Bumping into a lot of nice people lately, I assure you I do not photograph everyone I meet, just them agreeable when I am out about. Paul White and Ciara O’Niell, are two such nice people, we had a nice chat, bemoaning the loss of the local greyhound track, they are both of the greyhound fraternity. Greyhound racing goes back in my family too, late uncle and cousin, Bob and David McTiernan, not forgetting my late grandfather of the same name Michael Croghan, all were well known on the scene. There is a general decline in the scene, but Paul and Ciara speak highly of it, and of the track in Mullingar, keen for me to go, say it has free entry on a Sunday. Ciara also is the proud owner of a dog most people would have probably heard before, ‘Dirt Bird Dan’, she absolutely loves that dog she told me, and they both also train dogs, they have 15 on the books at the minute. Not only dogs, Ciara, also well schooled in the equine circuit, also has a couple of thoroughbred horses. Ciara has a hand in many things, degrees for Counseling, and talking about that, agrees the state of mental health services are in need of a great upheaval, and does not like the stigma that still is associated with mental health. Sometimes helps out with Rathgar Consultancy Centre in Dublin, and offers her own services as a counselor, I have linked all down below. Greyhounds racing and hunting go back a long time, there are more stringent dictates that all are aimed at the health and well being of the greyhounds. There is also a whole circle of friendship among greyhound fraternity, life time friends, they really pushed me hard on the idea of the Mullingar races, and looking at their website looks a great set up, ya never know could see me there at some point, and these two lovely people Paul and Ciara.

Well done to all the actors from the Mostrim and Legan players, who put on a great show for the Cruthu festival, in the Longford Arms Hotel, 27ths of July 2022. Short series of plays, historical and just down right funny, also a few added elements that were just as a great, story telling and bit of music. I just got a few photos and a few video clips I was enjoying it to much, well done to all and all the unseen creators and writers that also helped shape what was enjoyed this evening.

Bumped into Freda Farrell of Westhouse cafe and b&b, that’s on the strokestown road, who was taking a leisurely stroll with her son Enda on the right and guest Patrick Riggs on the left. Along a nice avenue in between two small forests, one is private the other belongs to Coillte. Loves to walk along this way when she gets a chance, missed out on the recent Farrell clan gathering because of business being busy. Caters to many guests from different walks of life, whom she is only too glad to tell of all Longford has to offer, hate it when people put it down, when we have so much. Rich in history, walks, lakes and rivers, theatre, Abbeyshrule, fishing, Lanesborough to name just a few. Personally before covid there was a growing natural network of spiritualism that she misses that she used to meet up with, mediums, natural healers and everything else in between. They all found themselves somehow, and had great and many positive gatherings, but since covid that just stopped. Enjoying life and kept busy with the restaurant and B&B

Bumped into a lovely gentleman walking, Barry Norton and his pet he named after the character ‘Compo’ on the last of the summer wine. Barry told me he retired 13 years ago, worked as a bus driver, he did both school runs and tours for Donnelly’s Coaches from Granard. Its compo that gets me out walking now, he was a gift I got when I retired at 70 years of age. I thought if I get ten years more I would be happy, here I am 13 years later. Not far from Bord Na Mona grounds he remembers collecting turf from the family plot, back in a time of horse and asses pulled carts. He said that the whole summer seemed like taken up with the bog, from cutting to collecting. Likes to watch sports, has taken to the women’s football, reckons they as tough as the men, very competitive and enjoying the women’s euro finals.

Gerry Whitlow native of County Longford, Newtowncashel, caught up with him fishing on the royal canal in Killashee. Gerry works and lives in China, due to covid it has taken three years to visit home, in which he intends to stay for a couple of months. Gerry runs his own business sourcing product in China, for many corporations and businesses large and small, on a global scale. Not just sourcing he also QC’s the product, he is your man on the factory floor making sure of the highest standards for your products. Loves the life there and can see himself settling down in some part of Asia if not China maybe Thailand. You can live the highest quality of life there in China, and it does not cost you a king’s ransom, it is quite affordable, restaurants etc, and the people are friendly. Your money goes much further, you can buy a dream home for a price that you could not afford a basic home here. He can speak mandarin as well which helps even more with the business he is in, he loves what he does and has not missed the cold Irish weather. You can check out Gerry’s social media page on Facebook on below image, just press on that and it will bring you straight to his page. Industrial manufacturing, commercial retail merchandise, and merch for social media influencers, to inflatable tents of all shapes and sizes. If it can be made, it can be made in China, and sourced by him for you with the highest quality control and delivered to your door.

Pauline Sheil, its the little things that help keep our town clean and give it a good image, if we all had that drive like Pauline, wouldn’t we all be proud of where we live. The good name the town and Longford has is down to the likes of the Pauline, selfish deeds, every Monday she leads a hand in keeping the place clean. Hope you do not mind this Pauline, I captured this as the Farrell Clan parade was passing through town, in same picture on the left you can see Kathleen with camera, who was taking snaps of the same parade.

The Farrell Clan- Farrells from all over the globe descended on Longford this July the 18th 2022. The diaspora is far and wide, America, South America, Canada, Africa, and close by in the UK. This is the 9th Farrell gathering since 1993 when the inaugural started. Mixed events throughout the week started with an exhibition in the local library in town, and this evening they had a parade through town to St Mel’s cathedral.

They followed on with a few sociable drinks in Clarkes bar Dublin Street. Tuesday the 19th the clan visit the north of Longford, on Wednesday a visit to county Longford’s newest library in Edgeworthstown, and Thursday they visit Abbeyshrule and Ardagh. Friday the last day of the gathering, Martin Morris, will give a lecture on researching family history, followed by an evening banquet in the Longford Arms Hotel.

Was amazing talking to some of the clan, Susan from Maryland, America, who spells her surname as Farrall, the ancestry she is hoping to find out, the original first Irish ancestor would go back to the 1600’s as yet unknown. A relative of Susan also was a daughter of an Indian chief, Mary Kittamaqaand, apparently there is a wooden portrait of Mary and chief from 1649. Mary Kittamaqaand, was christened and took the name Christian name Brent, also in Susan’s lineage is America’s first equivalent female lawyer, was practically a lawyer but not officially but as good as she tells me.

From Argentina, Maria Claudia Carbone Farrell, on her mothers side going back 1832, her great great grandfather Matthew landed in Argentina, and as follows had a son John, and then he had Edelmiro, had her mother Susan. Edelmiro was Edelmiro Julián Farrell President of Argentina Feb 1944 – June 1946 who was succeeded by Juan Peron.

The Longford Agri Show 3rd July 2022

What a show and event, something for everyone and all the family. I have to say I was genuinely surprised at the level it was, it being my first time at an Agri show. fierce competition on many fronts, cattle, bulls, showjumping, not forgetting the dog show. there was exotic animals, a pet centipede ‘thought id seen it all’, birds from the late late show type owl, to the biggest owl in the world. live music, many stands performances, fun and games for the kids. cakes buns, turf and cabbage, yes there was a competition for best turf, I learnt a lot about the levels of turf I never thought I would. a western horse show, to many things to name and to see on the day, well done all on a super show

Former Lock keeper in Clondra, County Longford like his father (Mick) before him, and lives still in the very lock house he grew up in. The middle child of thirteen siblings, parents Mick and Kathleen. Was tough he said to grow up in the lock house with so many in it, and just enough space for himself now. Suffered a set back in health, but was very friendly and inviting to myself, looking forward to all the hurling that’s on this weekend the 2nd of July 2022.

Cemetery Sunday, blessings of the graves Ballymacormack, Longford