Not always you hear a bit of a classy tune on your cycle on the royal canal, til I saw a recent Dublin blow in to our Longford Town relaxing in the only way he can with a tune or two. Brian moved to Longford over a year ago, and has made many friends, and can not speak highly enough of the Market Bar. He says he is not an out and out musician just likes to jam with others. Remembers fondly and sorry he never recorded it, a time ago when he was in Portugal, walking by a bar, where he could hear quality music being played. He went in and was surprised at the quality of music that the guy was playing, as the man played out top top music he was surprised there was little if no clapping, to which he did loudly. People followed suit, and he got chatting to the man, to find out the man was from Mullingar. As things went quiet, they started to jam, and the man asked him onto the stage to sing and play, and they kick started a night he will never forget, a jam session that went on till 5am, but he was modest wondering maybe was it his memory making it better every year in his head.

Victor Kiernan of The Old Forge at Kiernan’s Cross, Carriglass Killoe, County Longford, servicing people of Longford for three generations. The business started out as a blacksmiths with his Grandfather, shoeing horses, told me during that time there was three blacksmiths in Longford at one time. Victor was a local politician that was well thought of, he spoke freely that he was in his mid 80s, but you would not think it, he worked at the crossroads in the family business since he was fourteen. Went to Melview school, the same school I went too, and he told me he was in Pascal Quinn’s class, Pascal was my principal when I was in school. Victors principle was Master Truick back in the day, his own sons and daughters went to Melview also. Victor tells me Pascal was a very good soccer player, at school he was a very keen football man. Pascal then went on to be teacher in the school, he was well thought of Pascal by all students and remembered fondly. We had many famous nights here in the bar and lounge, Declan Nerney, Morrisey, Billy Hughes band, Joe Dolan and The Mighty Avon boys, and my own name sake the Late Oliver Croghan would have played here just to name a few. We also use to have a carnival here, The Killoe Carnival as it was known. We have the Shop there now and petrol pumps, as well as bar and lounge that runs with the new covid restrictions. The early days when shoeing horses was the business here, there was no electricity, same when I was going to school, no electricity. The thing in them days was all about horses, every farmer had two and maybe an ass and a pony. Was a fulltime job, you could be shoeing ten to twelve horses every day, there was no tractors in that time. I remember the first tractor came to this area, was owned by Pat Kiernan, the number on it was 2020, a Ferguson, at one time that man delivered bottles of milk to everyman in Longford Town. Talking about covid, its a very hard thing to make it out at all, we suffered like every one, we only opened just recently with the big marquee at the side there, the pubs got a bad doing with it, no mistake about it, also pubs in Ballinalee and Drumlish. We have the shop there, that’s been okay, kept going. On his site there is a Jolly Chipper van, he says opens four nights a week, a man up from Legan that runs it, and does a great trade with the beef burger’s chicken burgers and great chips, there that good he says that they coming out in taxis to it from town.

Michael Madden, Self Employed carpenter and general building work, studied for four years, 2004-2008, in Athlone then to Dundalk, finishing in Sligo with highest certificate possible in building certificates. Started out in the building trade at a tender age of 15 years of age, when he was on a Easter break from school, he had attended the Tech, Temple Michael college, Longford Town, worked for Pat Quinn during that break, who he says mentored many if not all builders in town. Having cash in his hand, he made the decision to stick at it. The principle of the school wanted him to finish his schooling having received top results in exams he had already taken, but he made had made his decision, but he did go back to college to get the papers he needed to become self employed. The killer thing was when he had his papers and was rearing to go, the economy disaster of recession hit home. Decided to travel for work, travelling first to New York with few friends, most of which have stayed and settled there. Spent three months working in a bar, where he had a great time he said, and met up with a great Longford man Peter Kelly, when he attended a Longford dinner dance in New York, which was a highlight for him. Spent a little time in Australia where unlike many others got straight to the mines, which was a privilege that only top skilled workers enjoyed, with his qualification and experience he was fast tracked to work in the mines, also did a lot of footpaths in Perth, where they did 5k paths a day. Was a GAA player for local Grattan Og, left that because he did not have the time anymore, likes to keep fit pre-covid was a attendee Longford Arms gym, now he keeps fit by an odd run here and there. Slowly the work has started to pick up, he spends weeks on end in Dublin, along with others who are tasked with redoing work by others that led to the Pyrite and Mica scandal. He as I said is self employed, boss at -Fine Form construction, offering many services as listed here -Extensions- Renovation- Plastering- Carpentry- Roofing- Paving- Block laying- Drywall- Paneling- flat roofing. As well as Dublin contract he finds time to work back home in Longford, a decent hardworking guy I hope that ye would consider him for that next big job you may have at home, click on image below his portrait to go directly to his Facebook home business page.

Not always you can bump into local heroes, Tom Farrell is such a man. Tidy Towns locally do a great job, they have a large group of volunteers that never look for any credit, just out of civic duty to local place. Tom on many walks was left feeling very frustrated at the amount of rubbish been thrown without thought around bypass as far as red cow and top of Ballinalee road in Longford Town. He took it upon himself to pick rubbish up on his walks, brings it home to dump it rightly. His wife said he should join the Tidy Towns, to which he did, thanks to Tom and all local heroes that do this in their own time.

I had a chat with David Harrington, in Athlone, Ireland, in 85db studios. David was doing his usual Sunday Sessions with his A Collective crew. We chat about his djing career where he is at now, and the industry, music producers and ‘Give us the night’ group dedicated to getting more time for night life and club music. Below Youtube video, the images are links to the same pages mentioned in the story, thanks for visiting

Adam Robinson 
Qualified Registered Plasterer for over twenty years, also having learnt from the best when he started out, thanks to Johnny Conway and Micky Reilly. Has been very busy of late since the restrictions were lifted, having done work for my family just recently, I can attest to the quality of the man’s work. The last big job was at a homeless shelter on Parnell Street, Dublin. Can do general builders work and labor, has his own business with the plastering, you can get in touch with this excellent trader via his Facebook page below I have linked, just click on the Facebook headed image below portrait, AR Plastering, keep it local, hire local and the best at that. 

Aloysius Ireland, County Longford Dairy farmer most of his life, but changed recently to beef, never a man to settle on any one thing, he took on the mantle of farming from his father Kevin, when he came back from travels across the world, when he was 27. Aloysius was a fitter mechanic in his early days not that far away when he was 21. Spent seven year Australia, motor mechanic fixing trucks that were on long hauls. Remembers fondly traveling twelve and half thousand miles in six days when himself and friends bought a 40 seater bus. The bus they had no use for anymore and seizing an opportunity, Aloysius had bought it for 4 thousand, and by the time he was finished, sold it for 7thousand, must have been all the dealings he saw at marts in his youth. Passed the largest farm station in Australia, that was 36 thousand sq. miles, two and half million cattle head. Spent a little time in India working for Dutch shell company, he had experience at mining from Keel mines. Sometime in Papua New Guinea, where he remembers meeting up with a gentleman from Canada that he also met in Keel mines, they shared many stouts and tales. Had a nice chat with this gentleman, and not keeping up too much of his time, no rest for the wicked he was on his way to check up on his turf.

Due to covid restrictions, instead of doing the normal Cemetery Sunday Blessing, it was decided to do a quiet blessing of the graves ahead of a Mass this Sunday in St Mel’s 27th 1pm by the Bishop dedicated to all the souls passed in Longford. Father’s Michael, Regi, James, Joseph and Tony blessed all the graves in Ballymacormack 23rd of June 2021 at 4pm after an initial prayer blessing. Paul Daly the Caretaker had as always the cemetery in good order for the solemn blessing and prayers.

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Teffia Park, Longford Town, County Longford, will always been known for its large open green. Also coming up to seventy years of Teffia being in existence, with a the green that many down the years have enjoyed. Family of my own have been brought up in Teffia and still to this day Croghan and McTiernan’s, are still Teffia residents. Teffia has hosted various football teams, also GAA goal posts in its early days and community games were held their also. Teffia could have changed several times, but for the formation of Teffia residents association, they joined together when a car park on the edge side of green was being touted. Talking to couple of residents, mixed feelings about a one way system, that may suit the main issue of narrow roads and many car owners in todays Teffia. The green kept as it always has been, is thanks to these gentlemen who take pride in it, in their own time they help manage the green for everyone to enjoy it as they do. They have a social media dedicated page to Teffia, always updated with images and stories. I have a link below to that page, just click on the image and it will take you to it.

Lorraine Quinn celebrates 26 years this week as a hairdresser in Billy’s Barbers, Longford Town. Billy’s is a very popular Barbers in town, it is very easy to see why when you have the custom you get with the staff and none more so than Lorraine. Congratulations Lorraine, its is no mean feat, 26 years, something you never see anymore in places of work. Says so much of Lorraine, when your working in one place, loyalty, the best of customer service, and very good at what you do, congratulations