The Edgeworthstown Heritage and Literary Trail brings together the town’s literary history with its church and education history. It is organised by the Maria Edgeworth Centre in Edgeworthstown, County Longford; the guided walk ends at the Centre. The stops provide a clear thematic framework for a stay focused on Maria Edgeworth and her family.
Churches, garden and burial sites
The route passes through the Gothic Revival St Mary’s Church, with its Clarke stained-glass windows. The trail passes Maria Edgeworth’s family home, which includes a restored walled garden. Another stop is St John’s Church and its graveyard, where Maria Edgeworth and Isola Wilde are buried. The trail ends at the Maria Edgeworth Centre, where an extensive collection of Edgeworth family memorabilia is housed.
A school building with an educational history
The Maria Edgeworth Centre is housed in a 19th-century national school building that opened in 1841 and is among the oldest national school buildings in Ireland. The Centre tells the story of Ireland’s early national education system, including a reconstruction of a traditional 19th-century classroom. The history of education and the family thus complement the trail’s stops.
The Visitor Centre uses audio, visual and interactive displays in seven languages. Before visiting, check which presentation formats and languages are available. The Centre also holds an annual festival, as well as talks and workshops throughout the year. Programme details and individual event dates may change.
Plan your tour and journey
You can book the guided Heritage and Literary Trail walk online through the Maria Edgeworth Centre website. Check availability before your trip. For travel by train, note that County Longford is served by the Dublin–Sligo line, which includes Longford Town and Edgeworthstown stations. Timetables and train services may change, so check Irish Rail before travelling.
County Longford as a wider setting
The Royal Canal Greenway is a 130 km walking and cycling route from Maynooth in County Kildare to Clondra in County Longford, passing through County Longford. Its infrastructure includes 90 bridges, 33 locks, 17 harbours and four aqueducts. The National Famine Way also passes through County Longford. This signposted walking and cycling route follows the last known journey on Irish soil of 1,490 people who were forced to leave Strokestown in County Roscommon in 1847. The two routes have different focuses: the Royal Canal Greenway highlights its length and structures, while the National Famine Way focuses on the historic journey.
Choose where to stay based on your actual itinerary.
For the broader travel overview: County Longford.
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