Welcome to Lanesborough

Lanesborough is a charming town in County Longford, Ireland. It's like a special place from a storybook, full of history and tales. Do you know what makes Lanesborough special?

Long, long ago, around the 5th century, Saint Diarmuid built a church here. Imagine, a time when there were no cars, no computers, just lovely green fields and a serene river. This church helped make the town a very important religious place.

Later, in the 19th century, a big bridge was built to connect Lanesborough to another town called Ballyleague. This was a big deal because it helped people travel easier and quicker. You could say it was like building a new level in a video game!

One of the most exciting things that happened in Lanesborough was the discovery of a hidden treasure. In 1943, a man found a beautiful golden collar called a 'lunula'. It was made thousands of years ago in the Bronze Age. Imagine finding such an old treasure!

So, you see, Lanesborough may be a small town, but it has a big, colourful history, like a patchwork quilt of stories. Every stone, every road, every building has a tale to tell. Isn't that amazing?

  1. What did Saint Diarmuid build in Lanesborough in the 5th century?
  2. In the 19th century, what was built to connect Lanesborough to Ballyleague, and why was it a big deal?
  3. What was the 'lunula' found in Lanesborough in 1943?
  4. Why does the story compare Lanesborough's history to a patchwork quilt of stories?
  5. If you could travel back in time to Lanesborough, in which period would you want to visit, and why?

All About Lanesborough

Lanesborough is a cool place in County Longford, Ireland. It's where the River Shannon, Ireland's longest river, and the River Suck meet, like two old friends joining hands. It's got a special bridge named Lanesborough Bridge that connects County Longford and County Roscommon. Wow!

In Lanesborough, you'll find a big lake called Lough Ree, where you can spot ducks and swans. It's part of the Shannon System, a long network of rivers and lakes.

Let's talk about the plants and animals here! The wetlands around Lanesborough are filled with reeds and willow trees. In these wetlands, you can spot cool animals like otters, kingfishers, and even the rare whooper swan during the wintertime.

Guess what? There's even a power station in Lanesborough, called Lough Ree Power Station. It's huge, with tall chimneys that you can see from miles away.

So, whether it's the meeting of two rivers, the beautiful lake, or the amazing animals, there's always something to see and learn in Lanesborough. Isn't geography fun?

  1. What are the two rivers that meet in Lanesborough?
  2. Name some of the animals that you can spot in the wetlands of Lanesborough.
  3. Describe the Lough Ree Power Station and its geographic significance in Lanesborough.
  4. Using a map, can you trace the path of the River Shannon from its source to where it meets the River Suck in Lanesborough?
  5. Explore the area of Lanesborough yourself. Can you find something of geographical interest that hasn't been mentioned in this article? Write a short paragraph about it.

My Family and Lanesborough

Hi, I'm Bailey and I'm 8 years old. I live in a cool place called Lanesborough, in Co. Longford. It's really fun growing up here because there are lots of cool things to see and do.

One of the best things about living here is that we're right on the banks of the River Shannon. I love going to the river with my family, we have picnics and sometimes we even get to see the swans swimming around. It's really pretty.

We also have a big power station here. It's called Lanesborough Power Station and it's super huge! I can see it from my bedroom window. Dad says it gives electricity to lots of houses and places. I think it's neat that something so big is right here in our little town.

There's also a place called The Commons North Wood, it's a forest where we go for walks sometimes. There are so many trees and I try to spot squirrels and birds. It's always an adventure going there.

So, that's a bit about my life in Lanesborough. It's a really fun place to grow up and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!

  1. What is Bailey's favorite place to visit in Lanesborough?
  2. How does Bailey feel about living in Lanesborough?
  3. What does Bailey see from their bedroom window?
  4. What animals does Bailey try to spot in The Commons North Wood?
  5. What does Bailey's dad say about the power station?

The Logainm of Lanesborough

Lanesborough is a lovely little town in County Longford, Ireland. Its name in Irish is "Béal Átha Liag", which means "Mouth of the Ford of the Stones". A long time ago, before there were bridges, people had to cross rivers at places called fords. These were shallow parts of the river where it was safe to cross. The "stones" part refers to the many stones in the river at this place.

Lanesborough got its English name from George Lane, who was given the land around the town by the English king in the 1600s. In those days, people often named places after themselves. So, George Lane named the town after himself! But people in Ireland kept using the old Irish name too, and that's why we have two names for it today.

In present times, Lanesborough is known for its power station and fishing on the River Shannon. So, the "Ford of the Stones" is still an important part of life in Lanesborough, just like it was hundreds of years ago.

  1. What does the Irish name for Lanesborough, "Béal Átha Liag", mean in English?
  2. Why do you think people used to cross rivers at fords?
  3. Who was George Lane and why is the town named after him?
  4. Why do you think Lanesborough has two names?
  5. How is the "Ford of the Stones" still important in Lanesborough today?

Slideshow - Lanesborough
A full set of teaching plans for teaching about Lanesborough