Longford

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County of the Republic of Ireland, in the province of Leinster; county town Longford; area 1,040 sq km/401 sq mi; population (2002) 31,100. The county is low-lying (the highest point is Carn Clonhugh 279 m/916 ft), and the western border is formed of the River Shannon and part of Lough Ree, one of several lakes. Other rivers are the Camlin, a tributary of the Shannon, and the Inny, which flows into Lough Ree. Agricultural activities include cattle and sheep rearing, and the production of oats and potatoes.

In the Rebellion of 1798, one of the decisive battles to crush the rising took place at Ballinamuck, County Longford. The novelist Maria Edgeworth spent most of her life in Edgeworthstown in the county.

The red disc, set towards the hoist, recalls the fight for independence. Green represents Islam, fertility, and the country's youth. Effective date: 25 January 1972. >>