In 1897, JP Farrell, a Redmonite MP, took the brave step of starting up a new nationalist newspaper in his native Longford. It was the start of a newspaper that would become one of the best known regional titles in the country and which would become recognised as the voice of Longford and the midlands in general.

The Farrell family’s ties with the Longford Leader continued until 1989 and as such the family played a vital role in the history of the newspaper. The Farrell family worked throughout the years to ensure that the Longford Leader led the way in terms of new technology and embraced change in the industry as it happened.

Since 1897, the Longford Leader has been recognised worldwide as the authentic voice of Co Longford and of the Longford community. Of course, that community stretches far beyond the geographical boundaries of Co Longford and throughout the world people with Longford connections keep in touch with ‘home’ through the pages of the Longford Leader.

Though the technology to produce a newspaper has changed immensely since 1897, the basis for the foundation of the Longford Leader has not. The Longford Leader brings news from Co Longford to members of the Longford community, wherever in the world they may be.

The Leader also has a duty to reflect the changing face of the county and to cater for the thousands of new Longfordians who have made the county their home. The team behind the Leader take these dual roles very seriously and work to ensure that the Longford Leader accurately reflects events and happenings in Co Longford.

The Longford Leader is proud to be the voice of Co Longford and week after week the newspaper seeks to invoke a sense of pride in Longford people no matter where the are.