Green light for councillor's plan to end negative image of Longford

Cllr Peggy Nolan's proposal for a 'Love Longford' style campaign - designed to improve the county's public image nationwide - has been given the go-ahead. 

The councillor initially broached the idea a number of years ago but revisited it recently during the annual budget meeting, in which it was revealed that the local authority had a record €80 million budget for 2026, thus making it the highest performing authority in Ireland.

Cllr Nolan's proposal received a positive response from Chief Executive Paddy Mahon and has since been given the green light. 

Following the budget meeting, Cllr Nolan explained to the Longford Leader that the campaign would help people see all that  Longford has to offer, rather than the negative public image that has plagued the county for some time.  

She also cited the bad publicity in national media as an example of what was working against the county, and referenced a recent TV show gag that took aim at Longford. The Marian Keyes series The Walsh Sisters was one such show which recently featured a joke at the county's expense. 

Cllr Nolan told The Longford Leader, "The negativity has to stop. Even on a television programme recently, they mentioned Longford - we seem to be the butt of everybody's joke, and as a Longford person who has been privileged to serve this community for almost 30 years, I can't put into words or explain to you how much I love the county. It doesn't deserve the negativity it gets." 

Cllr Nolan this week told the Longford Leader that she is currently organising the details of the campaign - the name of which will be revealed soon - to revitalise Longford's public image, but added that she is working on it “with someone very special whose heart is in Longford and who is extremely experienced."

She said, “There are so many positive things happening in Longford next year, the barracks renovation, the €80M budget, we have so much going for us, but the most important input starts right now with the public. We have the most incredible retailers here in Longford - they're on a par with retailers nationwide - but it's so important for people to support them this Christmas. Your local retailers are the ones who sponsor local events and fundraisers so please show your support to them in return and shop local.”

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Read More: Longford has the "highest performing local authority in Ireland" with record €80m budget