Revealed: The top stories of 2019 on longfordleader.ie

Puppies, the weather, Maura Higgins and the local elections were among the stories that got readers of longfordleader.ie clicking this year. The Longford Rose, the opening of Center Parcs, tragic events, court and crime also got readers talking during the year.

And they were just some of the top stories on longfordleader.ie  in what has been a bumper year for the website. In total throughout the year, 3 million users logged on to longfordleader.ie.

While the bulk of the website’s users came from Ireland, the Longford diaspora also accounted for a sizeable chunk of readers.  A total of 12% of readers came from the UK while 10% visited from the US. 

Australia and Canada also featured prominently in the listings and readers kept in touch when on their holidays too - 15,000 users logged in from Spain this year. We even had readers from far flung places such as  Malaysia, Zambia and Peru.

The top story for the entire year is one of our most recent stories, the tale of three puppies  who were admitted to the National Animal Centre in Kenagh just last week.

Three unwanted puppies now in ISPCA care in Longford - Longford Leader

Not surprisingly, Maura Higgins’ star turn on Love Island proved to be a huge audience winner for longfordleader.ie this year as readers clamoured to keep up with the Ballymahon’s woman’s huge success throughout the year.

Our most watched video this year featured Maura and Curtis Pritchard swirling around the dancefloor in Ballymahon.

WATCH | Ballroom dancer Curtis Pritchard whirls Maura Higgins around the dance floor of Ballymahon pub 

Never let anyone say people aren’t interested in politics, the Longford Leader’s liveblog from the 2019 local elections generated over 30,000 pageviews alone. 

The top 10 stories from 2019 for the Longford Leader were :

1. Three unwanted puppies now in ISPCA care in Longford

2. EXCLUSIVE: The truth about Love Island's Ballymahon bombshell Maura Higgins

3. Furious Longford mother confronts Gemma O'Doherty for using photo of her son online without consent

4. WATCH | Ballroom dancer Curtis Pritchard whirls Maura Higgins around the dance floor of Ballymahon pub

5. Regulation has gone too far, says Longford judge critical of RSA rules

6.Met Éireann forecasts snowfall and a 'bitterly cold' week ahead

7.LIVE BLOG: Longford voters give their verdict in Elections 2019 #LE19

8.Breaking: Gardaí at scene of outbreak of violence in Longford town

9.WATCH | Lovely Longford Rose Marie Brady wins hearts of nation during television interview with Dáithí O Sé

10. Edgeworthstown hotel in court over €37,000 ESB fraud

“It’s been an incredibly successful year for longfordleader.ie,” editor Alan Walsh said this year.  “Longford people at home and abroad are always keen to keep up with the latest local news and they know that longfordleader.ie delivers accurate news as it happens.  We have a number of exciting developments in the new year including the launch of a new look website and we are very much looking forward to 2020."