Calls for permanent home for Longford Museum

This year marks the passing of three decades since Longford Museum closed its doors. Longford Historical Society are hoping the milestone will spark action to restore the culturally important institution.
The museum was open from 1991 to 1994, but it closed due to structural problems in the building. Longford Historical Society were the main movers keeping the repository of significant local artefacts on the agenda.

Founded in 1967 by a group of far-seeing people realising the need to raise awareness of the importance of heritage, Longford Historical Society promotes an interest in the study of local history.

The society owns a major collection of artefacts, archives and books, currently in storage since the Main St museum closed.
Since the closure the society has pursued the goal of establishing a professionally-run County Museum for Longford.
Author and local historian, Bernard Sexton, expressed “dismay” about the inaction of the local authority about making provisions to restore a County Museum in County Longford.

“Almost 30 years has passed since the last museum closed its doors due to structural issues, resulting in the artefacts, effects and archives therein going into storage,” he outlined in a letter to the Leader.
Mr Sexton says it should still be on the agenda: “In the intervening years much has been vocalised, yet nothing tangible or definitive has materialised towards finding a permanent home.

“I would modestly suggest that the pursuit of a final and permanent home for a County Museum is a worthwhile and noble endeavour, so as to preserve and exhibit important cultural, artistic and historical artefacts and make it accessible for local and tourist alike, and the residual benefits that such an institution would bring to our community and County.”

He urged local representatives to move on the project: “I would sincerely hope that members of Longford County Council would progress beyond indolent and facile talk as to where a museum might be located, and progress to a stage of decisive action, incorporating an actual collaborative strategy and programme to bring a worthy and much overdue project to fruition.”
Cllr Gery Warnock says the issue is very much a live one for the local authority: “It's on the agenda. It's a part of the discussion centring around what will be the ultimate use of Connolly Barracks. I appreciate it is frustratingly slow, but it's tied in with the use for the main building.”

The elected representative says the issue is still in the foreground: “Nothing has been agreed on, bar the discussion. A lot of movement is taking place in respect of Connolly Barracks at present. The museum is certainly on the agenda as part of that,” Cllr Warnock said.
The issue was discussed as part of a public meeting on the Longford Town Centre First Plan which took place in Longford library last Wednesday (January 16).

The Longford Town Centre First plan will include the restoration of vacant or derelict sites, development of connected public realm schemes, walkways, housing and the marketing of the town in general.