Longford House

Longford House, currently owned and occupied by the Kelly family, is located on the eastern side of Castlerea in the townland of Longford. It is famous for being the birthplace of Douglas Hyde, the first president of Ireland. A plaque at the front of the house reads: 'This plaque was unveiled by Dr. Patrick Hillary President of Ireland on Friday 24th June to commemorate the birth of Dr Douglas Hyde, an Craoibhin Aoibhinn, at Longford House Castlerea on 17th January 1860'. It was unveiled in 1988 by then-president Patrick Hillary. The house served as the Church of Ireland Rectory between the years 1845 to 1860. Douglas was born there in 1860 when his mother returned to her family home to avail of support and comfort in advance of the birth. His father was a Church of Ireland reverend and Douglas was raised in Kilmactranny, County Sligo and Frenchpark, County Roscommon. Listen to the audio for a more in-depth history of this stately home.