What is happening in Longford town?

Gussie Scrotch

I lived in the town Longford right through the seventies. But haven't been back there for more than thirty years now.

It was a friendly, easy going, relatively safe typical small rural Irish town. The Longford Leader courts section featured mainly speeding offences, shoplifting, the odd drunk and disorderly charge and maybe one or two punch-ups.

Recently, it seems to me, the place has been persecuted with multiple drug busts, targetting of local crime lords, endless violent feuding and even a couple of shootings.

What has happened to turn a sleepy harmonious little backwater into such a chaotic state?

irishgeo

A government and a country soft on crime. Criminals with previous convictions arms length long let off again for another chance.

Gussie Scrotch

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120204159#Comment_120204159

Yes, I can see that there has been a general rise in serious crime all over Ireland for the reasons you point out.

It just seems to me that the change in Longford is disproportionately high. It regularly makes the national news, something that rarely happened back in the day.

cafflingwunts

Travellers* killing each other, usually.

elperello

Maybe you would consider a return trip after over 30 years.

Look up some old friends, walk around the town etc.

It might be more instructive than asking here.

Gussie Scrotch

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120204246#Comment_120204246

But there's been gang fights on the main streets, in supermarkets, on a garage forecourt. There's been several drug caches of hundreds of thousands of pounds seized, the CAB have targetted several locals, there's been shootings in housing estates, houses attacked and even burned to the ground.

Nothing remotely like this happened in the not so distant past.

Its the spped and severity of the transformation that puzzles (and saddens) me.

How can it have changed so much, so quickly?

Sorolla

The biggest problem Longford had is the constituency Longford/Westmeath.

The town went a few years without a sitting TD and as a result experienced severe neglect.

There is a very rough element to Longford town and the courts are not doing their jobs.

Repeat offenders should be put away and not given a chance.

Jizique

Couple of well-known traveller families running amok but careful not to get caught with anything

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058282983/what-is-happening-in-longford-town

First of all, Longford was never an easygoing town. It was always a low income area that had a relatively high public order problem.

The changes I've observed in the town from visiting over the past 50 years are complex and intertwined with wider issues. The town has a drug crime problem, it has a large population of low income individuals and families and it has an ongoing traveller family feud. Inward migration has possibly resulted in a loss of social cohesion as well.

Add all on top of that, poor planning practices which allowed development on the edge of the town rather than in its heart, and overall neglect of both the public realm as well as property facing the public has the town where it is

Donald Trump

Is this you OP?

Locks made of paper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi3SQq1KjN4&t=243s

Pentecost

I have family in Longford. It's always had trouble, well since the early 1990s anyway which is as far as I can remember. There was always a high proportion of Travellers but the feuds seem more dangerous and more sustained now. There is definitely a drug problem in the town and as far as I can see the drug trade is controlled almost exclusively by the Travellers.

The problems don't just stem from the Travellers though. There's been no investment in the town. There are no facilities and there are few decent jobs to be had so a lot of people move away.

Quitelife

Traveller crime is the main issue but politicans & the media ensure it cant be discussed or dealt with only let it get worse & worse .

Reduction in Garda Numbers & soft judges & free Legal aid solicitors with no morals have compounded the matter.

Longford & Limerick are the counties with the worst problems around this topic but plenty of towns like Ennis, Tipperary Town, Tuam, Castlebar, Mullingar, Newbridge , Tralee, Mahon Cork City, Shannon town, Thurles , etc etc etc .....even the great Killarney has problems

BagofWeed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120204159#Comment_120204159

The move by the authorities, courts service/Gardaí away from targeting and punishing crimes that actually effect other people/businesses such as assaults, burglaries, shoplifting and general public disorder towards prioritising low level drug use/users is a major if not the most dominant reason for it.

Jarhead_Tendler

The town was once a hub of vibrant characters. There were over 50 pubs in the town which is down to under ten now. Abbott are a huge employer and one of the few good things to happen the town in the last ten years.

The town has changed a lot . Our population has risen by 14 percent in the last 6 years alone. After Tuam I think we are the 2nd highest for traveller residents. The dogs in the street know who is and has been running the drugs trade here since the 90s. The Gardai are like the residents disheartened by a judicial system that **** on it weekly.

There are estates that I would not live in if I were given a house for free. Workers from good employers like Abbot find it hard to get suitable accommodation within the town. The local TD does his best and works hard on a lot of issues but is pissing into the wind. (some will disagree and think he is useless)

Its home and I will never live anywhere else . I believe more problems are on the way as the people who have arrived from Slovakia/Romania aren't known for their work ethic and even if they have that jobs aren't guaranteed. Two major stores have closed since christmas. Along with Abbott the building of centre parks has given a huge lift to the county. A badly needed Lift.

Deregos.

I think Longford gets an undue amount of negativity from media sources in fairness. There's much worse places to live in Ireland, especially if you were to factor in things like random acts of violence, rapes or murders into the equation, which are rare enough here. There are a few druggie families who are in constant, full on fued mode, they tend to make the headlines lots, whereas the majority of Longford people are decent, friendly, hard working folk who have absolutely nothing to do with those scuz buckets.

AllForIt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120206568#Comment_120206568

There's much worse places to live in Ireland

Like where?

One eyed Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058282983/what-is-happening-in-longford-town

What has happened to turn a sleepy harmonious little backwater into such a chaotic state?

When you left, the whole thing went to shìt really.

Or, it was never like that in the first place, only you being much younger at the time didn’t care and didn’t notice how shìt it was then for people who were the same age then as you are now.



Deregos.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120206646#Comment_120206646

Well, Waterford, Cork, Drogheda, Limerick, Dublin.

Why, where do you live?

AllForIt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120206768#Comment_120206768

Well Dublin Cork Waterford and Limerick have cities (presumably you don't mean the whole county) in which you would expect to have 'deprived' areas in those cities.

Are the issues in Longford specific to a particular district in Longford or the whole town?

Count Dracula

Op in fairness it was a dangerous enough kip 30 odd years ago as well. The only thing would be the drug taking is more in your face, but you were never stuck for a row either. I would put it up there with the likes of Cavan, Mullingar, Athlone etc , as your typical county town kind of place that got left behind .

You have to remember that the day of the market town is dying a death. Longford will suffer as it is too small for anyone wanting to see the world hanging around and looking after her. Most people head off unless they have something to hang around for like a business or teaching or what have.

A bit like yourself scooting off there during the 90's and forgetting the place ever existed, you come back after 3600 months and forget that you are from a kip in the middle of nowhere that is populated by townies, the odd farmer up to buy or sell and the guts of over 1000 people who are actually part of the same family. I am not sure what you call them, but whatever you do don't cross them and you know phucking well why?

Even the soccer team are shight, some things never change op.

Have you not built a statue of the Duke of Wellington yet? It might get the lefties going and generate some enthusiasm around it, I tell you what, it needs it bigtime.

Dazler97

It's a dive of a place ,I'm in Leitrim and I'd go to Dublin or Galway before Longford It's to rough run by criminals ,the government don't care there highly corrupt anyway

Andrea B.

...

Straight Talker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120206768#Comment_120206768

Well the places you listed there with the exception of Drogheda are cities, and Drogheda is the largest town in Ireland. Ironically enough i'd feel safer in all of those places than in Longford town. Longford for a medium sized town is fairly rough enough, and a lot of the trouble there is caused by people from a certain "cultural" minority.

Gussie Scrotch

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120206647#Comment_120206647

No, it was never a paradise and I remember that, economically, times were perpetially tough. That's one of the reasons I left - to find better career opportunities.

But it was never violent ( Im talking serious violence rather than the occasional pub fight etc) dangerous to walk in, drug riddled etc.

And I remember how friendly the people were. Even if they didn't have muich. Good humoured and friendly. They wouldn't have tolerated the crime levels that seem to exist now.

Mad_maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120206568#Comment_120206568

But the media conceal the involvement of travellers in crime so how does Longford get an undue amount of negative coverage?

It is a Dunne Deal

It is a hotspot of a certain thriving ethnic community that enjoys fighting, feuding and granny bashing.

Sorolla

When I was a young lad growing up in a farm just outside Ardagh - Longford town was a thriving market town with one of the best schools in the country - St Mel’s College - where many a bright farmers son got a great education and became a great footballer as well.

one of the finest hotels in the country - the longford arms - was the top address for functions, weddings (Jim had the Rolls Royce) and ballroom dancing with all the greats of country and western music playing regularly.

The list of artists is a who’s who of Irish music - Big Tom, Larry Cunningham, Foster and Allen, Kathy Durkan, Declan and Mick, Joe Dolan and Daniel o Donnel.

Durkans had a great sports shop and Jim Kelly and Matt O Brien had the best fashion on sale for the fashion conscious farmers son.

PV Fallons, The Market Bar and many other great places to meat and eat.

Louis Hetterich had the best sausages and pudding in the country.

There was even a Taoiseach from Longford - after Albert and Peter Kelly left the political stage thing got bad for longford.

the FF TD currently from the town is a lovely man but I do not think he is prepared to stand up for longford - he toes the party line.

longford will lose their TD at the next election.

westmeath is where the power is in the constituency - I think that is part of the problem.

Things were better when the constituency was previously Longford-Roscommon

I hope the glory days return to longford

It is a Dunne Deal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120212467#Comment_120212467

Make Longford Great Again.

Ham_Sandwich

same as here in dublin to may busy bodys complaining about everything they say dublin has loads of trouble but I do be out and about and never have any trouble keep you head down and keep to youserselfs if you go looking for toruble youll always find it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120215822#Comment_120215822

State of that.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120206768#Comment_120206768

Be more specific - Douglas or Clonakilty in Cork are hardly worse than Longford. Why should they confirm where they live? They asked where is worse to live than Longford. Fair question. I'd say the toughest suburbs of Dublin and Limerick myself.

Pity that a nice country town surrounded by lovely scenery has to be ruined by scumbags.

chosen1

I would put the current problems in the town down to a number of issues.

Firstly unlike others on the thread saying it was a quiet town years ago, I'd disagree as there was always a relatively tough element living around there going back years. It has gotten worse in recent years though through an influx of many undesirables of various types and creeds into the cheap rental houses built during the Celtic tiger.

The main problem is law and order. I found this case today where a gang smashed up a house in broad daylight and has since intimidated a neighbour who gave CCTV footage to the guards.

https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/home/1030314/woman-tells-of-threats-from-gang-at-centre-of-longford-house-attack.html

All involved got suspended sentences for no apparent reason. This is absolutely typical of the type of sentencing that goes on week in, week out in the town.

The Judges are clearly delusional and are obviously not living near effected areas but the buck ultimately stops at the government and more particularly, the minister for justice. It's been a long time since any one of them suggested building more prison space, and when he did, he was shot down and vilified.

It is an expensive process to build and maintain this prison space but it's clearly necessary unfortunately. If these people were put of the streets for a while, they wouldn't be a danger. The guards would also have more respect as there would be a clear deterrent instead of lads getting away scot free after committing serious crimes.

I love the town and it's got great potential, with a few good employers, good cafes, good facilities for kids and a few decent pubs left. Most around are good people but until this problem gets tackled, I can't see it getting any better unfortunately.

Jarhead_Tendler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120217434#Comment_120217434

It is funny. If the judge opened youtube they could see one of the lads before them making call out videos only two weeks ago in a different feud.

Count Dracula

I must admit i find the call out videos very entertaining?

It shows that the average native clansman was constantly adept with adapting to modern forms of communication and its' attributes . I would be proud of that. They are the smartest group of people I am aware of, they run rings around everyone and live how they like. Who doesn't want to live as free?

I get where the begrudgery stems from now, it is the way they embrace their freedom and live lie they like? More settled lifestyles vent their resentment at this in cyberspace..... how meaningless and futile can you get?

It shows great initiative in using the tech, to enable to announce what part of absolute nowhere, they are hooking up at for a settler. I would admire the transparency of it. Tell the truth and shame the Devil n all, do you no wha i mean boss? Dohin bee schlaggin yeh book it of shight, yeah?

Lots of country boys n girls getting off their chops also. It is only 8 generations since the land acts of 1870. They were simply left behind and i would doubt their behavior's are dramatically different. Albeit they are certainly wealthier now. But once again that indicates the power of resolve.

buzzerxx

Yep OP, it's mostly because of the ''do what ye likey, pikey''

Ham_Sandwich

the usual lock em up brigade and traveller bashing because all this has worked before hasnt it

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058282983/what-is-happening-in-longford-town

The world moved on since the seventies, Ireland is now one of the wealthiest countries in the world and so it has it has all the economic and social issues that every rich country has. Ideally people would like to have the wealth of today and live in the seventies but that is simply not possible.

It is expensive to run a rich country and no one wants to pay the taxes to do it. So it’s the governments fault, the HSE’s fault, the foreigner’s fault , the refugees…. or whatever group is currently popular…. the same story as in every other rich country… in the end it comes down to the voter.

Yeah, definitely don't blame the criminals responsible for crime.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120223156#Comment_120223156

Well making excuses for criminals and downplaying their behaviour isn't a good strategy either.

Terrier2023

In time Ireland and many european countries will have to privatize the jails make them into money making units like america then there will be space for every miscreant and wrong doer in the country and we know whats coming if Sweden is anything to go by. That or else send all violent criminals over to the war to use up their excess fighting energy.

eggy81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120223156#Comment_120223156

Travellers are great to be fair. Look at all they bring to the country.

Quitelife

Longford & Limerick are the two counties most impacted by traveller crime & traveller feuds but local politicans & Judges dont care because they live in nice houses nowhere near the worst areas of these counties .

Gaspode

Dodgy Looking website.

El Gato De Negocios

Im from Longford, lived there most of my life and a couple of years ago I moved back here with my wife and kids and built a house. There are a number of inaccuracies in this thread.

Longford has not always been a shithole. During the 90s and 00s the town was doing well (relative to its size and its location). There were loads of decent pubs and restaurants and employment was high. There was never any significant trouble during this period. Of course there were occasional rows at the weekends in pubs or after nightclubs but this happens in every single town across the country but there was nothing anomalous about it.

Employment was heavily construction centric with a huge amount of people employed in the industry. This kept the pubs busy during the day for people eating food and at night for drinking. Retail outlets, delis etc were also kept going because of this. Then the recession hit. It is no exaggeration to say it decimated the town and county. I can think of at least 20 people off the top of my head that emigrated during this time and never returned. My own brother went to Canada and will be there til the day he dies. The people that left werent just unskilled laborer's. They were carpenters, electricians, block layers, engineers, draughtsmen and other qualified jobs.

The county got the fringe benefits of the tiger but areas such as infrastructure and facilities were ignored or unfinished. A massive shopping centre was built, supposed to be the beacon for the town, Marks and Spencer was slated to be the flagship store but they got cold feet and ultimately the centre never opened and its sitting idle now as a monolith to poor ideas.

The army barracks was shut down in 2009 and consolidated with Athlone.

A number of industrial plants closed down as the owners were able to relocate to other countries where the cost of labour is much lower.

The N4 bypass also drained traffic through the town literally overnight.

All of these had huge negative impacts on the town.

Longford also has a huge problem with traveller families and their behaviour, people can say I'm being racist or throw out any other handwringing comments they want, that is the reality. They are above the law and they know it.

What the solution is I do not know. Ideally more policing and a zero tolerance attitude to anti social behaviour would be a good start but I fear its too late and the scum are too deeply embedded to make a tangible difference. It saddens me as outside of the town, there are some wonderful little communities and villages.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120319693#Comment_120319693

Longford also has a huge problem with traveller families and their behaviour, people can say I'm being racist or throw out any other handwringing comments they want, that is the reality. They are above the law and they know it.

This is by far, out of the listing of issues, the main issue with Longford.

Quitelife

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/crime/staff-and-customers-forced-to-look-on-in-horror-as-two-young-men-traded-blows-in-a-shop-in-broad-daylight-42444393.html

More lawlessness in Longford in the middle of the day, lots of damage down to goods and stands in shop all to be paid for by shop owner. Is there any politicans in Longord to help law abiding people & businesses ?

NewbridgeIR

This one is hilarious

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUUaAj-xsGk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120204286#Comment_120204286

Same nonsense in Ennis.

We have had some good judges at circuit court level who have refused legal aid in drug cases, and where the gardai have asked for bail to be refused, the judge has concurred. Long jail terms in uncomfortable surroundings-rehabilitation and the associated mollycoddling does not work-and seizure of all assets including garnishing of wages and welfare payments should be the norm.

The lawlessness and blatant parading of unexplained wealth needs to be stoppped, as well as cutting any funding to advocacy groups.

Being nice isn't an option.

GerUpOttaTa

Weak Gardai and weak justice system = Mayhem

Real Donald Trump

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120514801#Comment_120514801

Wouldn't blame the guards, they have limited powers, it is the justice system that is definitely the big problem in this country, too many on the gravy train..

GerUpOttaTa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120533355#Comment_120533355

I am blaming the Gardai. Have you seen the state of some of them recently. 5ft nothing and made of paper. Scroungers laugh at them.