New video series explores rich heritage and history of Lough Ree

A captivating new four-part video series explores the rich heritage and history of Lough Ree, offering viewers a unique journey through the Midlands lake.

The four episodes span roughly 20 minutes each, the series is available to watch on the Longford Library, Arts Heritage & Archives Services YouTube channel.

A number of local characters featured in the series, including Taughmaconnell author and academic Dr Daniel Curley, Gearoid O'Brien, former Athlone librarian, author, historian, and broadcaster, Lecarrow's Christopher Keane, treasurer of St. John's Parish Heritage Group, and Athlone's Harman Murtagh, former president of the Military History Society of Ireland, and a former senior lecturer and visiting fellow at Athlone Institute of Technology, now the Technological University of the Shannon.

The first episode, Through the Mists of Time, introduces audiences to Lough Ree, which stretches across the counties of Longford, Westmeath, and Roscommon, and encompasses over 60 islands.

From its possible role as the birthplace of the Irish Christian church to its stories of battles, invasions, and the enchanting islands themselves, the episode highlights the lake as a place of ancient and modern wonder, largely untouched by contemporary tourism.

Episode two, A Life That Is Gone, tells the story of the rare communities that lived on the islands over the past 3,000 years. Through the memories of the few who recall the last days of island life, viewers gain insight into a way of living that is slowly fading from memory.

The third installment, A Corridor of Power and Passage, traces Lough Ree’s role as a vital water highway, connecting fertile lands and attracting settlers and invaders alike. The episode uses archaeology and ruins around the lake to show how these past inhabitants shaped the region over millennia.

The series concludes with Nature Still Teaches, focusing on Inchcleraun, also known as Quaker Island in Longford. Highlighting a farm run in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the episode shows how modern practices can align with nature to preserve the habitat.

The island also contains some of the oldest Irish and early Christian sites in the Lough Ree area, linking the present to a very long past.

The project was supported by Longford County Council under the County Longford Heritage Plan 2019–2025, with funding from The Heritage Council, as well as Roscommon and Westmeath County Councils through the Creative Ireland programme.

The series offers both history enthusiasts and casual viewers a rare glimpse into the natural beauty, culture, and heritage of Lough Ree.