Our Village of Newtownforbes
& Parish of Clonguish

We live in Newtownforbes, which is situated in the parish of Clonguish. Clonguish is west of Co.Longford. It's Gaelic name is CLUAIN GEIS which means The Meadow of the Swans. Clonguish is bordered by four other parishes, Killashee, Templemicheal, Killoe and Drumlish. The parish also shares a common boundary with the province of Connacht in that it adjoins the parishes of Bornacoola and Gortletteragh in Co. Leitrim and is seperated by the Shannon from Kilbarry in Co. Roscommon. The river Camlin flows through the south-western end of the parish.

Just before you approach Newtownforbes from Longford, there is a beautiful old house called Minard House on the left. It was build in the 1760's and is now base to our Local Radio Station
- Shannonside Northern Sound - 794K @ 28kHz

The village of Newtownforbes was formerly known as Lios Breac ( Fort of the Fairies ) and is situated roughly in the centre of the parish. There are four pubs - one of which is Casey's Public House. This pub was the last pub in the Midlands to stop the practise of bottling Guinness for the brewery and labelling it also. Michael Collins, 1916 rebel and Free State Commander drank in this pub from time to time. Here is one of their original labels from the pub.

We have 2 supermarkets in our village. There is also a Nursing Home, two Churches i.e. St. Mary's and St. John's and in the middle of the village itself is a beautiful castle called Castleforbes. It's present owner is Lady Georgina.

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