Maria Edgeworth Festival

The Maria Edgeworth Festival, held annually in May in Edgeworthstown, County Longford, is a vibrant celebration of literature, arts and heritage, honouring one of Ireland’s most pioneering writers, Maria Edgeworth. Deeply rooted in local history yet drawing national and international interest, the festival weaves together creative and community threads to spotlight Edgeworth’s legacy and the region’s rich cultural identity.

Founded in the mid‑1990s, the festival has evolved over almost thirty years into a multi‑disciplinary event spread over a long weekend, featuring readings, poetry and short story competitions, writing workshops, music, theatre, storytelling, and visual arts. A walking heritage tour (Edgeworthstown Literary Trail) allows visitors to follow in the footsteps of Edgeworth and her contemporaries, exploring historic sites such as her ancestral home, St John’s Church, St Mary’s Church and the dedicated muesum. There are family‑friendly elements such as an 18th‑century costume tea party, children’s storytelling, and wellness activities like outdoor yoga.

Culturally, the festival does more than entertain: it aims to uphold Maria Edgeworth’s ideals, especially around education, equality, realism in literature, social progress and artistic expression. It acts as a bridge connecting the past to the present, fostering literary culture in Longford, and promoting the county as a destination for heritage tourism. The festival also contributes to the local economy and civic identity, giving Edgeworthstown a platform to showcase its history, creativity and community spirit.

The festival has been generously supported by a wide range of funding partners including Longford Arts, Creative Ireland Longford and Longford Tourism.