Growing Up in Kenagh: A Personal Reflection
Kenagh, County Longford, is more than just a village on the map for me—it’s the place where my earliest memories were made, where every lane, landmark, and leafy avenue tells a story from my childhood. Looking back, I realise how lucky I was to grow up here, surrounded by a rich tapestry of history and nature that shaped who I am today.
As a child, the old mill was a place of endless fascination. Its sturdy stone walls, standing quietly by the river, hinted at a time when Kenagh was a hive of local industry. I recall listening to stories about how the mill once powered village life, grinding grain for local families and providing much-needed employment. Even though its wheel had long since stopped turning, for us children, it was a place of adventure, mossy stones and cool shade became the backdrop for our games and our wild imaginations.
My days at Kenagh National School were never confined to the classroom. Our teachers believed in the value of learning outdoors, and many afternoons were spent on nature walks, exploring the woods and fields that surround the village. The woods were our living classroom, a place where we learned to identify wildflowers, listened for birdsong, and marvelled at the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. Those walks instilled in me a lifelong respect for the natural world and a sense of belonging to this landscape.
One of my fondest memories is cycling down Lime Tree Avenue, a double row of majestic lime trees planted in the 19th century. In spring and summer, the branches formed a living tunnel of green, making every journey feel magical. As children, we’d race each other beneath the canopy, barely noticing that we were passing through a piece of living history, a reminder of Kenagh’s connection to its landed past and the generations who walked these same paths before us.
No trip through the village was complete without a glance at the clock tower, erected in the early 20th century as a memorial to Laurence King-Harman, a member of the influential King-Harman family of Newcastle House. The clock tower has always been more than a way to tell the time; it’s a symbol of Kenagh’s identity and resilience. It marked the hours of our schooldays, stood watch over village events, and remains a reassuring presence for everyone who calls Kenagh home.
Growing up in Kenagh meant being part of a community where history and nature were woven into daily life. Our nature walks weren’t just about exercise—they were about connecting with the land, learning the stories behind every landmark, and understanding our place in a much bigger picture. From the old mill to the forest, from Lime Tree Avenue to the clock tower, Kenagh taught me that every place has a story, and every child deserves to know theirs.