County Longford
Center Parcs 2019 transformed this modest midlands county—Ireland's first such resort created tourism anchor while affordable housing attracts Dublin-excluded commuters and remote workers.
County Longford's modest scale and midlands position limited industrial development—the county lacks distinctive attractions that differentiate it from neighbors. Beef and dairy farming support rural economy; some food processing provides employment.
Longford town provides services to agricultural hinterland. The county's main asset may be affordability: housing costs well below Dublin enable residence for those willing to commute or work remotely.
Center Parcs' 2019 opening in Longford Forest represented significant investment—the first Irish Center Parcs creating tourism infrastructure and employment. This single development transformed county's tourism proposition, demonstrating how anchor investments can catalyze regional change.
Longford demonstrates ordinary rural Ireland: functional communities, agricultural economy, limited industrial development, challenged by Dublin's gravitational pull. The county's future depends on capturing development that capital-region costs exclude.