Longford County Council welcomes Ambassadors as part of Ireland’s EU Presidency
Visit showcased Longford’s young talent, natural landscape, and rich cultural heritage
Press Release: Tuesday, 10 November 2026
Longford County Council was delighted to welcome the Ambassador of Hungary to Ireland, Dr. Gergely Bánhegyi, and the Ambassador of Ireland to Hungary, Ragnar Almqvist, to County Longford on Wednesday, 4 November, as part of the Cultural engagement programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the Hungarian-Longford County Pairing programme.
The cultural tour offered an opportunity to showcase Longford’s rich heritage and culture, welcoming communities, local businesses and natural landscape.
The visit began at Edgeworthstown Library, where the Ambassadors officially opened a Rubik’s Cube competition to celebrate one of Hungary’s most famous inventions, as almost 60 students from seven schools across Longford competed to see who could solve the Rubik’s Cube in the fastest time
The Ambassadors then visited the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre where guides and staff welcomed the group and led a tour of the interpretive centre.
The group viewed the Iron Age wooden trackway, built in 148 BC, before taking a short walk across the rewetted bog.
The next stop was Casey’s Sculptures Bog Oak studio in Newtowncashel. Kevin Casey explained how ancient bog oak is recovered and crafted into unique works of art before the Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Gerry Hagan, presented Ambassador Bánhegyi with a specially commissioned bog oak sculpture called Dancers. Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Samantha Healy, also presented Ambassador Almqvist with a second piece, called On Top of the World.
The group then returned to Edgeworthstown for the Rubik’s Cube competition prize-giving and later travelled to Granard to visit the Knights & Conquests Heritage Centre. The day concluded with a visit to The Lost Exit, an escape room in Ballymahon owned and operated by Hungarian couple Janos Papdi and Monika Barna.
Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Gerry Hagan, said:
“We were delighted to welcome both Ambassadors to Longford and to strengthen the growing links between our county and Hungary. The visit gave us an opportunity to showcase Longford’s rich heritage, vibrant communities, local enterprises and outstanding natural amenities. We look forward to developing these important links between Longford and Hungary in the years ahead.”
Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Samantha Healy, said:
“We were proud to welcome both Ambassadors and to share the many strengths that make Longford a vibrant place to live, work and visit. The visit highlighted our work in community development, innovation, sustainability and international engagement. It also strengthened the cultural and community links between Longford and Hungary. I thank everyone who helped to make the visit such a success. We look forward to building on these connections in the future.”
The visit was supported through Cultúr 2026: Sharing Ireland’s Culture, the official cultural programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Through events in libraries and communities across the county, Cultúr 2026 will bring the Presidency closer to the people of Longford. It will give people of all ages opportunities to explore the stories, histories and cultural connections that link Longford with Europe.
