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The county of Longford lies in the province of Leinster in central Republic of Ireland. Measuring some 403 square miles in area, it is comprised of lowlands of glacial drifts and bogs and rough pasture land. It was a principality of the O'Farrell clan and once part of the county of Meath. It was colonized by English under Hugh de Lacy in the 12th century. When Meath was split into two counties, it was included in Westmeath, then became a shire in 1569. The farms tend to be small and are devoted mainly to cattle pasture, crops being mainly potatoes and oats. The 2003 estimated population was 31,300.