The Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre is a museum housed in an 1840 National School | Self-Guided tour in 7 Languages | Rare Artefacts
Visit the Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre
Visit the Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre
Experience
... A Literary and Heritage Centre in Edgeworthstown
Visit the Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre, a literary and heritage centre located in Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford. It celebrates the life, work and legacy of Maria Edgeworth – one of Ireland’s most influential writers and educational thinkers. Follow in the footsteps not only of the intriguing Edgeworth family, but also discover their surprising links to well-known like-minded contemporaries, politicians, revolutionaries and scientific minds at the Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre.
Housed in an 1840 National School building, you can immerse yourself in a journey through Ireland’s intriguing past, from rebellions to famine. Discover the beginnings of Ireland’s first primary school system and explore the Edgeworth family and their contribution to literature and education. A visit to our museum is a must for those interested in Ireland’s heritage and who wish to experience it in a unique setting. Set within Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, it offers visitors a distinctive cultural experience that connects place, people and ideas, and highlights Edgeworthstown’s unique role in Ireland’s literary and educational history.
Why Visit the Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre - our Highlights
- Original 1840s national school building
- Story of Maria Edgeworth’s life and work
- Authentic artefacts, letters, manuscripts, first editions and historical books
- Strong links to Jane Austen, Sir Walter Scott, William Wordsworth, Lord Byron, Erasmus Darwin and many more
- Permanent exhibition ‘Scenes from a Disembodied Past by artist Bernard Canavan
- Extensive ancestral Edgeworth Portrait Gallery
What You Can Experience
- Self-guided Tour with audio guide in 7 languages
- Guided Tours (Please contact us for a privat specialised tours)
- Group Visits
- Exhibitions
- Talks, Workshops, Festivals
Opening hours
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Tuesday – Friday
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday & Sunday
Opening for Christmas and New Year may vary
Please allow at least 1 hour for a visit at the Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre. The ticket includes an Audio Guide for a self-guided tour.
The Visitor Centre is run on a ‘Not for Profit’ basis by local volunteers backed up by trained guides.
What Our Visitors Say about their visit at the Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre
Great little museum. Really presented the story of the family through exhibits and audio. Curator was really knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. He also opened up the church/church yard and gardens for us. Had no idea Maria Edgeworth was such an influence on writers like Jane Austin. Thoroughly recommend this museum.
Very informative about the Edgeworth family and their contributions to learning, literature and the local society. Audio guide provided so much interesting stories and facts about the Edgeworths.
Travelled to Edgeworthstown to spend some time at the Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre to find out about this unique woman. The old schoolhouse is the setting for the collection of memorabilia so beautifully displayed. Inspiring and gifted with a rare insight into women's lives at the time, she saw things and advocated for change of thinking and expectations. Her writings were highly influential and I am humbled at what she achieved in her lifetime. So glad to have learned more about this extraordinary woman - all thanks to our guide who was available to give an intimate and lively look at Maria and her family. He was so informative and passionate about this woman's connections in Edgeworthstown and her far-reaching significance in the bigger world.
A great little gem in Edgeworthstown. Very nice museum and the lady working there had lots of knowledge and gave us a small introduction to the museum
The Maria Edgeworth Centre offers insightful stories of the renowned writer’s life and work and on the adventures of her eclectic family. Its charming, historical setting, and engaging displays provide a rich cultural experience for everyone.
The building has an historic past, it was one of the first schools built after the passing of the Education Act of 1831.
An Historic National School Building
Eventually, the hopes and dreams of many came true, when the Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre opened in 2019. It was the culmination of many years of hard work by the Edgeworth Society.
Significantly, the building has an historic past. It was one of the first purpose-built schools after the passing of the Education Act of 1831. This act, for the first time made provision for a government backed primary school system providing for the education of protestant and catholic children. Its building required the support of both religious communities. This school, built in 1840, had Maria Edgeworth as one of its first patron. Incidentally, the contents of the act became, forty years later, the blueprint for a similar education system in England, Scotland and Wales which did not have a primary school system at the time.