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film · Thursday 9 July 2026 · 8:00pm 
Harp Cinema Series - July Screening
At Valentine's Bar · Main Street, Longford, Co. Longford
At Valentine's Bar · Main Street, Longford, Co. Longford
If you want to catch an acclaimed Irish film in a setting that feels nothing like a multiplex, the Harp Cinema Series is worth the trip. Running monthly through 2026, this free screening series brings carefully chosen Irish films to Valentine’s Bar on Longford’s Main Street, each followed by a live Q&A with a filmmaker, actor, or other creative from the production. It suits anyone curious about Irish cinema beyond what shows at the local Omniplex - whether that means college students, film fans, or anyone who appreciates a proper conversation about a film they have just watched.
The series is run by Harp Media, the Longford-based production company founded by directors Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney. Higgins and McGivney are not outsiders parachuting in: their own feature film Lakelands won Best Irish Film at the Galway Film Fleadh and received a UK and Irish cinema release. The series is supported by Screen Ireland’s Audience Development Fund and Longford County Council’s Night-Time Economy Fund, which means it is properly resourced - and free to attend.
The inaugural June screening showed Frank Berry’s award-winning drama Michael Inside, with actor Dafhyd Flynn taking questions afterwards. The July event is the second in the series; the specific film and guest speaker will be announced closer to the date. Previous guests have come from the acting and directing side, so expect a genuine conversation about the process behind the film rather than a promotional talking point. Valentine’s Bar provides a full cinema-style screening setup, and the pub setting keeps things informal.
Longford town is on the main Dublin to Sligo rail line, with regular Irish Rail services from Connolly Station running in roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. By road from Dublin, the N4 takes around 1 hour 30 minutes depending on traffic. From Athlone it is a short drive of about 30 minutes north on the N55. Parking in Longford town centre is generally straightforward in the evenings, with car parks off Main Street and Ballymahon Street.
Longford town is compact enough to walk end to end, and the surrounding county has more going on than its reputation suggests - Lough Ree is on the doorstep, and the landscape around Granard and Ardagh is quiet and genuinely worth a detour. There is more to see in Longford and across Co. Longford.
Heading to Valentine's Bar in Longford? Longford has plenty more to see. Read the Longford area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.