- The Foxford Way is an 86km long walking trail, with the Ox Mountains on one side and the distinctive Nephin Mountain on the other. The walk extends south through the Ox Mountains, from Foxford to Straide and around Lough Cullin to Pontoon. It traverses an area with a rich variety of flora and fauna and an exceptional archaeological and historical heritage.
- Foxford town is also the home of the well known Foxford Woollen Mills. Work commenced on the building of the Mills in 1892 at the instigation of Irish Sister of Charity Mother Agnes Morrogh-Bernard as a method of alleviating the poverty and suffering caused by the Great Irish Famine in the area during the 1840’s. Today the Mill is a thriving centre of industry in the town offering handcrafted pieces for sale in the various mill shops and throughout the world. Tours of the Woollen Mills are available.
- Foxford Goat fair is an annual event, taking place on the Saturday closest to May 15th. It is believed that the fair started when a John Bingham was granted a patent for a market and four fairs in 1683. The Foxford Goat Fair is the only one of these fairs still in existence. The festivities include market stalls, animals for sale, fairground attractions and fun for all ages.
Also Nearby
Enniscrone Beach, Lacken Strand
National Museum of Ireland – Country Life
Pontoon beach
Beelleek Woods
The Jackie Clarke Collection, Ballina
History
The area round Foxford has been settled since ancient times. A settlement was located on the river at Béal Easa near Caislean na Circe a Norman castle built in 1238 to protect the ford. Jordan de Exeter built a castle at Ballylahan in 1241. This castle was raided frequently in the following centuries, and the ford at Béal Easa was seen to be of great strategic importance in the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries iron smelting had flourished in the area and the rights to the site (now occupied by the Woollen Mills) belonged to Sir Henry Bingham. By the 1800’s the employment and income provided by the iron smelting had run dry and the population of the area were all but destitute. The suffering caused by famine of the 1840’s had been compounded by severe flooding in the area in the autumn and winter of 1845. The destitution and poverty experienced in the area over the following three decades was incredible. However in 1868 the railway arrived in Foxford and until 1873 Foxford was the terminus for all of North Mayo, though the town remained predominantly agrarian without much by way of industry until in 1892 Mother Agnes Morrogh-Bernard founded the Foxford Woollen Mills.
Getting to Foxford
- By Rail: Foxford is served by a regular train service from Dublin.Take Dublin to Westport train and change at Manulla Junction. For timetables and more information click here.
- By Car:
- from Dublin, take the M4 west from Dublin, then the N4 and on reaching Longford follow the N5 (signposted Ballina).Turn right on to the N26 at Swinford and on to Foxford.
- from Galway, take the N17 Tuam road, continue to Kilkelly. Turn left and drive through Kilkelly on the R375 (signposted Swinford). Turn into Swinford and follow the signs for Ballina N26.
- from Sligo, take the N17 Galway road to Charlestown, then take the N5 (signposted Westport). At Swinford turn right and take the N26 to Foxford.
- By Bus: Foxford is served by a number of Bus Eireann routes. For timetables and more information, visit Bus Eireann.
- By Air: You can fly to Knock Airport (IWAK) from a number of UK and European locations. Visit the Ireland West Airport Knock website for schedules and carriers.
Facts & Figures
Foxford is the home of the The Admiral Brown Society, which is dedicated to the memory of Admiral William Brown (also known in Spanish as Guillermo Brown) (June 22, 1777–March 3, 1857) Foxford-born "father of the Argentine Navy". The society is dedicated to ensuring that his extraordinary legacy and life story - which bonds together Ireland and Argentina - will not be forgotten. E-mail info@admiralbrown.com
The poet and theatre director F.R. Higgins was born in Foxford. He published four volumes of poetry:
Island Blood (1925)
The Dark Breed (1927)
Arable Holdings (1933)
The Gap of Brightness (1940)
His works reflect the beauty and sense of cultural heritage he experienced in Mayo.
Education
Foxford town is served by Foxford National School Scoil an Chroí Naofa
St Joseph’s Secondary School is the co-educational secondary school in the town
Sport
Foxford town has a great sporting heritage as is evidenced by the number of sporting organisations active in the Foxford area. These include:
Foxford residents also have access to the Foxford Sports and Leisure centre which offers various exercise classes, a gym, and can also host children’s parties, craft fairs etc.