Woodford
Great
are the voices from the past,
Links on a golden chain,
Wings that bear us back to days
That cannot come again;
Yet happy, because we have not lost
The echoes that remain.
--from: Fifty Years at the Altar, Fifty Years
at the Convent
|
History
Nestled
in southeast County Galway, Ireland, lies the townland
of Woodford, established in the late 17th century, with
the area's archaeological origins dating as far back
as 1200 BC.
Another
name for Woodford is Craig na Muilte Iarainn,
meaning Village of the Iron Mills, as Woodford was the
home at one time to three iron mills that attracted
early settlers from Wales, and later, specialized workers
from Great Britain. It was the iron industry that made
the origins of Woodford different than many other villages
in Ireland as Woodford began as an industrial settlement
rather than being based on markets or trading.
Because
of the availability of oak wood, iron ore, and water
power created by damming the local river, a tributary
of the Shannon, Woodford was situated perfectly for
the development of the iron industry. Within the village
today, an iron bar bearing the date of 1681 still exists.
Eventually
the iron industry was replaced by mills that made use
of the same water supply to power their grinding stones
and also to generate electricity for the village prior
to the rural electrification project in the 1950s.
The
forestry industry began to make its mark on Woodford
in the 1930s and it still provides a good deal of employment
in the area.
Woodford
is not without its share of poignant history in that
it played a prominent role during the 1880s Land War.
It was young Tommy Larkin, and several others who challenged
an attempted eviction at the home of Thomas Saunders
at Drummin, 3 kilometers south of Woodford. Larkin,
Saunders, and twenty others defended the home for several
days against the attacks of Lord Clanricarde and a force
of 700 soldiers of the crown. All the defenders were
eventually arrested, and Tommy Larkin died later in
Kilkenny jail. He has been memorialized as a hero in
both legend and song as evidenced by this excerpt from
Fifty Years at the Altar, Fifty Years at the Convent,
Two Golden Jubilees:
Woodford
was the storm center of the great fight for Irish
land and she had to do battle with the most heartless
lordling of them all, who owned the fertile lands
and wrecked the fairest houses along the Shannon...I
have seen those young fellows handcuffed and led
away to the dungeon, and some to death...an honest
farmer's only son from Gorteeny, done to death in
prison...Tommy Larkin the Brave.
I
remember reading of another scene while away at
school in 1883. It was the only eviction fight among
the homes of Allendarra. Woodford's landlord was
on the warpath. Down the street of the little town
marched the 'Crowbar Brigade' to the turn of the
old mountain road. Up the old road they went...your
rent or your house and land was the challenge...the
door was smashed to smithereens, the fire quenched
on the hearthstone, and all within thrown out in
the rain. Though the fight for the old home was
lost by the defenders, the cause had won.The lordling
had learned an unexpected lesson. His threats and
military forces failed to intimidate...he ceased
his nefarious work.
The
foregoing is quite in contrast with Samuel Lewis' perception
expressed in the Topographical Dictionary of Ireland
while describing the Portumna area several years prior:
...The
tenants of the Marquess of Clanricarde in this neighborhood,
who have their land on reasonable terms, and are
in comfortable circumstances, testify a growing
taste for improving the cultivation of their farms.
Woodford
has a rich archeological, religious, and historical
heritage. The area offers many attractions including:
St.
John the Baptist's Church erected in 1857;
Mercy Convent erected early 1900s;
Woodford Heritage Center erected 1834;
Rosturra Wood and Derrycrag Wood Nature Reserves;
The Holy Well at Derrycrag;
Saunders Fort, site of the above referenced siege;
Ogham stones and stone circles;
Moran's
at the Bay and other attractions;
Sources:
1.
Craig na Muilte Iarainn/Woodford: A guide to its sights;
Woodford Heritage Indexation Project; East
Galway Family History Society, pp. 2, 16-18,
2.
Fifty Years at the Altar, Fifty Years at the Convent,
Two Golden Jubilees; Fr. Frank O'Farrell, ed.; Donnelley
and Sons Co., Lakeside Press, Chicago; 1930. (Souvenir
of the 50th anniv. of the ordination of Rev. Patrick O'Farrell,
15 June 1929, and Mother Mary St. Patrick O'Farrell, 12
September 1930, both of Woodford).
3.
A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland; Samuel Lewis;
Vol II, p. 469; London; 1837. Reprinted by Genealogical
Publishing Co, Baltimore, Md; 1995.
Researching
the Woodford area?
Subscribe to the IRL-GALWAY-WOODFORD-L
mailing list.
Simply send an email using the above link with the word
subscribe
in the message area of the email.
|
Wooford Area Map | Woodford
History |
| Woodford/Looscaune Parish Baptismal Records
1865 - 1889 |
| Townlands In Barony of Leitrim, Civil Parish
Ballynakill, PLU of Loughrea |
|
My Family Tree | Surnames
| Other Egan Resources | Helpful
Links | Email |
| Home |
|