| A village in the south-east of County Galway on the County Clare border, this placid hamlet has an unexpected industrial history. The town's full Irish name refers to this, 'Gráig na Muilte Iarainn', meaning 'The Village of the Iron Mills', (This has been arbitrarily truncated to 'An Ghraig' ('The Village') on modern signposts by the county council, thus severing the link between the village and its history.) |
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In fact the village probably came into existence to house and provide services for the ironworkers. There was local iron ore available in shallow open-cast excavations in the surrounding hills, and abundant oak woods (see the number of local place-names with 'derry' in the name, meaning 'oak') made for plentiful fuel for smelting. All this has long gone, its only memory being in the name of the village, and the county council clearly intends to obliterate that.
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The village also had a water-mill in the valley at the end of the main street, and in order to drive this the river was dammed to form a large millpond; this is what now appears to be a small lake just below the village. |
Some few years ago the people of Woodford awoke to find their 'lake' had disappeared during the night, leaving in its place an unattractive expanse of dark grey mud, with a stream cutting a trench across it; the old dam had collapsed during the night. Happily the dam was replaced and Woodford regained this most attractive feature.
On the edge of the village is the local heritage centre, with a facility for tracing family histories, much used by those who are anxious to establish family connections in the area.
They also offer some training course, enquire to find out what's on offer.
Woodford's greatest claim to fame was at the end of the nineteenth century, when the 'Land War' (an organised agitation against the landlord system) was in full spate. The local landlord (an absentee) was the Marquess of Clanrickard, whose agent sought to evict one Thomas Saunders for non-payment of rent. The local people resisted, and a large force of RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary, the police force of the time) accompanied by troops of the Somerset Light Infantry (quartered at Portumna) was sent to effect the eviction. Saunders' house became known as "Saunders' Fort" as the defenders, who numbered several hundred by this time, fought off the police and soldiers. Reinforcements were sent for and the 'fort' was eventually captured. In 1887 the English writer and supporter of the oppressed Wilfred Scawer Blunt came to Woodford to organise a protest meeting, was arrested and spent two months in prison.
In the 21st century, Woodford has become a thriving rural community, with plenty of amenities within the village (petrol, post office, food and even a PC repair shop) and some beautiful walks and scenery in the surrounding
area (including the ruins of a ring-fort over a thousand years old).
Don't worry, there's also seven pubs and plenty of traditional and contemporary music to be enjoyed throughout the whole year.
Excellent page with information and photos about Woodford
(*External site will open in new window)
Other towns of County Galway
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