Sunday the 4th August 2013

Sunday the 4th August 2013

Remembering Frederick Robert Higgins:

Venue Church of Ireland, Time 10am

Reflect on the life of Foxford’s poet and playwright, friend of W.B.Yeats, Founding Member of the Academy of Letters, and Director of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin at this special prayer service. A family relative, Aidan Gray will recite one of Frederick’s poems during the service.

Ceoil na Muaidhe

Town Car Park, Time 2-5pm Relax, unwind and enjoy a wonderfulafternoon of music and dance in this family friendly event. The Sligo Concert Band, featuring local man, Liam Jones will give a performance of musical favourites from 2 – 3 p.m. A young local dance troupe and traditional musicians will give a dazzling performance from 3-4 p.m. while Celtica will deliver a foot tapping celtic rock fusion until 5 p.m.

The afternoon will also feature a Vintage Motor display, Bouncing Castle, and Face painting.

Music: Cruiser’s Bar: Traditional Session 

(5p.m.) “Super Ser” / “Young Ones” ( 9.30 p.m.) Hideout Bar: Survivor, Mayfly Hotel: Le Cheile.

(Organised by Cruiser’s Bar / Hideout Bar / Mayfly Hotel)

Foxford’s Ironmasters

Come along to this informative talk on the little known story of Foxford’s Iron Industry, and the families involved. This illustrated talk will be delivered by Foxford native, and Geneva based, Vivian Sheridan. Venue: Church of Ireland, Market Square. Time: 7 p.m. Admission free. Donations towards the on-going

renovations of the Church will be gratefully received. You are also invited to visit the Admiral William Brown Museum / Memorial Park, and the famous Foxford Woollen Mills during the weekend.

Foxford Gathering Committee 2013 would like to thank all our sponsors and all 

who helped out to make this event a success.

Saturday the 3rd August 2013

Getting Back to Your Roots: 
Mayo Genealogy Group will offer tips and practical
advice on how to successfully trace your roots / family tree. Venue: Foxford Sports
and Leisure Centre, Green Road. Time: 11.30 a.m. – 3.30 p.m.
Admission free.

Class of ’73 Photographic Reunion: The former students of both 6th and 7th class of
1973 /’74 are invited to be “anseo” in the former Saint Patrick’s Boys National School,
on Chapel Road for a retake of a photograph that was taken forty years ago. Venue:
Morrough Bernard Social Services Centre, Chapel Road. (formerly St. Patrick’s
N.S.) Time: 1 p.m.

Cycle Tour of Ireland
Start your cycle tour of Ireland here in Foxford on our exercise
bikes at the state of the art gym, in the Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre. As this is a
charitable fundraiser for Foxford Alzheimer Group, we invite and appreciate your
support and all donations will be gratefully accepted. Time: 10 a.m.
(Organised by the Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre)

Step it Out
Join Edwina Guckian for a Sean Nos Dancing Workshop with a beginners
class at 3 p.m. while an advanced class commences at 4 p.m. Venue: Admiral Brown Memorial Hall,
Chapel Road. Time: Beginners 3 p.m. / Advanced 4 p.m.
Admission: Children €5 / Adults €8. All are welcome. (Organised by Edwina Guckian)
Gathering Mass: Remembering members of the Foxford and District communities both at home and
abroad.Venue: Saint Michael’s Church, Chapel Road. Time: 7.30 p.m

The Admiral Show 
Eamonn Walsh and Liam Scanlon of Moy Productions presents “The Admiral” the
amazing story of Admiral William Brown, Son of Foxford,Hero of Argentina. The show will leave you breathless an dfeatures the very best musicians and dancers, in a fluid historical narrative, with strong traditional and Latino influences.Venue: Admiral Brown Memorial Hall, Chapel Road.
Time: 8.30 p.m. Seats may be reserved from the website: www.moyproductions.com /
email: moyproductionsltd@gmail.com / 087-7659503.
(Organised by Moy Productions Ltd)

John McNicholl Live
 Join country star, John McNicholl and his band in a live performanceat the Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre, Green Road. The supporting act is the popular Pat’s Country Roadshow, and full bar facilities will be available. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission €15. A great night is promised so don’t miss it!.........
(Organised by the Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre)

Music:
 Mayfly Hotel: Country Barn Dance / Music in Bar, Cruiser’s Bar: DJ Enda,
Hideout Bar: Gerry Singer, Bourke’s Bar: DJ / BBQ, The Riverbank Bar: John Carter.
(Organised by the Mayfly Hotel, Cruiser’s Bar, Hideout Bar, Bourke’s Bar and The Riverbank

Friday the 2nd of August

Official Opening by Councillor Jimmy Maloney: Mayfly Hotel on Friday the 2nd August, commencing at 7.30 p.m.

The J.J.O’Hara Memorial Lecture:
“Irish Emigration to Argentina and other Latin American Countries” by Dr. David Barnwell, National University of Ireland Maynooth. Venue: Mayfly Hotel, Main Street. Time: 8 p.m. Admission free.

Music: Cruiser’s Bar: Celtica, Hideout Bar: Stuart Moyles,
(Organised by Neil Cruise / Campbell Family)

Invitation to The Foxford Gathering 2nd, 3rd and 4th August 2013

The historic town of Foxford, County Mayo nestling on the banks of the famous salmon rich River Moy, like most towns in the West of Ireland, has suffered from the effects of emigration. This often resulted in the loss of family members and a missing generation in the community, effectively leaving town lands devoid of its former population. There are an estimated sixty to seventy million people worldwide, who place a huge value on this country and their connections to it, including those who are, or their ancestors were from Foxford.

The Foxford Gathering affords us an opportunity to come together in celebration, renewing relationships with family, relatives, neighbours and friends. We offer a fun filled cultural weekend, while extending a “cead mile failte” all our emigrants / migrants from the Foxford and District areas, County Mayo, and beyond.

In addition, Foxford enjoys a unique relationship with Argentina, by virtue of the fact that Admiral William Brown was born here in 1777. 

He is revered in his adopted country of Argentina having achieved its liberation from the Spanish and Brazilian empires, and is regarded as one of the “Fathers of the Nation”.

Foxford is also famous for its Woollen Mills which were established by Mother Arsenius of the Irish Sisters of Charity in 1892, while the Patriot, Michael Davitt was born in nearby Straide. A relaxing holiday destination, Foxford is renowned for its excellent fishing, beautiful scenery, wonderful walking trails, mountains, lakes, traditional music, archaeology, flora and fauna and a very friendly atmosphere.

Join us for the Gathering in Foxford, immerse yourself in our heritage and culture and be part of it!

Admiral William Brown Memorial Park

A short slideshow of the Admiral William Brown Memorial Park. It a great walk along the river.

Where are they now?

Foxford National School 6th class of 1998-1999

Front row: Paul Fitzpatick, Cian Gilmore, William Philips, Grainne Ni Ghradaigh, Emer Ruane,
Emer Maloney, Nadine O'Hara, Lisa Brogan, Sarah Bourke, Andrea Murphy, Shaun McDonnell,
Enda Reape,

Second row: Stephen Joyce, John Doherty, Kieran Ward, Donal Hennigan, Gillian Bourke, Martina Boyle, Sarah Coleman, Anita Mc Loughlin, Maria Mc Nulty, Pat Judge,Tommy McNulty.

Back row: Mr Dennedy, Micheal Mc Nulty, Mark O'Hara, Gina Laffery, Martina Melody, Clare Maguire, Katie Moore, Aine Devaney, Christina Ruane, Tomas Cosgrave, Kevin Conlon, Mr Mc Hugh.

Market Square 1960

Joe Morrison walking near his home on the Market Square back in 1960

Opening of the Foxford National school in 1991

Staff getting there photo taken at the opening of the Foxford National school in 1991. with the then Minister of Education Mary O'Rourke.
 In the front row going from right to left we have Mary Kilgallon, Kathleen Gallagher, Minister O'Rourke, Sean Lavin and John McHugh.
Then in the back row we have Pauline Kirrane, Maura Grealy, Vera McEvoy, Mary Doherty, Dean Francis McGuinn, Breda Halloran, Eileen McGowan, Mary Kyne, Tony Fahey.

The first holy communion class of 1962

The first holy communion class of 1962 in front of the our lady's grotto in the convent garden.
 In the front row going from left to right we have. Ciaran Maloney, Jimmy Moyles, and Aiden McDonnell.
 In the second row is Kevin O'Hara, Pat Judge, Kieran Ward, Seamus Mayock and Pat Bourke.
 Third row Brendan Flynn, Sean Moran, Sean Wallace, Peter Walsh and James Sherry.
In the fourth row Brenda Maloney, Mary Bourke, Mary Kneafsey, Betty Coleman and Kenneth Jones.
On to the fifth row and we have Sally Mullagh, Margaret Tolan, Angela Durkan, Frances Brogan and Patti Durkan,. In the back row there is Mary Higgins , Iris Ruddy, Pauline Browne and Maureen Staunton.

Foxford Woollen Mill

The Foxford woollen mill was founded in 1982 by Mother Agnes Morrogh-Bernard. Provide work for a community devastated by the Irish famine by establishing local industries, using the River Moy to provide the power to run the mill, then getting local sheep farmer to provide the wool and the locals providing the labour.

Now the mill sees hundred of visitors each year coming through their doors. The foxford woollen mill has master craftspeople creating beautiful pieces like blankets, tweeds and rugs both in traditional and in modern designs for sale worldwide. If you’re not looking for a foxford blanket then maybe you would like to check out the jewellers upstairs who have a beautiful selection of some of the finest handcrafted jewellery this side of the Moy. Remember Before you leave the mill to enjoy a cup of tea in there pretty restaurant.

The mill also run tours documenting the history of the mill and how it’s grown into the thriving business it is today. The Woollen Mill Tour is free of charge and available in German, French, Italian, Irish and English.

Watch the nationwide report on the mill here
http://www.foxfordwoollenmills.com/news.php