Foxford lies on the River Moy, a salmon-fishing river, close to Lough Conn and Lough Cullin and between the Nephin and Ox Mountains. The Foxford Way is an 86-km waymarked tourist trail that circles Foxford, taking in the Ox Mountains, bogland, archeological sites, lakeshores and river banks.
Agnes Bernard founded a convent and started a water-powered woollen mill here in 1892.[3] The Foxford Woollen Mills are known for producing characteristic wool blankets.
Etymology
The name Foxford comes from the Irish: Béal Átha Sionnaigh, meaning "ford-mouth of the fox".[4] The name previously referred to a large fox-shaped rock at a ford by the town. This may be the same rock as "Cromwell's Rock", which signifies the ford where it is thought Cromwell's Army crossed the River Moy during his campaign.[5][6]
Transport
Road
The N26 road passes through the town, crossing a narrow bridge over the River Moy. The N58 serves as the main road to Castlebar, travelling south to through Strade, and joining the N5 in Ballyvary. The R318 travels west along the Station Road towards Pontoon, through Drummin Forest, before connecting to the R310. In 2005 a new link road between the N26 and N58 was built, easing traffic congestion in the town centre.[7]
Laura Bernal (1956–2020), Argentina's ambassador to Ireland who died in office, was a regular visitor to Foxford and is buried at Craggagh Cemetery a short distance away.[9][10]
Agnes Bernard (1842–1932), founder of convent, woollen mills, and a band in Foxford.[3]
