Bridget Woods, known affectionately to the Maher children of Green Street as “Gaggy,” was a much-loved Kilkenny woman who played a quiet but important role in the history of Kilkenny hurling.
To generations of local people, Mrs Woods was a familiar and much-loved figure, part of a close-knit community where neighbours looked out for one another. Many stories from those formative days have been shared and passed down over the years, keeping alive the memories of the people of Green Street.
One of those stories is the infamous flood of March 1947.
It was March 16th, 1947, and after the heavy February snowfall melted quickly, the river levels rose rapidly, and the River Nore and other small rivers burst their banks The floodwaters rose so quickly that the families of Green Street had little time to escape. Cattle and sheep were carried along the flooded street as the water continued to rise.
Local people acted swiftly to help their neighbours. Families recalled being rescued from the upper windows of their homes and lifted into boats, which were tethered to tractors by ropes. Thankfully, everyone survived, and the extraordinary events of those days became part of the stories passed down through the generations.
It was this Green Street community that Mrs Woods belonged to, a woman whose home would become closely connected with Kilkenny hurling.
Back in the 1940s, after the Kilkenny teams took to the field, their jerseys would make their way to Mrs Woods house to be washed and cared for. These were not the lightweight jerseys worn by players today. They were thick, long-sleeved cotton jerseys—heavy, difficult to wash and often bearing the marks of a hard-fought game.
Mrs Woods had one of the few mangles on Green Street, a mechanical laundry aid operated by a hand crank and used to squeeze the water from freshly washed clothes. Her little home was described as being like a gingerbread cottage, with the fire burning at one end and the mangle at the other.
For nearly 50 years, she washed, dried, darned and cared for the black and amber jerseys of Kilkenny Senior, Junior and Minor teams. She even tackled the bloodstains that came with the rough and physical games of the time. She knew the players by name, knew the numbers on their backs and remembered the scores of games, past and present. She had plenty to say about the rough Wexford and Tipperary lads too!
Once the jerseys had been washed and carefully folded, they were placed in “the leather bag.” But before the bag left her house, she would tuck a bottle of holy water among the jerseys—a little extra blessing for the Kilkenny players on their next outing.
On match days, she would stand at her doorstep on Green Street, eagerly awaiting news from Nowlan Park and further afield, anxious to hear the result.
The players of that era knew her well and respected her greatly. Though she was not on the pitch, her hands played a small but very real part in the life of Kilkenny hurling.
Mrs Woods devoted many years of her life to her community and to Kilkenny hurling. Her contribution may have been made quietly, away from the roar of the crowd, but it mattered.
Bridget Woods rests here in St. Kieran’s Cemetery alongside her brother, Denis Corcoran. Though decades have passed, her dedication to the GAA and her community endures. As the roars echo from nearby Nowlan Park, Bridget “Gaggy” Woods continues to hold her rightful place in Kilkenny’s rich sporting history.
A Legacy Remembered: A Note About This Story
This tribute is preserved through the memories of the late Kathleen Moore (née Maher, 1942–2024) and the Maher family.
Nurtured by Bridget as an infant on Green Street and a friend for many years, Kathleen carried Gaggy’s stories with her throughout her 82 years, ensuring that the kindness and devotion of this Kilkenny GAA stalwart would never be forgotten. Before her death, Kathleen hoped to ensure that Mrs Woods grave would be restored and that her story would not be forgotten. Thanks to the Kilkenny County Board, who helped make that happen, Kathleen’s wish has been fulfilled, helping to preserve the memory of Bridget “Gaggy” Woods for future generations.
