Poverty and the Poor Law in Ireland, 1850–1914

The Triumph of Proximity: The Impact of District Nursing Schemes in 1890s' Rural Ireland

“…She cites the case of relieving offi cer John Fitzpatrick from Westport, who in addition to normal duties also served as a municipal rate collector and a town sergeant in 1880. 22 In Newport, similar patterns were in evidence in 1885. Achill's relieving offi cer Peter Lavelle, who also served as a rate collector, submitted what was viewed as tantamount to a fraudulent claim of over £32 in 1885 for his additional services as a sanitary offi cer and for serving notices.…”

‘It Gives Great Relief to My Mind’ – Family Involvement at Children's Committal to the Sister of Mercy run Irish Industrial Schools, 1868–1936

“…Family dissolution was a survival strategy and, as Crossman has attested to, couples frequently split up, and split their children up. 87 A deserted wife would be in a better position to receive assistance, and her children would be more readily accepted into an industrial school. This was also the case with the workhouse system as Crossman has pointed out: women with young children were rarely refused admission to the workhouse unless they were married, and their husband was known to be living locally.…”

Synge on vagrancy: labour, workhouses and the feeble-minded

“…102 However, the scandal of the Rathdrum workhouse demonstrated that those in need of psychiatric care were still being detained in workhouses and, as Crossman points out "the relationship between pauperis and insanity, and between asylums and workhouses, remained confused". 103 Indeed, in 1900 Stephens published an damning article in which she visited an unnamed Irish workhouse and, behind "certain heavy doors", she found herself, in the gloomy quarters of the imbeciles and harmless lunatics. These poor creatures live in a large barrack-like room, herded together promiscuously, old and young, no employment being provided for those who would be well able to use their hands.…”