Clare work houses, 1844

[Polycarp]

The following Clare case histories are from the 10th annual report of the Poor Law Commissioners, published in London in 1844.

Appendix A, No 30. Selection of cases from returns of paupers relieved in the three months from 10th January to 9th April, 1844, in Unions in Ireland.

This is three years before the onset of the Great Irish famine.

Three unions are represented in the 1844 report, Ennis, Kilrush and Scariff. Ennis had 538 paupers at the time of the report; Kilrush 235 and Scariff 91.

ENNIS UNION

Thomas Griffy, aged 70 - Roman Catholic - admitted by Board of Guardians January 10th - infirm -ill-clothed - in rags - applied to Board. (Since dead.)
Thomas Hinchy, aged 50 - Roman Catholic - labourer - married - six children alive - admitted by Board of Guardian January 17th - ill clothed - out-of-health - applied to the Board - present condition, infirm - in infirm ward.
George Clanchy, aged 80 - Roman Catholic - labourer - widower - admitted by Board of Guardians February 7th - infirm - ill-clothed - carried to the Board. (Since dead.)
Michael Flanagan, aged 50 - Roman Catholic - married - admitted by Board of Guardians February 21st - unhealthy - ill-clothed, dirty, and infested with vermin - carried to the Board. (Since dead.)
Mary Humeen, aged 60 - Roman Catholic - widow - admitted by Board of Guardians February 21st - infirm - badly clad - carried before the Board. (Since dead.)
Roger O'Neill, aged 75 - Roman Catholic - no children alive -admitted by the Board of Guardians February 21st - badly clad carried before the Board - present condition, healthy - in men's ward.
Ellen Neylan, aged 23 - Roman Catholic - labourer - single - admitted by master March 12th - ulcered leg - idiot - bad - dirty clothes - brought in a car to workhouse - present condition, infirm - in idiots' cell.
Mary Halloran, aged 80 - Roman Catholic - widow - four children alive - admitted by Board of Guardians March 20th - unhealthy - bad clothes - brought to the Board - present condition, infirm - in infirm ward.
Bridget McNamara, aged 80 - Roman Catholic - widow - admitted by Board of Guardians March 27th - unhealthy - in rags - carried on a car to the workhouse - present condition, infirm - in infirm ward.


KILRUSH UNION

Martin Murray, aged 24 - Roman Catholic - labourer - single - admitted March 6th by Board of Guardians - ill-clothed and out-of-health - came himself for relief - present condition, in hospital. (This man was a labourer, got ill about 12 months ago. He lived with his father, who was unable to maintain him longer by reason of his poverty.)
Michael Slatterny, aged 70 - Roman Catholic - mendicant - married - six children alive - admitted (with wife and one child) January 10th by Board of Guardians - infirm - clothes bad - filthy, and health much impaired - discharged, voluntarily, March 23 - health improved.
Mary Burke, aged 60 - Roman Catholic - dealer - widow - three children alive - admitted February 14th by Board of Guardians - bodily infirm - clothes good - was brought to workhouse by her son, from the fever hospital. (Since dead.) It was supposed that this woman was threatening fever; she was in the fever hospital for a few days, andd thence removed to the workhouse.
Anthony Frawley, aged 25 - Roman Catholic - servant - single - admitted February 14th by Board of Guardians - bodily infirm - clothes pretty good - dangerously ill of dropsy - and refused admission to County Hospital. (Died February 26th.)
Michael Brennan, aged 35 - Roman Catholic - tailor - married - admitted February 21st by Board of Guardians - bodily infirm - clothes bad - dangerously ill, and turned out by his father-in-law with whom he lived. (Died March 24th by the rupture of a blood-vessel.)
Patrick McNamara, aged 27 - Roman Catholic - labourer - single - admitted by Board of Guardians February 21st - bodily infirm - clothes very bad - appearing consumptive - discharged February 27th, voluntarily, not much improved in health - first admitted February 7th to April 19th, 1843.


SCARIFF UNION

Margaret Fleming, aged 87 - Roman Catholic - mendicant - widow - two children alive - admitted March 5th by Board of Guardians - infirm, and hungry, and in a most destitute condition - came four miles to workhouse - present condition, bad health - in infirm ward.
Edmund Roughan, aged 79 - Roman Catholic - peasant - widower - seven children alive - admitted March 5th by Board - very infirm, and in a destitute condition, and badly clad - came three miles to workhouse - present condition, bad health - in infirm ward. (This man labours under a most acute disease.)
Thomas McNamara, aged 75 - Roman Catholic - labourer - married, two children alive - admitted March 5th by Board of Guardians - infirm and in a most unhealthy condition - came six miles to workhouse - present condition, in bad health - in infirm ward.
John Gorman, aged 66, and Margaret, his wife, aged 50 - Roman Catholic - both mendicants - admitted March 5th by Board of Guardians, with their child, aged 12 - father very infirm, cripple; all ill-clothed, and in rags - came one mile to the workhouse - present condition, father in bad health; mother and child in good health.
Edmond Dwyer, aged 81 - Roman Catholic - peasant - married - two children alive - admitted March 5th by Board of Guardians - infirm, hungry and almost starved - came four miles to workhouse - present condition, in bad health - in infirm ward.
Daniel Lynch, aged 70 - Roman Catholic - labourer - single - admitted March 19th by Board of Guardians - destitute, and in rags - came six miles to the workhouse - present condition, in good health - in men's ward.
Anne Conway, aged 24 - Roman Catholic - single - admitted by Board's and warden's ticket April 2nd - very infirm, in a most destitute condition, and came half a mile to the workhouse - present condition, in bad health - in infirm ward - believed to be in consumption.