The Congested Districts Board Photograph Collection

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Sduddy
Posts: 1826
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:07 am

The Congested Districts Board Photograph Collection

Post by Sduddy » Wed Oct 03, 2018 12:04 pm

The Congested Districts Board was set up in 1891, by Chief Secretary Arthur Balfour, to alleviate poverty and congested living conditions in the west and parts of the north-west of Ireland: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congested ... or_Ireland
Co. Clare was not included among the counties deemed to be in need of the assistance provided by the Board, because the county (taken as a whole) did not satisfy the conditions laid down: areas were designated congested if the total rateable value, when divided by the number of population, was less than one pound ten shillings for each individual. It was not until 1909 that it was successfully argued that some parts of Clare should be included. Finally, 6 of the DEDs, or two thirds of Clare, were included: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1909 ... ed/en/html
I think most people are of the opinion that, if it were not for that technicality (the mathematical formula), Clare would have been included from the start: http://www.loophead.ie/events/kilkee-ci ... 20Heritage
And so I think this photograph collection – although none of the photographs are from Co. Clare - give an idea of what living conditions were like as late as 1915:
http://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls000033747

*“Congested” was the term used, but it did not always mean crowded – it was often used to convey that the yield from a farm was insufficient to support a family.

Sheila

Sduddy
Posts: 1826
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:07 am

Re: The Congested Districts Board Photograph Collection

Post by Sduddy » Thu Oct 04, 2018 9:57 am

I should have said that some of the photographs are like Before-and-After photos. They show the work done by the Board, especially the new houses that were built by the Board.
I'm not sure how much County Clare, as a late-comer, benefitted from the assistance given by the Congested Districts Board, and would be interested to know more.
I don't think that people were moved from Clare to other counties as they were from Mayo and Kerry (to Co. Meath, Co. Kildare etc.). At least I've never heard of that kind of migration of Clare people. Again, I would like to know more.

Sheila

Sduddy
Posts: 1826
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:07 am

Re: The Congested Districts Board Photograph Collection

Post by Sduddy » Sun Oct 07, 2018 9:58 am

While searching online for information on the Congested Districts Board, I came upon this piece published in the Clare Champion upon the death of John Patrick O’Boyle, of Quilty, in 1972. John Patrick O’Boyle was engaged by the Congested District Board as PayMaster.

The 1901 census shows John Boyle, aged 15, living in Quilty West. The 1911 census shows him aged 27, living in Quilty West. Is this the same John O'Boyle who is the subject of the obituary?

Sheila

I deleted the attachment on John Boyle in order to make space for the attachment of Broadford baptisms (28.01.1019).

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