18 November-Carlow Workhouse

Carlow Union Workhouse was located on the Kilkenny road, Carlow, Ireland. Built 1842-44 it was demolished in the 1970’s to make way for new buildings for Carlow Vocational School and Carlow Institute of Technology. In common with towns and cities throughout Great Britain and Ireland workhouses were established in Carlow town and Kilkenny city in the early 1840’s. The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 established workhouses in England and Wales. The Act, with modifications was introduced in Ireland in 1838 ‘for the more effectual Relief of the Destitute Poor in Ireland’.

Workhouses had existed throughout Great Britain and Ireland prior to 1834 but on a much smaller scale and in a less organised manner. In 1837 George Nicholls was sent to Ireland to see how the British system could be made to work in Ireland. He spent just six weeks in Ireland visiting towns and cities throughout the country including Carlow and Kilkenny. Daniel O’Connell was derisory about the survey carried out by Nicholls and said ‘He calculated everything and was accurate in nothing.’ The recommendations of Nicholls were accepted by the government in London. Despite vigorous opposition from Irish MPs, of all shades of opinion, the bill introducing the workhouse system to Ireland was passed on July 31st 1838.

Work on building the workhouses began immediately and 123 had been built by 1845. However by 1846 the workhouses that were open were only half full. This was because of difficulties in collecting the money from the rate payers to run the system and the reluctance of people to enter the harsh environment of the workhouse. In order to deter people who were poor but able bodied, conditions for those who did enter the workhouse were often miserable. Conditions for people inside the workhouse could never to be better than those enjoyed by people on the outside.

Men and women had separate accommodation, which divided families. Sleeping areas were cramped, beds were uncomfortable and ventilation and sanitation were poor. Diet was poor and inmates, though often malnourished and in poor health, had to work. Women generally did the domestic work and men were usually involved in growing vegetables or breaking stones. Each workhouse did have schools for boys and girls and some medical assistance was provided.

Overcrowding, hunger and disease, particularly during and after the famine led to a very high mortality rate among the inmates. The workhouse system with some modifications continued in operation in Ireland up to 1923. Some were destroyed during the war of independence or as in the case of Carlow were occupied by the military and later by the County Council. Others became homes for the elderly and a few became local hospitals.

Carlow Union Workhouse was completed and declared fit for reception of inmates in the year 1844 On This Day.

Photo by Alan Stanton

Workhouse Uniform for boys by Alan Stanton on 2012-01-22 15:08:01

Photo courtesy Joe Rattigan