The Digital Repository of Ireland (DRI) is delighted to share that Clare County Archives and Library Service have published a new collection in the Repository: the Ennistymon Board of Guardians records.
The Ennistymon Union was established in August 1839, with the construction of a new workhouse completed in 1842 to accommodate up to 600 people. Initially, the Electoral Divisions included Burren, Carron, Corofin, Dromcreehy, Ennistymon, Kilfenora, Killilagh, Killonahan, Kilshanny, Liscannor, Miltown Malbay, Rathborney, and Rath. Following the Boundary Commission of 1850, the union’s area was reduced and comprised divisions such as Annagh, Ballagh, Ballyea, Ballysteen, Ballyvaskin, Cloghaun, Cloonanaha, Clooney, Ennistymon, Formoyle, Kilfenora, Killaspuglonane, Killilagh, Kilshanny, Liscannor, Lurraga, Magherareagh, Miltown Malbay, Moy, and Smithstown.
The minutes contain mainly statistical information on the financial administration and maintenance of the workhouses under the control of the Ennistymon Board of Guardians and includes details of the workhouse population under the following subheadings:
– numbers remaining,
– inmates admitted during the week,
– those discharged,
– able bodied male and females,
– aged and infirm persons and adults above 15 years of age but not working,
– boys and girls above nine and under 15 years of age,
– children above 5 and under 9 years of age,
– infants under two years of age,
– the number of ‘sick and lunatics.’
Minutes of the proceedings include a list of attending Guardians, notices of marriage, confirmation of numbers in the workhouse register, financial reports on payments and receipts and the balance in the account, details of rates collected from cess payers listing the ratepayer’s name, electoral division, the amount collected and amount remaining; a report from the clerk detailing the cost of provisions and necessaries during the week, the general average cost of an inmate, the average cost in the infirmary and in the Fever Hospital, orders for provisions details of the clothing account, and establishment account, workhouse invoice account, outdoor relief invoice account.
The master’s report addresses matters such as children’s exercise, staff appointments and disciplinary issues. Resolutions relating to the sanitary functions of the board of guardians are also noted, such as inspections of wells, improvements to water supplies, construction of sewers and reports of inspectors to schools.
On the significance of this ingest, archivist Ciara Fahy said:
“We have recently added approximately fifty volumes to our Ennistymon Board of Guardians collection in the Digital Repository of Ireland. While this is still an ongoing project due to the collection’s significant size, it represents a remarkable resource for exploring the history of North Clare.
These volumes offer invaluable insights into the finances and maintenance of the Ennistymon Workhouse, which covered an area of 238 square miles. This collection is a key resource for understanding the social and economic history of the region during a pivotal period in Irish history.”
Also ingested by Clare County Archives and Library Service into the Repository are The Barrett Collection, Corofin Board of Guardians Records, and Letters and Circulars to the Grand Juries of County Clare from a variety of sources including: the Paymaster of Civil Services Office, Office of Public Works, Office of General Valuation of Ireland, Government Prisons Office, the Poor Law Commission Office and the Limerick District Lunatic Asylum.
These newly-deposited items – now preserved for long-term access – compliment the existing items already published online including a range of Presentment books. You can explore the full collection in the DRI Repository. You can also keep up with all of DRI’s new collections by signing up to our newsletter.
