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Actions	County Galway Board of Health & Public Assistance: Annual Reports (printed matter) Remove from selection Add to selection TitleCounty Galway Board of Health & Public Assistance: Annual Reports (printed matter) RepositoryGalway County Council Archives Services ReferenceGC5/36 Date1931-1943 (with gaps), 1945-1949, 1950-1953, 1955-1958, 1960-63 CreatorCounty Medical Officer of Health Production date 1931 - 1963 Scope and Content Printed booklet reports issued by the County Medical Officer of Health to Galway County Council, reporting on matters under various headings, such as Infectious diseases, Water Supplies, Tuberculosis, General, Health and Sanitary Conditions, Housing, School Medical Service, Midwives Act (providing name and addresses of certified practicing midwives), Welfare of the Blind, Dairies, Cowsheds and Milk-Shops Order, and Vital Statistics. The latter for instance includes details on the number of deaths in the county, with a breakdown given in the 1930 report of the cause if Enteric Fever, Measles, whooping cough, Diphtheria, Diarrhoea, Influenza, Cancer, Violence, also the number of deaths in public institutions, uncertified deaths, and numbers suffering from tuberculosis. Under Housing the 1933 report states ‘The Galway Urban Council have closed three tenements and two single houses in the Urban area, the occupants being rehoused in the 12 new Council houses erected at Bohermore’, and ‘The Claddagh Housing Scheme is proceeding apace; 128 houses have already been erected, and a proposal for the clearance of a further area, and the erection of an additional 53 houses, is being considered. Forty houses have been demolished in this area to date’, and ‘...the Council (UDC) propose acquiring about 90 acres of land in the Newcastle and Shantalla area, which will provide accommodation for about 1,000 houses’ (p14). Under the School Premises the 1934 report states ‘Of the total number of schools inspected, viz., 67, twenty-sever were reported as not having proper sanitary conveniences; desks and seating accommodation were unsatisfactory and mainly old type in thirty-nine; overcrowding was found to exist in ten; cloak rooms faculty in nineteen; eight schools were found to have defective ventilation and lighting; the same number lacked proper playground facilities; and twelve were found to be structurally defective’ With the exception of a few schools which have central heating, the arrangements in this respect are most unsatisfactory’ (p48). The 1935 report includes ‘The Scheme of immunisation against Diphtheria commenced during the year 1935, and the total of 6,438 completed the course of injections. The gross total for the years 1931-’35 is 16,834’ (p16). The 1937 report indicates that the Gaeltacht Housing legislation 87 houses were completed during the year, 163 were in the course of erection, 39 houses were improved and 55 were being improved (p21). Also in 1937 new wells and pumps were provided in Killuremore and Skycur, Ballybrit and Slievefin, Ballinacurry and Creggs, Pollough and Skehanagh, Ballylin and Cloonlee, Killeroran and Moneen, Carrare North and Cloonmore, Lismihill and Meelick and Carnacrow, Gallagh and Pollacorragune (p23). The 1938 report stated ‘The number of deaths registered from pulmonary tuberculosis was 114, and from other forms 39…Death rate for County Galway for 1938 was 0.7 pulmonary and 0.2 other forms’ (p39). The 1939 reports states under Vital Statistics ‘The deaths registered during 1939 number 2,373 representing a rate of 14.1 per 1,000 of the population, completed with 2,248 and a rate of 13.37 for 1938. Death rate in Eire for 1939 was 14.2’ (p8). The report for 1940 indicates ‘The number of burial grounds vested in the Board of Health is 195. During this year extensions to Lackagh and Claretuam were fenced and land was purchased for an extension to Boyounagh. Protestant burial grounds at Castleblakeney were taken over by the Board’ (p25). The 1941 Annual Report with reports on Tuberculosis and School Medical Service Schemes indicates 'The 8 houses mentioned in last year's Report as having been started in the Claddagh area were completed during 1941. With the erection of a further 15 houses the Claddagh scheme will be complete. Work commenced on the 70 houses scheme in Shantallow (Shantalla) and despite the shortage of materials good progress was made' (p23). Also '125 midwives gave the required notice of their intention to practise during the year 1941, eleven of whom were attached to the Central Hospital and Private Nursing Homes. One midwife, in private practice died this year' (p40, also includes a list of the names of the midwives and the area they work in). Also 'The number of deaths register from pulmonary tuberculosis was 136 as against 171 for last year' (p47). Also includes a report on the 'County School Medical Service' with details on the arrangement for the treatment of various aliments such as Tonsils and Adenoids, Squint and minor ailments; details of school visits by the District Nurses; details on School Meals; and report on School Premises (pp55-70); also 'Malnutrition - this year the percentage found with malnutrition was 3-37 as against 2-34 in 1940 and 306 in 1939. This figure is liable to vary owing to the many factors to be considered. The standard in this county is based on the general well-being of the child - i.e., general appearance, posture, weight, height, etc' (p63). The report for 1943 includes statistics and social condition of County Galway including details on monthly rainfall, industries (such as agriculture, kelp, fishing turf schemes, beet factory, shoe factory timber mills and the tourists trade) unemployment rate, births, dead and marriage statistics (pp10-11). It also states ‘The main aim and object of the Maternity and Child Welfare Service is to reduce the Infant Mortality rate and the Maternal death rate. The infantile mortality rate for 1943 shows a marked increased on 1942, the rates for these years being 64 and 55 respectively, but like last year it is still lower than that for Eire’ (p27). The 1955 Report indicates 'Sanitary Administration: The county is divided into 40 Dispensary Districts, two of which are in the Galway borough and one in Ballinasloe Urban. Each district is served by a District Medical Officer. There are four whole-time Health inspectors and one part-time Sanitary Sub-Officer' and includes details of the number of inspections of various facilities carried out during the year, such as of Canals 48 inspections. Abattoir 94 inspections, Dance Halls 16 inspections, Dumps 54 inspections, Caravan Site 4 inspections etc (p18). 'Galway Port Sanitary Authority was abolished on1/4/'48 and its function transferred to the County Council. Ships from foreign ports are visited, and investigations stipulated by the Infectious Diseases (Shipping) Regulations 1948, carried out. During the year, now under review, no case of infectious disease was discovered' (p18). Generally printed by Athlone Printing Works Co., Ltd. Extent28 items Physical descriptionSoft-backed booklet LanguageEnglish Archival historyTransferred from the HSE Library, Merlin Park to the Archvies in 2023 adn 2025 SubjectLegislation, Sanitation Conditions governing accessAvailable by appointment. Unrestricted access. The material in this collection is available to all bona fide researchers by appointment only, and subject to the conditions of access governing the consultation of archival material at Galway County Council Archives. Conditions governing reproductionNo material may be reproduced from this collection without the written permission of the archivist, and reproductions are subject to the conditions of access. LevelItem Closed until1963 Hierarchy browser GC5/ County Galway Board of Health & Public Assistance (Galway County Council), with County Medical Officer Annual Reports up to 1963 (with gaps) 1921 - 1963sub-fonds contains 17 parts GC5/36 County Galway Board of Health & Public Assistance: Annual Reports (printed matter) 1931-1943 (with gaps), 1945-1949, 1950-1953, 1955-1958, 1960-63 Item

TitleCounty Galway Board of Health & Public Assistance: Annual Reports (printed matter)

RepositoryGalway County Council Archives Services

ReferenceGC5/36

Date1931-1943 (with gaps), 1945-1949, 1950-1953, 1955-1958, 1960-63

Production date 1931 - 1963

Scope and Content

Printed booklet reports issued by the County Medical Officer of Health to Galway County Council, reporting on matters under various headings, such as Infectious diseases, Water Supplies, Tuberculosis, General, Health and Sanitary Conditions, Housing, School Medical Service, Midwives Act (providing name and addresses of certified practicing midwives), Welfare of the Blind, Dairies, Cowsheds and Milk-Shops Order, and Vital Statistics. The latter for instance includes details on the number of deaths in the county, with a breakdown given in the 1930 report of the cause if Enteric Fever, Measles, whooping cough, Diphtheria, Diarrhoea, Influenza, Cancer, Violence, also the number of deaths in public institutions, uncertified deaths, and numbers suffering from tuberculosis.

Under Housing the 1933 report states ‘The Galway Urban Council have closed three tenements and two single houses in the Urban area, the occupants being rehoused in the 12 new Council houses erected at Bohermore’, and ‘The Claddagh Housing Scheme is proceeding apace; 128 houses have already been erected, and a proposal for the clearance of a further area, and the erection of an additional 53 houses, is being considered. Forty houses have been demolished in this area to date’, and ‘...the Council (UDC) propose acquiring about 90 acres of land in the Newcastle and Shantalla area, which will provide accommodation for about 1,000 houses’ (p14).

Under the School Premises the 1934 report states ‘Of the total number of schools inspected, viz., 67, twenty-sever were reported as not having proper sanitary conveniences; desks and seating accommodation were unsatisfactory and mainly old type in thirty-nine; overcrowding was found to exist in ten; cloak rooms faculty in nineteen; eight schools were found to have defective ventilation and lighting; the same number lacked proper playground facilities; and twelve were found to be structurally defective’

With the exception of a few schools which have central heating, the arrangements in this respect are most unsatisfactory’ (p48).

The 1935 report includes ‘The Scheme of immunisation against Diphtheria commenced during the year 1935, and the total of 6,438 completed the course of injections. The gross total for the years 1931-’35 is 16,834’ (p16).

The 1937 report indicates that the Gaeltacht Housing legislation 87 houses were completed during the year, 163 were in the course of erection, 39 houses were improved and 55 were being improved (p21). Also in 1937 new wells and pumps were provided in Killuremore and Skycur, Ballybrit and Slievefin, Ballinacurry and Creggs, Pollough and Skehanagh, Ballylin and Cloonlee, Killeroran and Moneen, Carrare North and Cloonmore, Lismihill and Meelick and Carnacrow, Gallagh and Pollacorragune (p23).

The 1938 report stated ‘The number of deaths registered from pulmonary tuberculosis was 114, and from other forms 39…Death rate for County Galway for 1938 was 0.7 pulmonary and 0.2 other forms’ (p39).

The 1939 reports states under Vital Statistics ‘The deaths registered during 1939 number 2,373 representing a rate of 14.1 per 1,000 of the population, completed with 2,248 and a rate of 13.37 for 1938. Death rate in Eire for 1939 was 14.2’ (p8).

The report for 1940 indicates ‘The number of burial grounds vested in the Board of Health is 195. During this year extensions to Lackagh and Claretuam were fenced and land was purchased for an extension to Boyounagh. Protestant burial grounds at Castleblakeney were taken over by the Board’ (p25).

The 1941 Annual Report with reports on Tuberculosis and School Medical Service Schemes indicates 'The 8 houses mentioned in last year's Report as having been started in the Claddagh area were completed during 1941. With the erection of a further 15 houses the Claddagh scheme will be complete.
Work commenced on the 70 houses scheme in Shantallow (Shantalla) and despite the shortage of materials good progress was made' (p23).

Also '125 midwives gave the required notice of their intention to practise during the year 1941, eleven of whom were attached to the Central Hospital and Private Nursing Homes. One midwife, in private practice died this year' (p40, also includes a list of the names of the midwives and the area they work in).

Also 'The number of deaths register from pulmonary tuberculosis was 136 as against 171 for last year' (p47).

Also includes a report on the 'County School Medical Service' with details on the arrangement for the treatment of various aliments such as Tonsils and Adenoids, Squint and minor ailments; details of school visits by the District Nurses; details on School Meals; and report on School Premises (pp55-70); also 'Malnutrition - this year the percentage found with malnutrition was 3-37 as against 2-34 in 1940 and 306 in 1939. This figure is liable to vary owing to the many factors to be considered. The standard in this county is based on the general well-being of the child - i.e., general appearance, posture, weight, height, etc' (p63).

The report for 1943 includes statistics and social condition of County Galway including details on monthly rainfall, industries (such as agriculture, kelp, fishing turf schemes, beet factory, shoe factory timber mills and the tourists trade) unemployment rate, births, dead and marriage statistics (pp10-11). It also states ‘The main aim and object of the Maternity and Child Welfare Service is to reduce the Infant Mortality rate and the Maternal death rate. The infantile mortality rate for 1943 shows a marked increased on 1942, the rates for these years being 64 and 55 respectively, but like last year it is still lower than that for Eire’ (p27).

The 1955 Report indicates 'Sanitary Administration: The county is divided into 40 Dispensary Districts, two of which are in the Galway borough and one in Ballinasloe Urban. Each district is served by a District Medical Officer. There are four whole-time Health inspectors and one part-time Sanitary Sub-Officer' and includes details of the number of inspections of various facilities carried out during the year, such as of Canals 48 inspections. Abattoir 94 inspections, Dance Halls 16 inspections, Dumps 54 inspections, Caravan Site 4 inspections etc (p18).

'Galway Port Sanitary Authority was abolished on1/4/'48 and its function transferred to the County Council. Ships from foreign ports are visited, and investigations stipulated by the Infectious Diseases (Shipping) Regulations 1948, carried out. During the year, now under review, no case of infectious disease was discovered' (p18).

Generally printed by Athlone Printing Works Co., Ltd.

Extent28 items

Physical descriptionSoft-backed booklet

LanguageEnglish

Archival historyTransferred from the HSE Library, Merlin Park to the Archvies in 2023 adn 2025

SubjectLegislation, Sanitation

Conditions governing accessAvailable by appointment. Unrestricted access. The material in this collection is available to all bona fide researchers by appointment only, and subject to the conditions of access governing the consultation of archival material at Galway County Council Archives.

Conditions governing reproductionNo material may be reproduced from this collection without the written permission of the archivist, and reproductions are subject to the conditions of access.

LevelItem

Closed until1963

Item request date
Expected return date
Destination