Clifden Poor Law Union, Minute Book, 1860-1861
Includes:
-‘The clothing of the Paupers is very deficient and as the weather is cold and severe the Board’s attention is called, if not the health of the paupers will suffer. The quantity of turf should also be increased’ (19 Dec 1960, f43).
-‘Resolved that the paupers be supplied with the usual meat dinner on Christmas day not to exceed £4.0.0 and that the Clerk be directed to attend at same’ (19 Dec 1860, f44).
-‘The attention of the Board of Guardians is requested to a lunatic of the name of Michael Kilmartin admitted on the 7th inst. He exhibits a tendency to do violence and it is unsafe to have him at large, there is no proper way to confine a lunatic in the workhouse or submit him to treatment likely to be beneficial. Immediate steps should be taken to have him removed to Ballinasloe lunatic asylum’ (f103).
-‘Matron reports from the increase of inmates in the House which adds to my duty in every respect the quantity of clothing I am obliged to cut out and get made together with the repairing of old clothes (with little or no assistance) occupies the greater part of my time, when I took charge of the school at the request of the Guardians there were only 13 children, there are now 21 on rolls and other children which should be classed.
I must respectfully beg to inform the Board that I cannot discharge the entire duties as Matron and Teacher’ (21 February 1862, f113).
-‘Ordered That the Clerk take steps to have the Deaf and Dumb girl Mary McDonagh forwarded to the Roman Catholic Institution for Deaf and Dumb mutes with as much despatch as he can’ (f114, see also f144).
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‘Master reports there was a woman named Mary Williams admitted to the Workhouse on Saturday night last who was completely out of her mind, from her violence she had to be tied, put into the probationary ward, and two able bodied women kept night and day in close attendance on her. He also begs leave to state he went to the Courthouse on yesterday in order to have her committed to jail but there being but one magistrate present no committal could be got. Begs Board’s directions in the matter.
Ordered That the Master hold over this woman until a warrant can be obtained the best way he can’ (p133).
-‘Notice of Motion: I shall on this day three weeks move that the Doctor be directed to visit the Island of Bofin periodically, say at least once a month or to make such other arrangements as may secure proper medical attendance to the people of the island’ (3 Apr 1861, f165, see also ff194-195).
-‘The Medical Officer reports that there was an entire family of 8 persons admitted from Clifden, six of them suffering from fever who were at once admitted to Hospital as there seems a tendency for fever to increase both in Clifden and the country part and as there may be many more applicants for admission to Hospital by parties suffering from fever it is necessary to use the utmost precaution to prevent the spread of the disease and to make the necessary preparations for treating such cases as may be admitted…’ (5 Jun 1861, f253).