Listowel Connection

This blog is a personal take on Listowel, Co. Kerry. I am writing for anyone anywhere with a Listowel connection but especially for sons and daughters of Listowel who find themselves far from home. Contact me at listowelconnection@gmail.com

Tag: Listowel workhouse Page 1 of 2

The One with Countdown in it

By

On February 7, 2024

In Listowel

Old church tower on Church Street in February 2024

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Countdown… A Listowel Connection?

I love Countdown. It’s a very very old fashioned game show on Channel 4 on weekday afternoons. In a digital age it’s a quaint throwback to old times. Contestants write with pens on paper, Rachel picks actual letter and number tiles from physical boxes. The analogue clock ticks down the 30 seconds. The goody bag includes a hard copy of a dictionary and a teapot!

It’s all very low tech.

Now the Listowel connection? Well, I’m stretching it a bit. I know somebody who knows somebody who is currently doing very well on Countdown.

This is Jack Harvey from Grimsby. By the way, waterings is not a word. Jack tried and was shot down by Susie Dent. I think it definitely is a word but if it’s not in her dictionary it’s not allowed. ( Didn’t you often give the plants a good watering, and, if you were going away, two good waterings?)

Jack is a friend of Liz and Jim Dunn’s. They are looking forward to a big day out at Jack and Xenia’s wedding this summer.

Jack is a super countdowner, equally brilliant at unscrambling letters and doing Maths puzzles and he is the best conundrum solver ever.

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Education in Listowel Workhouse in Famine Times

The last of Kay Caball’s heartbreaking snippets…

9 October 1851 The Bedford Schoolmaster requests an Assistant:   ‘Let the Assistant Schoolmaster Stack proceed to Bedford. Let the Schoolmaster divide the boys into three classes, each of which should get two hours instruction daily – Stack to be in charge of the boys when out of school’.

Dr. Enright – ‘Suggesting that the Schoolboys should be compelled to wash themselves daily – and that soap and towels should be provided for that purpose’.  On washing being questioned by the Board the Bedford Master states that the boys wash themselves perfectly clean every morning, but they have no towels. A large canvas roller was therefore ordered to be supplied.

16 October 1851 Miss Nolan the Schoolmistress resigned … The Clerk was directed to advertise for a Trained Teacher in her stead.

10 July 1852 There were 617 boys/677 girls in the workhouse between 9 & 18 yrs of age.  24 boys and 22 girls were discharged that week, 1 boy had died.

15 July 1852  The Officers Reports were read as follows:

9 October 1851 The Bedford Schoolmaster requests an Assistant:   ‘Let the Assistant Schoolmaster Stack proceed to Bedford. Let the Schoolmaster divide the boys into three classes, each of which should get two hours instruction daily – Stack to be in charge of the boys when out of school’.

Dr. Enright – ‘Suggesting that the Schoolboys should be compelled to wash themselves daily – and that soap and towels should be provided for that purpose’.  On washing being questioned by the Board the Bedford Master states that the boys wash themselves perfectly clean every morning, but they have no towels. A large canvas roller was therefore ordered to be supplied.

16 October 1851 Miss Nolan the Schoolmistress resigned … The Clerk was directed to advertise for a Trained Teacher in her stead.

10 July 1852 There were 617 boys/677 girls in the workhouse between 9 & 18 yrs of age.  24 boys and 22 girls were discharged that week, 1 boy had died.

4 November 1852 An Inspector of National Schools reported that the Mill was far too small for the number [of girls] in it.  The Visiting Committee stated in a letter ‘on visiting the house this day, we found in the girls’ schoolroom 525 persons including nurses and other women who should not be in the part of the house which overcrowding appears objectionable.

‘Education in the Workhouse’ is in my view a misnomer. The conditions at any time from 1847 to 1852, did not allow for normal schooling to take place. This is not a surprise considering that all workhouses from 1847 were overwhelmed with death, disease, and destitution.  The Listowel Board of Guardians appear to have worked hard to cope with the many problems that arose each week.  But responding to the daily urgent issues; collecting rates, providing bed and board, staffing and keeping the rampant diseases at bay did not allow for much consideration to be given to the education of the children in their care.

4 November 1852 An Inspector of National Schools reported that the Mill was far too small for the number [of girls] in it.  The Visiting Committee stated in a letter ‘on visiting the house this day, we found in the girls’ schoolroom 525 persons including nurses and other women who should not be in the part of the house which overcrowding appears objectionable.

‘Education in the Workhouse’ is in my view a misnomer. The conditions at any time from 1847 to 1852, did not allow for normal schooling to take place. This is not a surprise considering that all workhouses from 1847 were overwhelmed with death, disease, and destitution.  The Listowel Board of Guardians appear to have worked hard to cope with the many problems that arose each week.  But responding to the daily urgent issues; collecting rates, providing bed and board, staffing and keeping the rampant diseases at bay did not allow for much consideration to be given to the education of the children in their care.

(Good to be reminded of such awful times. Thank you, Kay)

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Important Exhibition

An exhibition of artwork by Mike O’Donnell is currently on display in St. John’s Theatre and Arts Centre, Listowel.

Mike’s mural work is familiar to us all, but, before he was a muralist he was a court artist, sketching well known criminals and covering some high profile trials.

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First Year Groups from 1986

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A Fact

Dalmatians are born without spots.  They are born with plain white coats with their first spots appearing after they are one week old.

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The Workhouse

By

On October 19, 2023

In Listowel

William Street October 15 2023

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More Sweets

Old boxes from Margaret’s treasure trove.

Urney Chocolates was a confectionery manufacturing business founded by the Gallagher family in County Tyrone, and once operating one of the largest chocolate factories in Europe. After sales as a going concern, ultimately to what would become Unilever, the last factory closed in 1980. The brand was later operated by L.C. Confectionery Ltd., and is now handled by Hazelbrook Confectionery, based in County Kildare, Ireland. (Wikipedia)

Clarnico chocolate and sweet manufacturers were based in London. The company founded overseas manufacturing interests in 1920s in Ireland (Clarnico-Murray Ltd, a joint venture) and Australia. In 1936, the firm was taken over by C. and E. Morton Limited. In 1945 Mortons was acquired by Beechams and together with other acquired companies in 1955 was renamed as Beecham Foods Limited. Beechams bought James Pascall Limited in 1959 which was merged with Murray. The Pascall Murray brand and business was later sold to Cadbury Fry in 1964. 

Its main lines of production were in fudge, caramel and mints (including what were known as ‘Murray Mints’) 

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Great old Photo

This photo was given to us by Willie O’Donnell (second from left in second row).

This is Cór Cois Féile, a North Kerry choir. I have enlisted some help in naming people.

People named so far

Front Row; ? , Joan Mulvihill, Ger Frost, Mary O’Flaherty, ?

Row 2; Jackie McGillicuddy, Willie O’Donnell, Phyllis Dunne, Frankie Chute, Marie Coffey, Anne Hartnett, Kathleen Stack

Row 3; Cathal Fitzgerald, John O’Keeffe, Maurice Kennelly , Luaí ÓMurchú, Jack Murphy, Mrs. Cummins, Donie Finucane, Fr. Michael O’Doherty, Brendan Quille, Babe Joe Wilmot, Pat Flaherty,?, Eddie O’Flaherty,?, Joe Guerin, Mairead Pierse, Seán O’Sullivan and Colm O’Brien

Apologies to anyone who I have misidentified or omitted. All corrections will be welcomed.

I’m hoping someone will tell us the story of the choir and put a few last names to faces.

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Timely Poem

Imagine

by John Lennon

“… Imagine there’s no countries

It isn’t hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion, too

Imagine all the people

Livin’ life in peace

You

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one…”

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The Workhouse

(The following is from the Workhouses of Ireland website)

Listowel Poor Law Union was formally declared on the 27th March 1840 and covered an area of 326 square miles. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 27 in number, representing its 21 electoral divisions as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one):

Co. Kerry: Abbeydorney, Ardfert, Ballyheigue, Ballylongford (2), Drumkeen (2), Duagh, Gunsborough, Kilconly, Kilfeighny, Kilflyn, Killahan, Killahinny, Kilmoily (2), Kilshinane, Kiltomy, Knockanure, Lissleton, Listowel (3), Newtownsands, Rattoo, Tarbert (2).

The Board also included 9 ex-officio Guardians, making a total of 36. The Guardians met each week at noon on Thursday.

The population falling within the Union at the 1831 census had been 65,198 with divisions ranging in size from Kilflyn (population 1,072) to Listowel itself (6,802).

The new Listowel Union workhouse was erected on a six-acre site half a mile to the west of Listowel at the north side of Convent Lane (now Road). The building and operation of a workhouse had to be financed by the ratepayers of each union and in many places was seen as an intolerable imposition from England and its officials. It took until 7th February 1844 to raise the first poor rate in Listowel, with the workhouse being declared fit for the reception of paupers on 17th August 1844, and not receiving its first admissions until 13th February 1845.

Designed by the Poor Law Commissioners’ architect George Wilkinson, the building was based on one of his standard plans to accommodate 700 inmates. Its construction cost £5,980 plus £1,276 for fittings etc. The workhouse location and layout are shown on the 1921 map.

The buildings followed Wilkinson’s typical layout. An entrance and administrative block at the south contained a porter’s room and waiting room at the centre with the Guardians’ board room on the first floor above.

The main accommodation block had the Master’s quarters at the centre, with male and female wings to each side. At the rear, a range of single-storey utility rooms such as bakehouse and washhouse connected through to the infirmary and idiots’ wards via a central spine containing the chapel and dining-hall.

During the famine in the mid-1840s, sleeping galleries were erected to accommodate an additional 100 inmates. A fever hospital to accommodate 46 patients was erected at the north-east of the workhouse.

The workhouse closed in 1921. In February 1922, the Guardians received a deputation headed by Mr J. Crowley with a view to acquiring part of the building for use as a sweet factory. The Board agreed to their request.

The workhouse buildings no longer exist and a local hospital now occupies the site.

The chapel door in October 2023

It is worth noting that these poorhouses were called workhouses for a reason. Idleness was forbidden and every inmate was forced to work or face awful punishment.

Williamson was instructed to make the living quarters as uncomfortable as possible and this he did.

There were no ceilings, just bare rafters. The upper floor was accessed by a narrow stone stairs which was difficult to climb for elderly or frail people. The eating room was dark and airless. Inmates were given 2 meals a day, porridge and milk in the morning and potatoes and bread in the afternoon.

When the potato crop failed the workhouse became a death camp. The intake of paupers increased exponentially. Men and women were separated never to meet again. Work was still obligatory. Half starved men were put to work on useless work schemes which merely added to their misery and produced no useful end product.

Every day cartfuls of corpses were transported the short distance to Teampall Bán to be tipped into a mass grave.

Sunflowers and ground plants help to cheer this spot today.

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A Fact

Ireland rugby player, Tadhg Beirne’s mother, Brenda Hyland Beirne was crowned Rose of Tralee in 1983.

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Bike as Ornament, Paradise Place in Cork and Christmas in 1909 Listowel and Jimmy Moloney Snr. R.I.P.

By

On August 26, 2019

In Uncategorized

Bike at Yummy, Tralee


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A Corner of Cork

The Catholic Young Men’s Society Hall is located at Paradise Place. It is no longer in use as a hall but is the location of several shops and services.

This is the inscription on the red and white utilities box at this corner. Terence MacSwiney was a Lord Mayor of Cork during the War of Independence. He was arrested and imprisoned in Brixton. His death in a British jail after a long hunger strike and unsuccessful attempts at force feeding, gained world wide attention for the cause. He had a huge funeral in Cork where he was regarded as a martyr.

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Christmas Party in Listowel Workhouse 1909


Jer. Kennelly has done a bit of research for us on Bibiana Foran and he found this account in The Kerry Sentinel of 1909.

Christmas 1909 Kerry Sentinel

X Mas Tree in Listowel Workhouse, presented by Mrs B Foran, P.L.G. UDC, she invited a large number of ladies and gentlemen to a party held at the workhouse. Toys, oranges, sweets and cakes were in abundance. Only one girl was sad her doll had a leg and a half, it was soon remedied by giving her another one. 

Mrs Foran assisted by Mrs Daly, also Misses O Shaughnessy, misses Lyons, Miss Lillie Cotter, Miss McElligott, Messrs Richard O Shaughnessy who took several photographs of Father Christmas Dan Aherne and the children of the institution, P O Shaughnessy and others also there.

Several songs and recitations followed with music by Michael Carmody labour master, on the violin, the temperance band could not come due to member being absent. Singers included, Misses Mandie Collins, The Misses Daly, Miss Lillie Hannon, Miss Katie Dillon, Miss Katie Buckley and Miss May Kathleen O Sullivan. Also present, Mr and Miss Cleary and Master and Miss Cleary of Provincial Bank. Mr Wilson and Master Boysie and Freddy and Miss Wilson of National Bank. Mrs O Halloran, Master and Miss O Halloran of Killocrim. Mrs Master and Miss Pierce. Mr T O Connor RDC, Tarbert Island. Mr Wm. And Mrs T Twomey of Church Street. P B Cronin PLG. Mrs Barry Billerough; Mrs Dillon and Miss Scanlon; Mrs T Collins and Miss Collins. Mrs Enright, Misses Buckley, Main Street. The Misses Buckley, The Square. Mr R and Mrs Walsh; The Misses D Browne Church Street. Messrs Tom and James Walsh. Mr John and Master Hannon, Mrs Callon, Mrs Fitzmaurice, Miss Cantillon. Mr Ned Healy, Miss Moore.

Child Ellie Doner aged 3 and a half sang Guardian Angel. Lizzie Power recited, Hole in my Pocket. Jack Enright , known as Jack the cot, an invalid, recited and sang in a most creditable manner. Entertainment continued with a splendid dance, just like a marriage ball. Mr T M O Connor, proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs Foran, bringing the nights pleasures to a conclusion.

 ( Isn’t it beyond sad that a little lad known as Jack the cot, and we can guess why since he is described as “an invalid” sang and recited for the great and the good of the town?)

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The Late Jimmy Moloney


Jimmy Moloney passed away as he had lived, quietly, On May 28th last. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Here is an obituary sent to us by his daughter, Maeve


Obituary for Jimmy Moloney, Snr

Jimmy Moloney, Snr, passed away unexpectedly at home on May 28th 2019, at the age of 75, 8 months after the death his beloved wife of 54 years, Anne (nee Scully). 

Jimmy was born in Listowel on April 2nd1944, the youngest of three children of Dan (D.J.) Moloney (Lyreacrompane) and Margaret Moloney (née O Connor, of Springmount, Duagh). His earliest years were spent in the Bridge Road, Listowel. In 1948, his parents bought and restored Gurtenard House in which he grew up, brought up his own family and lived until 2006. 

As the younger brother, it was often said his more outgoing older sisters, Kay and Marie, overshadowed him. Quite the contrary; clever and reserved, Jimmy simply watched, observed, and quietly got his point across in his own gentle way. 

He was educated in the Boys’ School and St. Michael’s College, Listowel and Newbridge College, Co.Kildare later studying commerce at University College Cork and engineering at Bolton St. College, Dublin.  

At the age of 16, he spent a summer in Ventry to advance his Irish language skills at the first Irish college of its kind in the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht. It is questionable whether his Irish improved, however it was there that he met Anne Scully (also 16, daughter of Dr. Paddy Scully, Dingle). His courting strategies included cycling his bicycle along the round topped stone wall opposite Paidi OSé’s family home and “borrowing” cars from Moloney’s Garage to meet Anne in Tralee for dances at the Brandon Hotel.

Anne and Jimmy had a Christmas wedding at Muckross Church, Killarney on 29thDecember 1965, both aged just 21.They honeymooned in London and the south of Spain, where they would return many times. They lived at Gurtenard House and Jimmy successfully ran Moloney’s Garage in Market Street and William Street, Listowel until the mid-1980s. 

Moloney’s Garage, a Main Ford Dealership, had been founded in 1945 by his father, D.J., and was a thriving business and employer in the town for many decades. At a time when opportunities for school leavers in North Kerry would have been few, scores of young trainees arrived at Moloney’s Garage as apprentice mechanics, pump attendants, panel beaters, accountants and secretaries and learned their craft in their own hometown. The regard in which Jimmy and D.J. were held was deeply felt by the Moloney family at Jimmy’s funeral where dozens of former employees and colleagues from years gone by paid their respects and told stories of a wonderful workplace and how they “got their start” at Moloney’s. 

Not surprisingly, he was an avid fan of motor sports in all its forms. A founder member of Kerry Motor Club and its secretary for much of the 1970s, Jimmy was an accomplished rally driver in his own right, competing in rallies all over Ireland and the UK. He was a talented mechanic and restored numerous vintage and veteran cars as well as being an early and enthusiastic member of the Kingdom Veteran and Vintage Car club founded in 1979. The club, which celebrates its 40thAnniversary this year, organised veteran and vintage car runs throughout the county and beyond, most notably the Annual Ring of Kerry run. There are many accounts from those times of blown gaskets, runaway cars, golf clubhouses being mistaken for hotels and many other (mis) adventures. In 2010 he was awarded the Automobile Association’s commemorative centenary award as Kerry’s longest serving member as well as having led numerous emergency rescues to car crash sites and breakdowns throughout the county for the association.

Anne and Jimmy successfully ran Gurtenard House as a Bed and Breakfast for over 20 years from the 1980s until their retirement to Cherry Tree Drive in 2006. Like Gurtenard House, the door in Cherry Tree Drive was always open and friends and family alike were welcomed for a chat and the inevitable glass (or more) of wine. 

Jimmy could fix anything and was as comfortable up a ladder as under the bonnet of a car. One of his many hobbies was woodturning, reflected in his numerous intricate sculptures and woodcarvings. An innovative problem solver, his many inventions included some unusual security and surveillance systems as well as a number of quite peculiar washing machines, ironing contraptions and pest deterrents.    

Widely read and widely travelled, Jimmy had been planning a tour of Holland, Germany, France and Switzerland at the time of his death, one of the highlights of which was to be a high-speed drive on the German autobahns with his son-in-law, Frank. 

On the Sunday evening before his passing, he had attended the count of the recent County Council elections and proudly saw his youngest son, Jimmy re-elected to Kerry County Council to represent Listowel and Fianna Fáil.

Jimmy Snr died as he had lived, quietly and without fuss. He will be sadly missed by his sisters Kay and Marie, sons Dan, Conor and Jimmy, daughter Maeve, grandsons Isaac, Oscar, Max and Tom, daughter-in-law Una, son-in-law Frank and his wide network of relatives and friends. 

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At the Conservation Seminar


At last week’s conservation seminar in Kerry Writers’ Museum, we looked at how we are doing so far with the work of maximising our existing heritage assets and how we can improve on things in the future.

We identified Childers’ Park as one of our greatest amenities. It is the only green flag municipal park in Ireland.

Work is continuing on accessing the lios (ring fort) after which the town is named.

The suggestion to erect a tourist information kiosk in the Square was not proceeded with and “Tourisn Ambassadors” were appointed instead. Since Kerry Writers’ Museum is already  a tourist information centre, it was decided to erect better signage to direct people there.

We have 400 free car parking spaces. These should be more than adequate for visitors and shoppers.

The work of the Tidy Town committee was widely praised and the Listowel Business and Community Alliance has already got stuck in and its new website, Listowel.ie will be launched in the very near future. A website with up to date information on what is going  on in town is a necessity.

The success of the recent Revival music festival was mentioned and all of the town’s many festivals were noted a major assets to the touristm offering in Listowel.

Pauline Dennigan sent me the below photos



Kerry County Council staff and consultants with the mayor of Listowel Municipal District, Michael Kennelly and Julie Gleeson and Mary Hanlon of Listowel Tidy Towns Committee.



I met Martin Chute, master painter and sign writer at the seminar

A Famine Commemoration, the new pharmacy at Upper Church St. and my visit to Santa 2017

By

On November 27, 2017

In Uncategorized

John Kelliher’s lovely photo of St. John’s in Winter 2017

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Widening the park gateway

When this essential work is complete we should see a big improvement in traffic movement on Bridge Road.

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A Famine Commemoration in Listowel


John Pierse makes it one of his life missions to make sure that Listowel remembers its Famine dead. His latest deed to keep the horrors of The Great Famine before our minds is a plaque at the hospital chapel. This plaque was unveiled on Saturday November 18 2017

The convent chapel is the last remaining piece of the old workhouse that is still in use.

The plaque was commissioned by Listowel Tidy Towns Committee and was executed by Darren Enright to John Pierse’s design. We also received a booklet on the day with valuable information about the Famine in Listowel.

John Pierse is a very painstaking historian. He left no stone unturned in his efforts to locate a photograph of the flower of the lumper potato. The lumper was the potato that everyone grew in Ireland in the nineteenth century. It was softer than today’s potatoes and was eaten raw by the people in the workhouse. Unfortunately it was very susceptible to blight.

Jimmy Moloney was the very able M.C. for the ceremony.

Julie Gleeson, chair of Listowel Tidy Towns, John Pierse, Kay Caball, John Lucid, Bryan MacMahon, Jimmy Moloney and Mary Hanlon.

Julie spoke on behalf of Listowel Tidy Town who organised the event.

Sr. Margaret spoke on behalf of the Sisters of Mercy in whose chapel the plaque was erected.

The blessing was an ecumenical one with Fr. Hegarty and Rev. Harding performing the prayerful dedication.

Some local people among the large attendance.

Ballybunion Tidy Town Committee were invited.

These four Mercy sisters came from Killarney

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A Corner of Town is Changing



Refurbishment at Doran’s continues. Soon Upper Church Street will have a whole new aspect.

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I met Santa Yesterday, November 26 2017




Folks, if you are familiar with the Lartigue, you won’t recognise it and if you’ve never been, you’ll think you are in Wonderland.

These are just some of the elves who have made this Listowel Santa experience happen.

The North Pole Express

will run every weekend from now until Christmas. Click the link above to book. There is a trip on the Lartigue, a visit to Santa, a cookie decorating and Christmas tree ornament decorating workshop. There is hot chocolate, story reading with Mrs. Claus and a Christmas movie in Santa’s own private cinema.

Listowel singers are singing carols live and there are goodies to take away. These goodies include a lovely Christmas story book written and illustrated by Olive Stack and visiting artist Jennifer Walls.

There is great credit due to everyone who worked hard to make this happen. I am particularly delighted to see the baton of volunteerism passed to a new generation.

Chainsaw Art in Kanturk, Life in The Workhouse and the Dan Keane Show in the 70s

By

On April 6, 2016

In Uncategorized

Photo: Chris Grayson

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Kanturk Arts Festival


Recently I had the good fortune to attend a great weekend of music, poetry, drama and art in Kanturk, Co. Cork.

One of the more unusual events this year was a display of chainsaw art by Will Fogarty of Fear na Coillte. Will is based in Co. Limerick and from his base there he has created beautiful wooden sculptures using a chainsaw or, more accurately, a few different chainsaws.

 When I arrived in the lovely OBrien Street Park, Will had already started to work. We speculated about what he might be going to create. A fish was the most popular guess.

Chainsaw art is a slow process so we left him at it while we repaired to The Vintage for lunch. On our return the sculpture was unmistakably a hare.

Ears were given definition. The animal was given toes and a few finishing touches involving filing and brushing and hey pesto! a moon gazing hare was born before our very eyes. If you are passing through Kanturk it would be worth your while to pop into the lovely park on your right as you pass through on your way to Mallow. The hare is to be set in concrete and put on display there.

 Me with the hare

Isn’t he beautiful? His color will darken over time.

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Very Very Sad story from the Irish Examiner Archive



Irish Examiner  Wednesday, 16 January, 1850;
Front page, Page: 1

LISTOWEL BOARD OF GUARDIANS THURSDAY

(“Abridged from the Tralee Chronicle.)

The chair at the opening of the proceedings was occupied by Maurice
Leonard, Esq., deputy vice chairman, but was subsequently filled by
Capt. HOME, the Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Lynch, P.L.C., and Mr. R. E. Duncan, who has succeeded Mr.
Robinson, as Poor Law Inspector, were in attendance.

It appeared that there had been in the fever hospital on last Saturday
no less than 106, and 37 deaths from fever and dysentery. The deaths
this week were seven. The average of deaths, for some
weeks—principally from dysentery—was as high as five a day. The
following report of the Medical Officer was read:—

The Medical Officer begs to call the attention of the Guardians to the
still increasing amount of mortality in the workhouse, an event which
he foresaw some weeks ago, and as a likely means of preventing which
he then recommended a change in the dietary, not then acted upon. He
again wished to bring under the consideration of the Guardians, as
well for the sake of ultimate economy as common humanity, the
importance, during the present epidemic of dysentery of the
substitution of soup, such as that already recommended in December 20,
1849; for what is now in use amongst the paupers, and which consists
almost exclusively of ingredients of a decidedly laxative nature, and
consequently per-disposing to dysentery. Independently of atmospheric
influence, and the foregoing cause, the medical officer cannot but
consider that other causes operate in the development of the present
prevailing diseases, and among the most likely he would enumerate the
intense coldness of the weather, scarcity of fuel, insufficiency of
clothing, and the overcrowded state of every part of the house
appropriated to the sick. The correction of some of those causes the
medical officer respectfully submits is within the power of the
Guardians.

Mr. Leonard—This is a matter of vast importance. Mr. Robinson, in his
place here, induced us to adopt his receipt for soup, and we were thus
led to throw overboard the doctor’s recommendation; and ever since
those deaths have been taking place.

Mr. Lynch—I do not apprehend that it is in consequence of the soup,
which is what is now known as the Roscrea soup. It is used in
Limerick, where we have 2,800 inmates, and there are not half so many
deaths there in a week as here. On going into your hospital, a most
horrible sight presented itself to my notice. I am only surprised the
deaths were more numerous. But, bad as the state of things was, I was
told by the matron, the master and the Catholic clergymen, that there
was a great improvement since yesterday. There were ten children in
one bed, and eleven children in another, suffering under severe
dysentery—actually dying. In the whole course of my experience of
workhouses, I never saw anything like that before. Your hospital is in
a shameful state. It is full of dirt from top to bottom. There was no
straw, no change of linen. I am only surprised that the deaths are not
double. 

The doctor told me that there were in the hospital of the
workhouse no less than 222, though it was only calculated to contain
140. But that does not account for ten and eleven in a bed. But he
told me that there was no straw put in the bed, where there were five
children sleeping heads down, and five heads up—and all in a dying
state Surely, you would not put ten children in a healthy state into
the same bed. Several beds had eight, some five, and none less than
four children. Mr. W. Sandes—This literally amounts to a mortality
test. Mr. Lynch—Then there they are left without breakfast till one
o’clock, while there is no less, I am told, than 23 per cent, water in
the milk. Mr. George Sandes’ report, as the acting member of the
Visiting Committee, and the report of the Master described the
infirmary as in every filthy state. The Rev. Mr. Mahony, the Roman
Catholic Chaplain, came before the Board, and said—I went into the
infirmary half an hour ego, and I found the sick paupers without
having had their breakfasts, at half-past one. I told the Master, and
be said he thought that a man named Griffin, who acts under him, had
supplied them with breakfast. He sent for the nurse tender, and she
said that Griffin had stated as his reason—(here we were interrupted,
and lost the remainder of the sentence). The paupers were lying on
their beds without a drop of drink till half-past one.— There have
been forty-five deaths for the last fortnight, and eight yesterday.
The eight days before that, there were thirty-one deaths. In my
parish, where the population in 1841 was 7,072, there were not four
deaths during that time. I do not make this statement in the way of a
complaint against the officers; but I feeI I would not be doing my
duty if I did not state this much—(hear, hear). I believe the Master
was not to blame, because he thought this man did his duty.



(Life in Listowel Workhouse in 1850 was truly awful. The image of 10 dying children in the same bed without even straw for a mattress is beyond appalling)

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Something to Look Forward to






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This is a photo of the performers at a show organized by Dan Keane sometime in the 1970s. Betty Stack provided the names. Her copy of the picture had a few more people so I hope I have the names right. If anyone has a scanned copy of the full picture, I’d be delighted to post it.

From back;  ………Patrick Flaherty, Seán Ahern, Timmy Leahy, Seán Broderick, Liam Tarrant,

Jerry Nolan, …….  ……, Gerard Buckley,Michael Dowling Christy Stack,

Muriel Dowling, Geraldine Dowling, Kathleen O’Connor, Betty Stack, Maureen Dowling, Honor O’Connor

The copy of the picture I got has the front row missing which is a pity because in it are Timmy Brosnan, Peggy Sweeney and Dan Keane

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