Light shed on day-to-day life of workhouse inmates
The Register of the Limerick House of Industry (1774-1793) preserves in print a manuscript register with the name, age, sex, place of origin, religion, medical condition with admission and discharge details of 2,747 inmates.
The book was edited by David Fleming and John Logan, at the Department of History at the University of Limerick, and published by the Irish Manuscripts Commission.
It is the only known admission register of its kind in Ireland and its publication will allow scholars and the public to identify a social group whose history up to now has been vague.
The register also provides evidence of how individuals from counties Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Cork and other adjacent places coped with poverty, infirmity, disease and lunacy.
Co-author David Fleming said: “Admission to the ‘house’ meant disruption of a familiar routine.
This often meant the severing of personal ties, a loss of intimacy and many had to suffer criticism of a wayward life.
On the other hand an inmate had the opportunity to avail of the sociability that living at close quarters brought and, for as long as a pauper remained in the house, there was the guarantee of shelter, food, clothing, and when ill, the attention of a physician or surgeon.”
The register lists some fascinating details about the inmates. Almost equal proportions of males and females entered the Limerick workhouse, 64% voluntarily admitted themselves and 36% were compelled.
“The combination of the rarity of this manuscript as a source for the history of the poorer echelons of Irish society and the stories contained within will be of interest not only locally in Limerick but also nationally,” said chairman of the Irish Manuscripts Commission, James McGuire.
