Clifden Poor Law Union archive collection, Descriptive List, GPL3.pdf

Clifden Poor Law Union
now laid as far as Ballynahinch and if a few wagons of provisions were taken to this for each
trade the poor people’s wants would be supplied for the present’ (GPL3/77, p244). As the
Board campaigned for assistance, seed potatoes and relief works there were 108 inmates in
the workhouse with 556 in receipt of outdoor relief (16 February 1895, GPL3/77, p547).
In early 1895 a shipment of 152 tons of seed potato was delivered by steamer to Clifden
(GPL3/77, p594(b)). Also around that time, in February 1895, the LGB‟s auditor, O‟Hara,
declared that the rate collection for 1893/94 was „satisfactorily collected‟ (GPL3/77, p580). Yet
the overall financial condition of the Union was poor and overtaxed due to „by periodical
distress’ (GPL3/77, p633).
In 1898 and 1899 the Guardians were pre-occupied by the relief works introduced to help
alleviate distress caused by yet another poor harvest. The minutes include various details
relating to the schemes, such as road works at Ballafada and a well opening at
Claddaghduff, together with names of supervisors, gangers, timekeepers and, in many cases
the names of individuals 11 taken on to work on the systems in the various electoral divisions,
and payment details. In June 1898 the LGB wrote advising that it had examined „....the lists
of payments made for the two weeks ended the 28 th ultimo to the labourers, timekeepers,
supervisors and paymasters employed on the Relief works amounting to £224.13.6.
Directions for the payment of a sum of £171.1.1 has been given. This includes the
Government proportion of the wages amounting to £4.1.11 in respect of which recoupment
had been deferred…’ (GPL3/84, p34).
During the same period the Board was also involved in providing „spraying machines‟ and
material to small farmers to help ensure better crops. For instance, „Having read further
letters from Messrs Harrington Bros., Cork, [and] L.W. Kenzie, Dublin asking for immediate
settlement of their accounts amounting to £298.10.0., and being informed by the Clerk that
only about 5 tons of the 15 tons of material supplied by Messrs Harrington would be required
for this year’s spraying…’ (GPL3/84, p225).
In December 1898 the BG expressed its appreciation to the Congested Districts Board
(CDB) for their „noble work‟ and the „...great assistance afforded the poor of this District by
their exertions on the development of the Fishing Industry last year along the Connemara
coast. The visible signs of this industry is to be observed by Clifden Quay where a fleet of
fishing boats lie at anchor awaiting the fine weather before proceeding on their harvest of
industry….’. The Board also appealed to the government to assist the CDB with the erection
of a pier at Doughbeg or with an extension of the old pier at Clifden Quay (GPL3/84, p581).
11 See, for instance, GPL3/84, p63
Cartlann Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe „…cuimhne dhoiciméadach Chontae na Gaillimhe a shealbhú, a chaomhnú agus a dhéanamh inrochtana’
Galway County Council - Archives „…to acquire, preserve and make accessible the documentary memory of county Galway’
xvii.