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

Clifden Poor Law Union
District of Louisburg in the county of Mayo and it is further resolved that the transfer of the
Island of Bofin to the Clifden District was a great injustice for the following reasons viz:
At the time of transfer to the Clifden Union the island of Bofin had no medical staff. Since the
transfer a medical officer and establishment has to be maintained by the Clifden Dispensary
District.
Resolved: That the Clifden Board of Guardians use every legitimate means in their power to
remove so objectionable a burden from the ratepayers of Clifden’ (GPL3/34, f195, see also
f217). The PLC advised the Board the following month that Inishbofin being part of the
Clifden Union must be included in whatever division may be adopted‟ (GPL3/34, f235).
In April 1867 there was a proposal that Inishbofin should be a self paying dispensary district
and the Board continued to outline its grievance at the Clifden dispensary district having to
support Bofin which was in county Mayo.
In 1868 the Roundstone Dispensary District was split in two, (GPL3/37, f235 & f245) and a
second dispensary doctor was appointed.
In the mid 1890s the issue of adequate dispensary provision on Inishbofin was discussed, as
the existing accommodation had „….repeatedly been pronounced unfit by members of the
Medical Committee’ (GPL3/80, p406 b).
Workhouse Staff
In February 1856 (GPL3/21, 13 February p14) the Poor Law Union Commissioners agreed
with the BG to amalgamate the office of the Clerk and the Master. However, in June 1858
Mr John Burke was appointed as Clerk of the Union. But an amendment to the resolution
stated that the Board ‘…are of opinion that the amalgamation of the Clerk and Master in one
office was [exercised] hitherto very satisfactorily and that a mere temporary absence is not a
sufficient argument for making a new permanent appointment’. In August 1858 a Notice of
Motion was received „In compliance with Commissioners’ letter No. 18102 we give notice that
on this day fortnight we will propose that the two offices of Master and Clerk to this Union be
from thenceforth separated and held by two distinct persons’ (GPL3/23, 18 th August 1858,
p8). The issue was discussed further at the Board‟s subsequent meeting of 1 st September
1858. Mathias Mallen, who had been acting Master for the previous nine months, was
appointed Master on 15 th September at a salary of £25 a year and rations. The posts of
Matron and Schoolmistress were also amalgamated for a time in 1860.
In 1874, following the resignation of the Master, Patrick Davern, after his having left his post
and returning drunk one evening, it took the Board many months to agree on a replacement
candidate. When they finally agreed on a candidate, John Coney, the LGB initially declined
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’
xx.