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

Clifden Poor Law Union
Apart from the town of Clifden, other areas in the district received some improved water
facilities. For instance, in June 1880 the Board ordered the expenditure of £100 for the
sinking of a well or „…running of pipes for the conveyance of water in Roundstone from Mr
Boughton’s well of the neighbourhood.
Area of charge Roundstone Electoral Division’
(GPL3/52, f189). Tenders for sinking the pump were advertised for in August 1880.
Also in August 1898 J J MacDonnell, Medical Officer of Health, advised the BG that there
was an inadequate supply of „drinkable water at Cleggan during the fishing season‟ and
advised that it was „...absolutely necessary to either have wells sunk in the vicinity or water
conveyed from a neighbouring lake by means of pipes’. The Board advised that due to lack
of funds it was unable to provide such a supply, but if the CDB could „...supply funds
necessary and also give a grant in aid of the much needed drainage works for the town of
Clifden. The Guardians would be prepared afterwards to bear the cost of the necessary
maintenance that the outlay would involve’ (GPL3/84, pp255-6).
In its capacity as sanitary authority the BG was also responsible for the provision and
maintenance of burial grounds. For instance, in July 1896 the Board accepted the tender of
George Brennan to carry out repairs and prepare an extension to the Ardbear cemetery. 14
Amalgamation and Closure
Following the enactment of the Local Government (Ireland) Act of 1898 Galway County
Council and Clifden Rural District Council were established. Many of the functions of the BG
devolved to these Councils. For instance the Board was no longer responsible for rate
collection. After the elections in March 1899, the new Board placed its first demand on the
Galway County Council for the sum of £937.6.8 to cover the period 25 th March to 25 th July
1899 (GPL3/85, p250).
There was some discussion regarding the amalgamation of Unions in 1904. The BG issued
its response to queries on the topic to the Poor Law Reform Commission in September 1904,
advising that it was in favour of such a plan. It also was in agreement that if dissolved the
workhouse could be taken over by the County Council, but the Board was against the
workhouse ‘…being utilised as an Auxiliary Lunatic Asylum but in favour of it being used for
the purpose of starting some home industry in the district which would give employment,
relieve taxation and help to stay the tide of emigration’ (GPL3/90, p383).
There was further correspondence, primarily with Galway County Council, on a proposed
amalgamation in the early 1920s. The Board approved „...of the principal of amalgamation of
14 16 Jul 1896, GPL3/80, p325
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’
xxvi.