Genealogy Chat

As has been said, a lot of the workhouses in Ireland have been torn down although some are now used for other purposes. Limavady and Londondery (Waterside) come to mind. You should find some information in Census returns, but in a lot of cases only the initials of the inmates were recorded. Any records that survive should be in the Public Record Offices in Belfast and/or Dublin. Beware though, it seems that as the last entries for some of them were in the late 1940's, you may not be able to see them as they are closed for up to 100 years. You could try www(.)proni(.)gov(.)uk for information. Paul

nudge

Hi Pat I have seen the much acclaimed film "The Magdelane Sisters" and through this I have read quite a few books on the subject - totally glued I'm afraid. First established in the UK/Scotland in the 1700's for diseased women of ill refute - nice way of putting it - then established in Ireland in the early 1800's the rest is history which I'm afraid a lot of women and children are unable to forget which is not surprising. I have no research in Ireland I'm afraid, but am on a visit in September - Husbands family and it's were his father was returned to be buried - home. Thanks for the info Pat - looking forward to Co Galway Lin

DIANE The website for Workshouse information in the UK is very good for the Irish section. http://www.institutions(.)org(.)uk/workhouses/ireland/ireland_workhouses.htm remove brackets. Most buildings are gone ofcourse but some survive and are still used like a local hospital near me. Workhouses gave way to Catholic Institutions as the Government seemed to pass responsibility for Ophanages to the Church, but these were not the same as Workhouses. LIN The Magdalene Laundries and the Industrial Schools and Orphanages were run by Nuns and Priests but this is later and was brought in by the Catholic Church as a way of control over women and children. There is a lot of touchiness here about the history of the Magdelene and Industrial Schools and its not easy doing research, some of this could be due to the fact that there is an ongoing redress board for survivors of these places since the media broke some of the horrific stories, and its too recent the last Magdalene Laundry didnt close until the mid 1990's. Its not easy doing any Irish research, I find it very frustrating and I LIVE HERE. Good Luck. Pat x

Diane Workhouses were also known as The Magdelane Asylums and also Industrial Schools run by the Sisters of Mercy Linda

thanks, do you what records office it would be... would it be the local area of the workhouse?

Hi, If you put workouse Ireland in google you will find a very useful site. No lists of inmates, though - you need to go to a record office for those. Gwynne

Dose anyone know if there is any info on the net with workhouse record?? for Ireland??