The Doggart Family Genealogy

Irish workhouses were generally built to accommodate around 800 inmates. Life inside was grim. At first there was no so-called outdoor relief, as would have been common in England. Outdoor relief was when the poor could simply use the workhouse facilities as needed by undertaking a day’s work. Indoor relief was initially the only option and required the poor to prove they were destitute before they were admitted.

Once inside the inmates were separated into distinct groups, men and women, adults and children, able bodied and infirm. They were expected to wear a uniform inside and were kept separated from other groups. They were expected to work for a roof over their heads and the work was hard and monotonous. Common tasks included treadmills or breaking apart old ropes into fibre. Women might be employed in sewing tasks but certainly in Dublin, also used the treadmills. Food was also monotonous and basic. Stirabout, a watery gruel was common, as was bread. Once a year the routine was relaxed and inmates had meat to celebrate Christmas.

While many lived and died in the workhouse it was not unusual for people to leave. The workhouse authorities would provide a suit of clothes if an inmate could prove they had a chance of work.

Dublin had very high levels of child desertion. Mothers would leave their children at the workhouse while they went to look for work and there were several cases of children being deserted by parents who had emigrated to America. Deserted children were often fostered out until at least the age of 12 when the workhouse could arrange an apprenticeship. In the early records at least many were named after the street where they were found or after the person who found them. This custom caused quite a bit of confusion so by the late 19th century had been largely discontinued.

These records cover three Dublin workhouses - those in Dublin North and Dublin South as well as Rathdown.

(Findmypast.com)

Irish workhouses were generally built to accommodate around 800 inmates. Life inside was grim. At first there was no so-called outdoor relief, as would have been common in England. Outdoor relief was when the poor could simply use the workhouse facilities as needed by undertaking a day’s work. Indoor relief was initially the only option and required the poor to prove they were destitute before they were admitted.

Once inside the inmates were separated into distinct groups, men and women, adults and children, able bodied and infirm. They were expected to wear a uniform inside and were kept separated from other groups. They were expected to work for a roof over their heads and the work was hard and monotonous. Common tasks included treadmills or breaking apart old ropes into fibre. Women might be employed in sewing tasks but certainly in Dublin, also used the treadmills. Food was also monotonous and basic. Stirabout, a watery gruel was common, as was bread. Once a year the routine was relaxed and inmates had meat to celebrate Christmas.

While many lived and died in the workhouse it was not unusual for people to leave. The workhouse authorities would provide a suit of clothes if an inmate could prove they had a chance of work.

Dublin had very high levels of child desertion. Mothers would leave their children at the workhouse while they went to look for work and there were several cases of children being deserted by parents who had emigrated to America. Deserted children were often fostered out until at least the age of 12 when the workhouse could arrange an apprenticeship. In the early records at least many were named after the street where they were found or after the person who found them. This custom caused quite a bit of confusion so by the late 19th century had been largely discontinued.

These records cover three Dublin workhouses - those in Dublin North and Dublin South as well as Rathdown.

(Findmypast.com)