Rathdrum Workhouse 1840's

[giuliana]

Thank you. G

[cashel]

Don't know if anyone is still chasing Rathdrum Workhouse records but the Wicklow Family History Centre keeps them on behalf of the National Archives. As a result, they don't charge for searches. I was able to trace my great grandfather's admissions as a result. Unfortunately they only go as far as March 1914.

In the 1911 census, 'inmates' were only identified by initials - not sure if this was an attempt to maintain confidentiality or to dehumanise them.

[kmdryd]

Oh Yes I am still looking for Rathdrum workhouse records.  My family were there in the 1840's.  I will try and find the site you suggested.  Fingers crossed!  Is there anyway that I can purchase the book you mentioned?  I live in Australia so I am sure I wouldn't find it here.  Can you suggest someone that I can email to order the book?
Thank you
Kathleen

[giuliana]

Hi Kathleen, 

Trevor McClaughlin's "Barefoot and Pregnant" books (2 vols) are widely available in Australia - genealogy bookshops and also some libraries. I'd recommend starting with them if you haven't already done so. (I borrowed copies some time ago and found much that I wanted to know about my Bridget Moore as well as lots of general history relevant to the famine orphan girls.)  Do you know which ship your ancestor came to Australia on? Do you know what year/s she was in Rathdrum? What name/s are you looking for? (Sorry if you've already provided that info - I haven't looked back through the postings; in a hurry right now!)

Giuliana

[kmdryd]

Hi
Thank you for your reply.  I do know the ship the girls arrived in. The "William and Mary" 1849. I have been searching for their life in Ireland.  I found earlier this year that my 3 sisters had 4 other siblings and just yesterday after being in contact with the Wicklow Family History Centre that there were 2 more siblings.  Catherine Wright at the centre was so helpful. 
I now think that the 3 sisters were at the Rathdrum Workhouse on their own but don't know for how long.  I think their parents died and that is why they were there.
Many searches have been done about the marriages, deaths etc of their siblings in Ireland but nothing can be found unfortunately.
Regards kathleen

[tomtom2004]

Don't know if anyone is still chasing Rathdrum Workhouse records but the Wicklow Family History Centre keeps them on behalf of the National Archives. As a result, they don't charge for searches. I was able to trace my great grandfather's admissions as a result. Unfortunately they only go as far as March 1914.

In the 1911 census, 'inmates' were only identified by initials - not sure if this was an attempt to maintain confidentiality or to dehumanise them.

I too am interested in the Rathdrum Workhouse  but the era I am interested in is late 1916 when I think it was being used as Hospital of some sort, would anyone here know anything of this or are there records available anywhere for this period?

[cashel]

I understand that the workhouse records for Rathdrum stop at 31st March 1914. I don't know if that's because it became a hospital or because the records are lost. Certainly in April 1914 I have a death certificate still citing the place of death as Rathdrum Union Workhouse.

[tomtom2004]

Thanks for the Reply,

I have a death cert from 1916 giving the place of death as Rathdrum Hospital, my research has led me to believe that  the workhouse was became the hospital but I'm not 100% certain of that.

[giuliana]

The book by Kevin Byrne (published a couple of years ago I think) is called "Time did not stand still", and subtitled "A Revised History of St. Colman’s Hospital, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow", so yes, what used to be the Rathdrum Workhouse became a hospital.

In the introductory section, it says: "Rathdrum was well known in Co. Wicklow as the site of the Workhouse, or as was it known ‘The County Home’. St. Colman’s is still known to the older generation as; The Home’. Today, however, it is the pride of Co. Wicklow, thanks to the work of Sister Philomena and the Sisters of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God, the staff and especially the community. Credit must also go to the Co. Council and Health Board who responded to the work of the volunteers.

"The Nuns first used the name St. Colman’s when they arrived in 1922 but it was not officially accepted until 1949."

Hope this is helpful.

Giuliana