Ennistymon Union Minute Books

Book No. 5 

Meetings held from 31st May 1848 - 19th June 1848

[6] Meeting held on 31st May, 1848.
For the purpose of taking into consideration the tenders for the supply of various articles for Moymore Fever Hospital 

Read tenders for the following articles viz.

 For candles and soap -
    Edward Comber, John O'Loughlin, John O'Dwyer, Michael Roughan and Patk. Keating.

Resolved
- That the following tenders be accepted viz.
Mary Kearn for milk 6d for sweet and 4d for buttermilk.
Patk. Keating for tea 4/- sugar 5/9, wine 2/9, porter 2/- and pearl barley 3/6.
John O'Loughlin for oatmeal 15/6, soap 3 3/4d candles 7 1/2d, 6 1/2d and salt 4d.
Daniel Healy and Co. for turf 5d per box
Patrick Lynch for meat; hocks and necks 3 3/4d beef and mutton 5 1/2d
Michael Lysaght for lime 10d per barrel.
Thomas Drew for coffins 4/10 for adults and children under 15 at 3/-
William Lalor for bed pans 2/6.
Edward O'Dwyer for medicines.

[8]
Application for the situation of nurse to the fever hospital at Moymore were Read from the following, Mary Kinna, Ellen Sexton and Anne Cullinan.
Resolved that Ellen Sexton be appointed at a salary of £8 per annum and rations.
Applications for the situation of porter to the Moymore Fever Hospital were received from James Hennessy, John Lynch, Patrick Kelly, John Hayes.
Resolved
- That none of the above parties being deemed competent to fill the situation, an advertisement be inserted in the Clare Journal for fresh applications to be considered on the 9th June.

[1]
State of the workhouse for the week ending 27th May 1848
Number of inmates for which accommodation is provided---

[2]
The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was produced by which it appeared that there had been

The register was signed from No. 5744 to No. 5754.

[5]
Medical Report
There are 95 patients under medical treatment in infirmary and infirm wards and 34 in fever hospital. We had 16 new cases of fever since this day week and only 1 death caused by small pox. We want a dozen yards of grey calico for bandages.
                                                        James Shannon. M.D.

[6]
Read commissioners' letter
- of 29th May 1848, requiring a return of rate to be furnished to comply with an order of House of Commons.
- of 23rd May 1848, relative to Francis Fitzpatrick's claim for storage of boilers enclosing a copy of Fitzpatrick's letters to commissioners dated 18th May and the commissioners' reply thereto, dated 22nd May 1848.
- circular dated 23rd May 1848, relating to the destitute belonging to families of persons holding more than a quarter of an acre of land.
- 18th May 1848, ordering a workhouse vaccination register to be kept.
- 26th May 1848, enclosing forms of liabilities and collection of poor rates to be furnished by 3rd June and 10th June.
- of 24th May 1848, in reference to collector Moroney's costs and expenses incurred in enforcing payment of the rate.
[7]
- of the 26th May 1848, in reference to the expenditure of two several sums of £500 and £195 in alterations and additions to the workhouse and a sum of £472 in alterations of the auxiliary workhouse at Lahinch enclosing sealed orders authorizing the vice guardians to borrow those sums and to charge the same together with all interest that may accrue therein on the rates.

Read
- communication from Count Shezlecki suggesting that the guardians apply to Poor Law commissioners to recommend British Relief Association to give a loan of money for benefit of the union for building purposes.
- a letter from Mr. M. Walsh, late master of the workhouse, and the clerk received instructions to forward a copy of same to the commissioners.

Mr. O'Brien relieving officer of Corofin Electoral Division having tendered his resignation, it was accepted of by the guardians.
[8]

Copy of a letter from Mr. M. Walsh, late master of the workhouse, to vice guardians.

Gentlemen,
I wrote to you on Wednesday for a character of competency to discharge the duties of an union and I received no answer and if I do not of course receive it today I will conclude that I am not to receive it and that it arises from the causes which unfortunately deprived me of bread.
I will state candidly that, as an admirer of the poor law, I would wish to part on terms other than of a bad feeling with the vice guardians. However, if, after being obliged to resign, that a feeling the same as led to my resignation should be continued, much as I would dislike the upsetting of a rate in some of the divisions, I certainly will not shrink from exposing that which led to the dismissal or dissolution of the late board, making an illegal warrant. I will prove you this if you wish.
                        I am, etc.
                            M. Walsh.
                                                                2nd June 1848.

[9]
Resolved
- That in consequence of the late clerk of this union having left all the accounts in a most unsatisfactory state, and the great difficulty of having them arranged owing to the union ledgers having been stolen, the outdoor relief register having been hitherto completely neglected, the unfortunate illness of the lately appointed clerk and the impossibility of having the last half years accounts prepared for audit without some additional assistance being procurred, we beg to request of the Poor Law commissioners to send down a competent person to arrange the accounts up to this time and we will pay and charge upon the rates whatever sum may be deemed by the commissioners to be proper for the performance of such service.
- That we do recommend the salary of the schoolmistress being advanced to the amount suggested by the National Board viz. £25 per annum, she having proved herself perfectly competent for the situation she holds, and there being a manifest improvement in the condition of the girls both as respects their education and their general appearance.
- That we do advertize for a rate collector for the Ennistymon Division tenders to be received on this day fortnight.
[10]
The master having preferred a complaint against a pauper named Thomas Bradley for being refractory and the charge having been satisfactorily established, he was ordered to be punished by confinement in a separate room for twenty four hours.

[1]
State of the workhouse for week ending 3rd day June 1848

[2]
The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was produced by which it appeared that there had been

The register book was signed from No. 5755 to No. 5775

[5]
Medical Report
There are 106 patients under medical treatment in infirmary and infirm wards and 35 in fever hospital. We had 6 new cases of fever during the week and two deaths, one the consequence of fever the other from diarrhea and old age.
                                James Shannon. M.D. 

[6]
Read commissioners' letter
- Of June 1848, drawing attention to the order authorising out door relief to expire on the 16th inst. to certain classes of destitiute persons and requiring information as to the necessity of renewing it, and also calling the special attention of vice guardians to the existing order, under which certain classes only (therein named) can be legally relieved.
- Of 26th May 1848, from Education Office informing that Mr. O'Keeffe is the schoolmaster recommended by the professor, for this union.
- Of 27th May 1848, enclosing copy of a letter from the Commissary Gent Sir R.J. Routh addressed to Deputy Assistant Commissioner Gent Trimmer ordering an issue of Indian corn consigned to vice guardians in favour of this union.
[7]
- Of June 1848, informing that a communication was received from Mr. Mathew, auditor of union accounts, stating that the accounts of this union are not ready for audit.
- Of 3rd June 1848, relative to Mr. Flanagan, late poor rate collector and enclosing copy of Mr. Flanagan's letter to commissioners dated 25th May 1848.
- Of 2nd June 1848, forwarding copy of a letter from Commissary Gent Sir R.J. Routh relative to Indian corn for the poor in this union.
The clerk was directed to attend to the foregoing communications.
[8]
Two paupers named Catherine Sullivan and Judith Hough were discharged from the workhouse and appointed by vice guardians as assistants in the temporary fever hospital at Moymore at £2 per annum each with rations.
Mr. Patrick Keating having written to vice guardians requesting they would be pleased to allow him to withdraw his tender for wine entered into the 31st ult. as the consumption would not pay the expense of a wine license, the guardians allowed Mr. Keating's request.
Mr. Matt. Hehir relieving officer for Kilshanny and Kililagh Electoral Divisions having tendered his resignation, dated 6th inst., it was accepted of by the guardians. From the great number of desitiute persons evicted in the several electoral division comprising this union and reported of to the vice guardians by the relieving officer it was

Resolved by the guardians to rent sheds for the temporary accommodation of such evicted persons. 

[9]
Applications for the situation of master and matron of the workhouse having been received from;

Mr. Saul and Mrs. Cross.
Mr. C. and Mrs. Lopdell
Mr. Matt and Mrs. Hehir.
Mrs. Mary Bell as matron.
Their merits were severally considered by the guardians who
Resolved that Mr. M. Hehir be appointed master and Mrs. Hehir matron of the workhouse.  

Applications for the situation of porter to the workhouse were received from Thomas Bourke, Michael O'Donohue, Lancelot Hemsworth, John Hayes, Anthony Hennessy.
Resolved that Lancelot Hemsworth be appointed porter of the workhouse. The above John Hayes, applicant for the situation of porter having, in the presence of the vice guardians, threatened that if they did not give him employment he would "perpetrate some deed" it was ordered by the guardians that the porter do immediately put John Hayes outside the entrance gate and on no future occasion permit him therein.
The tenders for building the boundary wall according to the plan of specification of Henry Whitstone Esq.,
[10] architect to the guardians received on Wednesday last from

the consideration of which was postponed by Mr. Rorke in consequence of the absence at Galway of Mr. Copland.

Resolved that Mr. J. Herbert's tender be accepted subject to the approval of poor law commissioners though £25 over Mr. Russell's as the work formerly done by Mr. Russell under the late board viz. the making of a main sewer from the workhouse was so ill-constructed that the vice guardians have been under the necessity of taking up and rebuilding the entire of it and, besides Mr. Russell having conducted himself in a most unbecoming manner towards the vice guardians at a public meeting lately held at Ennistymon respecting the working of the poor law, they do not conceive themselves bound to grant a contract on any terms to any person who wantonly insults them.

Notice having been received on the 6th June from the districts of Kilfenora and Miltown, that no supplies of meal had arrived for the outdoor relief, cheques were accordingly drawn in favour of James Clancy, relieving officer, for £40 and Mort Culliny for £30. Mr. Rorke then proceeded to Miltown for the purpose of arranging for the immediate relief of the out door applicants and Mr. Copland went to Kilfenora for the same purpose and then proceeded to Ballyvaughan.

[1]
Meeting held on Monday the 19th of June 1848

State of the workhouse for weekending 10th day June 1848

[2]
The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was produced by which it appeared that there had been

The ordinary meeting was adjourned to Monday the 19th in consequence of Mr Copland's absence in Limerick purchasing clothing material for the workhouse.

The register was signed from No. 5776 to No.5801.

[5]
Medical Report
There are 96 patients in the infirmary and infirm wards and 34 in fever hospital. We had two deaths in the house during the week, one of which was caused by fever. Dysentery and diarrhea is slightly on the increase for the last two days, therefore I would recommend the vice guardians for the present and until the weather changes to give up the use of barley meal in the paupers' dietary.
                                            James Shannon. M.D.

N.B. Eleven new cases of fever during the week. 

[6]
Read commissioners' letter
- Of 10th June 1848, relative to Mrs. O'Donnell's application for her eldest child to reside with her at Lahinch and granting same. Also approving of the increase of Mrs. O'Donnell's salary to £25 per annum.
- Of 9th June 1848, relative to vice guardians' proposition to employ a person to superintend the sewing, knitting and spinning and stating that the duties proposed to be performed are in point of fact part of the duty of the matron and suggesting that vice guardians endeavour to procure a proper and suitable matron who will duly enforce industry, order and cleanliness in the establishment.
- Of June 1848, relative to the appointment of nurse to Moymore Fever Hospital.
[7]
- Of 8th June 1848, in reference to holders of more than a quarter of an acre of land and containing observations to the effect that the only difference that their circular of the 23rd ultimo need make in the
[8]
Tenders for the situation of porter to the Moymore Fever Hospital was given in by James Hennessy, Thomas Bourke, Patrick O'Donohue, George Comyn.
Resolved that Thomas Bourke be appointed porter to Moymore Fever Hospital. Tender for the above situation with testimonals as to character handed in by William Scanlon to the porter were not brought up by him 'til after the election was over.
The vice guardians being informed that the Roman Catholic clergyman of Killaspuglonane in which the Moymore Temporary Fever Hospital is situated refused to attend the patients unless he is paid and will not accept of a less sum than £20 per annum.
Resolved that £20 per annum be paid to the Reverend Michael Connolly for his attendance at Moymore Hospital.

[9]
In consequence of the order for giving outdoor relief to persons under the 2nd section of the Irish Relief Act not being extended, the vice guardians availed themselves of the extra room obtained by removing the girls to the auxiliary house at Lahinch to admit as many as can at present be accommodated (82 able bodied men with their wives and children amounting in all to 298 souls) but their being an immense crowd of applicants who appeared to be in the greatest state of destitution (some of them absolutely starving) and for whom there is at present no accommodation, they were under the necessity of giving instructions to the relieving officers to continue the outdoor allowance to them for another fortnight and the guardians respectfully suggest to the commissioners the propriety of extending the order for some time further.

Read letter from W.J. Hancock Esq. to vice guardians as follows.
                                    Cork 15th June 1848.

Gentlemen,
In reference to the commissioners' letter dated 10th inst. expressing their regret at not being able to send a person to place the accounts of the clerk on a more satisfactory footing, I have applied to Mr. Mathew the auditor and he recommends Mr. Reynolds should be employed and he is of opinion £10 would be a fair sum to allow for the performance of the duty.  Should you therefore wish to avail yourselves of the services of Mr. Reynold's you can place a resolution to that effect upon the minutes, and forward a copy to Charles Mathew Esq. auditors, poor law unions.  The P.L.C. Office, Dublin,
                                                                I am Gentlemen,
                                                                    Yours very truly,
                                                                        W. J. Hancock.

In compliance with Mr. Hancocks suggestion it was
Resolved that application be made to Mr. Mathew requesting he would engage the services of Mr. Reynolds for the performance of preparing the accounts of the union for audit. The clerk was ordered to advertize for a collector of poor rate for the Ennistymon Electoral Division.

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