Youghal workhouse Board of Guardians (BG163)

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Identity Statement

IE CCCA/BG/163

Reference Code:

Youghal Board of Guardians

Title:

1848 – 1925 (1947)

Dates:

Fonds / Series / Item

Level of description:

141 items

Extent:

Context

Creator Youghal Board of Guardians (governing board of Youghal Poor Law Union and Workhouse)

Archival History Collection BG/163 was transferred to the Archives with other county Cork board of guardians collections in c.1982 by the Southern Health Board. Administrative & Biographical History Youghal Union formally came into existence on 7th June 1850, and was one of the new Poor Law Unions created in Ireland between 1848 and 1850. It was created from parts of the Dungarvan, Lismore and Midleton Unions and occupied an area of 57 square miles, covering parts of both East County Cork and West County Waterford. In 1905, the Union comprised the following electoral divisions: In Co. Cork; Ardagh, Clonpriest, Kilcronat, Killeagh, Kilmacdonogh, Youghal Rural, Youghal Urban; in Co. Waterford; Ardmore, Ballyheeny, Clashmore, Glenwilliam, Grallagh, Grange, Kinsalebeg, and Templemichael. In 1911, the population of the Union was 13,942. The Youghal workhouse was erected on a 12-acre site on an elevated site to the west of Youghal and was designed by Poor Law Commission architect George Wilkinson to hold 700 inmates. Prior to June 1850, when Youghal Union was created, Youghal workhouse operated as an auxiliary workhouse within the Midleton Poor Law Union.

Youghal was one of c.14 poor law unions in the overall County Cork area. Each union was centered on a city or market town and its hinterland, and this union area sometimes ignored existing parish or county boundaries. In this central town was situated the union workhouse, which provided relief for the unemployed and the destitute. Each workhouse was managed by a staff and officers under the charge of a workhouse master.

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