Dunmanway Board of Guardians
IE CCCA/BG/83
in the fever ward, the incompetence of the school master to assist the master, and the state of the sewers.
23 Jan 1847 Resolution expressing satisfaction that the chairman’s application to Lord Russell met with success (empowering the Lord Lieutenant to act in ‘urgent cases’). It is noted that the board’s resources were exhausted on Wednesday, and meal procured on the guarantee of two guardians. Without ‘immediate Pecuniary Aid more than half the inmates must perish by Starvation in the House as they could not be removed and the remainder will die by the road side’. [See also 30 Jan, when a proposal to bury bodies without a coffin is to be considered, if state funds are not forthcoming]. 20 Feb 1847 Medical officer and RC chaplain report that fever is sp reading ‘to an alarming extent throughout the union’. [Resolved, to convert the dining hall into a fever hospital, instead of erecting fever sheds as proposed by PLC]. 5 Mar 1847 Resolved, in view of ‘the absolute necessity of hiring additional accommodat ion’, to offer Mr Burke £20 annually for use of his house and offices. [Total inmates: 858 (deaths: 58)]. 13 Mar 1847 Resolutions referring to (1) electoral irregularities in Kilmichael Electoral Division; (2) ‘grave’ allegations against members of the board ‘but also involving generally the integrity of the management of the affairs of the union’. It is noted that the only case of a member being a contractor was during the recent financial emergency, when ‘in such a literal case of life and death’, Mr Norwood provided flour on credit at a reduced price, ‘which if he had not so done, the entire number of inmates of this house should have been left inevitably to perish’. [See note below re chaplain, &, eg, 1 May & 5 Jun] 3 Apr 1847 Medical officer’s report noting ‘fever much on the increase and becoming more fatal being attended with Dysentery’ and other diseases. He states requirements such as furniture, dietary, and staff, and advises that the board ‘ought not to admit more’. [A PLC Order imposes a limit o f 500. See also 7 Apr, referring to Temporary Relief Act, and later minutes]. Reply to PLC letter regarding charges against the RC chaplain, stating that Fr Dohen y excited his congregation ‘to a contest for the election of guardians and calling upon them t o support the candidate of his choice’. It is also noted that he used ‘certain expressions to injure the character of some of t he present guardians’. T he board consider him unfit to continue as chaplain. [See 10 Apr] 24 Apr 1847 Resolution accepting the offer of tents (for fever patients) pending the building of a fever hospital, for which a tender has been accepted, and advising that Thomas Holmes be appointed union medical officer. Resolution recommending that the master and his assistant be dismissed, o wing to ‘a very serious mistake’ in returning the number of inmates as 678, when it appears to have been 519, rations having been drawn for the larger number. Reference is made, in defence of the board, to ‘the state of disease in the house, and the very g reat press of public business at relief committees’.
5 Jun 1847 Resolutions in reply to Mr Phelan’s report to the PLC, referring to numbers, bedding, dietary, and ‘unjust’ remarks respecting the medical officer.
Cork City and County Archives 2011
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