Donaghmore, County Laois
Encyclopedia
Donaghmore is a small village in County Laois in Ireland
.
It is located in the south of the county near Rathdowney
on the main R435
regional road
, on the River Erkina, a tributary of the Nore
.
and Rathdowney
, Donaghmore Workhouse was opened in 1853 to house the most impoverished and desperate people in this part of County Laois. Conditions were made as unattractive as possible, so that only those who had “lost all hope” would burden the taxpayer.
Once inside, the inmates had to give up their personal clothing and don the rough workhouse uniforms. Families were split up; males from females, children from their parents. The inmates were divided into seven different categories:
Once inside, the poor slept on mattresses of straw and rags; toilets were large tubs in the dormitories. Inmates worked during the day and then were fed. Meals were eaten in total silence. When Donaghmore Workhouse opened most of the poor of the County had already perished from starvation or had emigrated. It is thought the Workhouse was only full for a few years prior to its closure in 1886. Ref:Talk:Donaghmore, County Laois
The buildings were abandoned until 1920, when they were briefly used to billet a unit of Black and Tans
during the Irish War of Independence
. In 1927 it was used by the local agricultural cooperative for milk processing, eventually being acquired by the Glanbia
food and marketing group. In 1988, Glanbia made some of the buildings available to a local committee for the purpose of developing a Famine and Agriculture museum. While local volunteers are the driving force behind the new museum, support has been received from the local development agency.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
It is located in the south of the county near Rathdowney
Rathdowney
Rathdowney or Rathdowny is a town in southwest County Laois, Ireland. It lies some 32 km southwest of Portlaoise in the Irish Midlands, at the point where the R433 regional road from Abbeyleix to Templemore is crossed by the R435 from Borris-in-Ossory to Johnstown...
on the main R435
R435 road
The R435 road is a regional road in Ireland linking Borris-in-Ossory, County Laois to the R693 south of Johnstown, County Kilkenny. It passes through the town of Rathdowney Co. Laois en route. It joins the M7 motorway at junction 21 1km south of Borris-in-Ossory.The road is long.-References:* –...
regional road
Regional road
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...
, on the River Erkina, a tributary of the Nore
River Nore
The River Nore is a long river located in south-east of Ireland. Along with the River Suir and River Barrow, it is one of the constituent rivers of the group known as the Three Sisters. The river drains approximately of Leinster. The river rises in the Devil's Bit Mountain, North Tipperary...
.
The Workhouse
Located on the road between Borris-in-OssoryBorris-in-Ossory
Borris-in-Ossory is a village in west County Laois, Ireland. Bypassed by the M7 motorway on 28 May, 2010, the village is situated on the R445 road close to the County Tipperary border between the towns of Mountrath and Roscrea.-Features:...
and Rathdowney
Rathdowney
Rathdowney or Rathdowny is a town in southwest County Laois, Ireland. It lies some 32 km southwest of Portlaoise in the Irish Midlands, at the point where the R433 regional road from Abbeyleix to Templemore is crossed by the R435 from Borris-in-Ossory to Johnstown...
, Donaghmore Workhouse was opened in 1853 to house the most impoverished and desperate people in this part of County Laois. Conditions were made as unattractive as possible, so that only those who had “lost all hope” would burden the taxpayer.
Once inside, the inmates had to give up their personal clothing and don the rough workhouse uniforms. Families were split up; males from females, children from their parents. The inmates were divided into seven different categories:
- Elderly men, elderly women
- Able-bodied men and boys older than 13 years
- Able-bodied women and girls older than 16 years
- Boys 7 to 13
- Girls 7 to 16
- Children under 7
Once inside, the poor slept on mattresses of straw and rags; toilets were large tubs in the dormitories. Inmates worked during the day and then were fed. Meals were eaten in total silence. When Donaghmore Workhouse opened most of the poor of the County had already perished from starvation or had emigrated. It is thought the Workhouse was only full for a few years prior to its closure in 1886. Ref:Talk:Donaghmore, County Laois
The buildings were abandoned until 1920, when they were briefly used to billet a unit of Black and Tans
Black and Tans
The Black and Tans was one of two newly recruited bodies, composed largely of British World War I veterans, employed by the Royal Irish Constabulary as Temporary Constables from 1920 to 1921 to suppress revolution in Ireland...
during the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
. In 1927 it was used by the local agricultural cooperative for milk processing, eventually being acquired by the Glanbia
Glanbia
Glanbia plc is an international nutritional solutions and cheese group, headquartered in Ireland. Glanbia is listed on the Irish and London Stock Exchange . The Group has four segments; US Cheese & Global Nutritionals, Dairy Ireland, Joint Ventures & Associates and Other Business...
food and marketing group. In 1988, Glanbia made some of the buildings available to a local committee for the purpose of developing a Famine and Agriculture museum. While local volunteers are the driving force behind the new museum, support has been received from the local development agency.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland