The Irish Workhouse Museum is Open!





Our inaugural plaque, designed and hand-painted by Paula Byrne

 The Irish Workhouse Museum is officially open! The opening on Saturday 18th was launched by Minister of State Sean Canney TD and marks a new, exciting era for the Irish Workhouse Centre (IWC). The museum is located in a former womens' workroom and houses the centre's collection of artefacts. These range from the shaft of a workhouse cart to the tiny, blacksmith made nails which were used in workhouse construction. The impact of the museum is succinctly described by long-term supporter of the project, Dr. Christy Cunniffe, Community Archaeologist for Galway. 

 'Artefacts and personal objects can tell big stories. The workhouse tour brings the building to life, and the museum will do the same for their objects. Just look at the pauper shoes we have discovered at Portumna. Nothing expresses the sadness of workhouse children like those reminders of tiny feet.'
A case of enamelware and bottles found in the workhouse infirmary

Workhouse objects are especially poignant when we consider that all Irish people, or people with Irish heritage, have ancestors who were touched by the workhouse system. They may have been paupers, paying the Poor Rate, or even employed by a workhouse. One way or other, they were part of the system. The museum is a chance to see items handled, very possibly, by your fore bearers. This certainly is of interest to Clare Doyle, genealogist, archivist and IWC staff member.

'As a family history researcher, I'm very interested in what the museum artefacts tell us about the people of the workhouse, people who were often on the margins of society and invisible to the outside world. Sometimes these people are without even a death record or headstone. The only link we have to them is through the objects of their daily life. In this way, the museum aids in remembering them, and showing that their suffering is not forgotten.'

Clare's words echo the changes that have been taking place in museum culture. A museum space has become something flexible, with a will to respond to community needs. With this in mind, the workhouse museum is keen to participate in various nationwide events throughout the year, whether it’s Museum Week, Heritage Week or Culture Night. The museum opeing coincides with Museum Week 2019 and the National Famine Commemoration Day. If you have an item which you think might be workhouse related, or a workhouse story, we would love to hear from you.
A handmade workhouse model, donated to the Irish Workhouse Museum by R. N. Franklin

Author: Elizabeth Carter

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