Blast from the Past


The two adult woman are: on the left May Conway (Gortanumera) and on the right Kitty Hayes (Al Hayes mother) The young girls from left to right are : Rita Conway, Josephine Conway, Mary Conway, Maeve Hayes, Esther Hayes and Ann Conway


A few days ago, two ladies brought in a photograph taken at Portumna Workhouse in c.1964. The  occasion was the annual Portumna Show and in the background is a glimpse of the workhouse laundry building. The snapshot got us all talking about Portumna workhouse after it closed in 1921 so I decided to dig out our newspaper cuttings and see what I could find.

Photo by Rishabh Sharma on Unsplash

The closure of Portumna Workhouse was announced in March 1921. Not every Galway workhouse is scheduled to shut. Galway, Tuam and Loughrea will stay open. Ballinasloe and Clifden are retained as District Hospitals. 
(03 March 1921, The Irish Independent)

Photo by Cristina Gottardi on Unsplash

By December 1921 the remaining residents in Portumna Workhouse and Hospital are sent to the County Home in Loughrea. Unfortunately, their transport breaks down and they spend 7 hours in the cold and rain before completing their journey. 
(03 December 1921, Nenagh Guardian)


Eight years later there are still Workhouse issues to be resolved. Caretakers are needed for each closed site and their salaries are causing concern. There is a proposal to reduce their wages to a penny as free accommodation and use of land is included in their position. 
(23 March, 1929, Connaught Tribune)


Irish penny from 1928

By 1930 we start to see news about the Portumna Show. This event showcases local farm and garden produce, livestock, home industries and even horse jumping. Crafts such as embroidery, Irish crochet and rag dolls are on display. 

Early Irish crochet

The show attracts notable persons such as  Free State Minister of Agriculture who presents the prizes for dairy cows. 
(14 August 1930, The Irish Times)

Patrick J. Hogan, Minister for Agriculture during the first independent Irish government between 1922 & 1932

The Earl of Harewood sends a big entry of produce from his gardens at Portumna Castle even thought the castle is not one of his main residences.
(14 August 1930, The Irish Times)

Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood in 1930
(https://www.flickr.com/photos/thelostgallery/14946429990)

In 1946 Portumna locals want to re-open the workhouse infirmary as a hospital for the sick poor. They remember guarding the building from the Black and Tans in the hopes that it would re-open once the political dust settles. There is a complaint that the District Hospital is too far away and there is a harrowing story of a 73 year old man, formerly an evicted tenant from the Clanricarde Estate, who doesn’t want to be cut off from his kith and kin. He refuses to go to the Central Hospital and is found dying in an out office near Portumna. A priest was called and the man was anointed. 
He was brought to the Guards Barracks where he died. 
The opinion is “how different his ending would be if he could have been treated in the Portumna Hospital.”
(16 March, 1946, Connaucht Tribune)


Author: Elizabeth Carter

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