Balrothery Poor Law Union, County Dublin, 1839-1851 The Famine in north Co. Dublin

The Balrothery Poor Law Union was established in 1839 in response to the government's plan for relief of poverty in Ireland. It served most of north County Dublin which in the 1830s was a rural agricultural area with almost no industry. The book examines the findings of the Poor Enquiry carried out in the latter part of that decade. It describes in detail the establishment of the Union, the building of the workhouse and covers the famine years when there was great distress among the labouring classes. The efforts of the guardians and landlords to cope with the crisis and the effects of the famine on the area are also examined.