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Mortality in the North Dublin Union during the Great Famine
Author(s) -
Guinnane Timothy W.,
Gr´da Cormac Ó
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the economic history review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.014
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1468-0289
pISSN - 0013-0117
DOI - 10.1111/1468-0289.00229
Subject(s) - famine , poorhouse , irish , agency (philosophy) , poor relief , history , economic history , political science , development economics , geography , law , sociology , economics , archaeology , social science , philosophy , linguistics , poverty
Debate about the adequacy of public action during the Great Irish Famine is hampered by a lack of detailed information on its impact at local level. This study addresses the question of local agency with a case study of the North Dublin Union, which was responsible for administering the Irish poor law in the northern half of Dublin city. We use workhouse records to study the Union's functioning during the famine. High mortality of workhouse inmates mainly reflected the crisis outside its walls: the guardians and the managers did reasonably well in preserving human life in difficult circumstances.