We're still in County Laois in Ireland and just had our cream tea in Abbeyleix. Our next stop was the Donaghmore Famine Workhouse. Here families lived (and died) before, during and after the Great Famine of 1845 to 1852, also known within Ireland as the Great Hunger or just the Famine, and outside of Ireland as the Irish Potato Famine. This and about 130 other workhouses operated as a means to provide relief for extremely poor people. They would do some work here in return for food and a roof above their heads. The living conditions in these workouses were very harsh since the aim was not to encourage people to stay there. After the Great Famine it became a place for unmarried mothers, illegitimate children, orphans or mentally ill people - people that society wouldn't accept. Donaghmore Workhouse was opened in September 1853 and closed in September 1886.
This felt like entering the world described in the books by Charles Dickens. Not a place where you would like to end up.
The museum also houses an Agricultural Collection with a wide range of artefacts that had been donated by local people. It was quite the collection!
20 comments:
Erdbeerbowle was served by my college German and literature professor when she invited her students at the end of the year. You have made me think of her for the first time in ages. She was a very inspiring literature teacher.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
A bleak place indeed and your summer party quite the opposite of bleak, it looks like a happy congenial group enjoying your drunk strawberries drink.
Me encantó el reportaje y muy interesante todo. Se os ve felices. Besos.
Workhouses were awful! After seeing documentaries and dramas about them I am thankful that I was born in this day and age in America, the best country! Life was must have been so hard in the past.
Looks like a refreshing summer drink!
Happy Tea Day,
Kate
Dickens makes the workhouses sound terrible, but after looking at your photos, you can see how that social experiment wasn't exactly a success. But it is interesting to see one as I have never actually seen photos showing what they looked like. But I will admit your German class summer party does look much happier. :) Your Erdbeerbowle looks yummy too. Have a happy T day and week ahead. hugs-Erika
Unvorstellbar harte Zeiten. Man mag sich die Lautstärke, den Gestank, die "Hygiene" gar nicht vorstellen
Da dreht doch auch jeder "normale" Mensch durch. Und dennoch gut, dass es so etwas gab/geben musste.
Ich habe das Bügelbrett allenfalls als Tisch für die Nähmaschine.
Schöner Abschluss!
13C, regnerisch... ich zähle gar nicht mehr mit wie lange es schon so kalt ist...
A much more joyful finish.
Thank you.
The workhouses were dreadful and families were separated in them. It is almost inconceivable that they were better than 'outside'.
These items appear so rustic and decayed. Beautiful shots.
All of you look happy in this photo and I am sure the summer party went very well. Thanks for sharing these photos of the workhouse. It is informative and brought some of my memories back by looking at these artifacts. Decades ago, I've seen these irons in Sri Lanka where laundrymen used to do ironing clothes. Yes, it is not an easy task compared to today's lightweight electric irons....
Thanks for sharing all these with us. Happy T-Tuesday!
What an incredibly sad and depressing place that must have been. I am so glad you shared this with us because we sometimes don't realize how incredibly lucky we are. Thank you for sharing these amazing photos, this sad place, and your poignant words, as well as your lovely meal and drink you shared from your back yard with us for T this Tuesday, dear Carola.
Workhouses were very bleak places to live indeed. But your garden party looks splendid - Prost! Hugs, Valerie
I think we can barely imagine the true extent of the misery inflicted by the Irish potato famine, and its legacy lives on in the collective psyche of the Irish people both at home and in the diaspora. The contrast between the gloomy shots and deep despair of Ireland, and the gaiety and colour of your garden picnic in California is remarkable.
The workhouses, what ever country they are in, were horrible places. The peoms say it all. Thank you for bringing this part of history to us and the ending it with a gathering of smiling faces.
Have a lovely day.
The workhouse looks a sad place to visit so it was good to see the smiling faces at the end of your post! Happy T Day, Chrisx
Wow, we should all learn more about the workhouses and the famine. We think things were tough in COVID but they were nothing. So sad and such a shame that people had resources and didn't help (and blessings on those that did). Thanks for sharing those pictures, Carola.
On to the fun....I wish I was in your class! Also would love the recipes for drunk strawberries. Wonderful picture!
Happy T-day, cheers, and hugz.
Workhouses are a dismal part of history, but important to remember. Your party looks wonderful :)
That is a wonderful collection of items donated by the people, especially the hand operated sewing machine.
I've read about work houses. They must have been absolutely horrendous. The poems are heartbreaking. I'm surprised this one was only open for thirty odd years. (1853-1886).
But your party was such an antidote to the doom and gloom. Smily faces and summer drinks! Great.
Sorry for the late reply. As per usual I don't have time on Tuesday.
A belated happy T-Day,
Lisca
I don't iron anymore either and definitely will not go back looking at the irons. Probably required a deft touch not to burn the clothes. I would love to dive into a bowl of Erdbeerbowle. It looks so festive. Happy T Day
A post of opposites :)
A very bleak place indeed but then your summer get-together the complete opposite.
All the best Jan
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