Ancestry UK

The 1838 Irish Poor Law Act

The Irish Poor Relief Act of 1838 — An Act for the More effectual Relief of the Destitute Poor in Ireland — extended the recently ianugurated British poor relief system to Ireland. As in England and Wales, the country was divided up into Poor Law Unions, each of which was required to set up its own workhouse. However, the new Irish system did not, initially at least, provide for poor relief outside the workhouse.

To read the full text of the 1838 Act, just click on the accompanying picture of its introductory paragraphs.

[Poor Laws] [Workhouse Home Page]



Ancestry UK

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