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Famine workhouse, County Antrim, Belfast

Hi,   I am writing the story of my 2x great-grandmother, Eliza McNalley, McCanally, McConally who was born in County Antrim, Belfast abt 1828.

Eliza (aka Elizabeth) was an Earl Grey orphan who came to Australia on the ship Earl Grey on 6 October 1848.   

I have done an internet search and found only one workhouse in Belfast ...   Clifton House.   

Was it the only workhouse at the time?   Can I assume that Eliza was in this workhouse when she was transported to Australia.

Eliza's entry on the Irish Famine Memorial (Sydney) database can be found here.   https://irishfaminememorial.org/orphans/database/

Your assistance is appreciated. 

Pat

4th generation Aussie Irish

5 replies

This book may be of interest to you

The Hidden Famine Poverty, Hunger and Sectarianism in Belfast 1840–50 Christine Kinealy and Gerard Mac Atasney

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kellyeileen20@…

Hi Eileen.

thank you so much for the info on this book. 

I have been able to obtain a copy, and have found a section specifically about the orphan girls which I think will be very helpful.   Along with other resources that I already have, I feel I will be able to provide a brief overview of the orphan girls' circumstances before coming to Australia.

My main story will be her life with her husband, and her role as a pioneer in developing the area in which they lived, where they were most respected and loved.  She must have been a strong woman.   Her first born child is my great-grandmother and in writing her story, I have found my family 'hero'.  

Thanks so much for your response.  It is very much appreciated.

cheers

Pat

4th generation Aussie Irish

Thank you Kieran ...  your response is much appreciated.

I'm sure this will be very helpful

cheers Pat

4th generation Aussie Irish

There were 8 Poor Law Union workhouses in Co. Antrim:

Antrim town, Ballycastle, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Belfast, Coleraine, Larne & LIsburn. Their surviving records are in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast.  In general, those records are not on-line, save for indexes to Belfast admissions, and so a personal visit is required to view them.

Clifton House was a separate earlier poor house (pre-dating the creation of the Poor Law Unions c 1840) and covered Belfast only.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

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