Searching Limerick Workhouse Records

Hello,

I have hit a roadblock searching for my great-grandfather's family.

The mother of the family died young in 1872, leaving 5 children under the age of 14. I wonder if at least the younger children ended up in some kind of state/county care.

Does anyone have thoughts about searching for orphans or workhouse records, or any thoughts about what may have been the course of events for a family like this in LImierick in 1872?

My great-grandfather would have been 9 years old when his mother died in 1872, and he came to the U.S. about 1891. Where hecould have been in between, is my research question.

Thanks for any thoughts!