Learn more about these records
With every result, you will find an image of the original record and a transcript of the vital details from those records. The details in each transcript can vary but most will include:
- Name
- Year
- Meeting date
- Occupation
- Residence
- Union
- Poor law union
- County
- Country
- Archive
- Document type
- Series
- Record set
The records include board of guardians’ minute books, indoor relief registers, medical registers and poor rate collection books from seven poor law unions in Galway. Galway is located on Ireland’s western seaboard. The records have been digitised and summarized by the Galway county council. The books have all been transcribed by Findmypast to help you unlock your Iris heritage. Alongside the minute books, the council created descriptive lists which summarize the notes and comments made in the minute boards and adding contextual detail and records such as 1901 and 1911 census records for the individuals named in the books. Other types of records survive for specific Unions, like Medical registers for Portumna, and Indoor Relief registers for Tuam.
The Poor Relief Act was passed in 1838 which created a system of 130 poor law unions across Ireland. The individual unions would be responsible for the welfare of the poor through maintaining workhouses and outdoor relief programs. Poor rate was collected to help fund the workhouses and poor relief program.
The collection is extensive but not complete. It includes the books for the following unions: Ballinasloe, Clifden, Glenamaddy, Gort, Mountbellew, Portumna, and Taum. However, Galway, Loughrea, and Oughterard unions are missing.