The Agricultural Labourer

Source: The Tuam Herald, Saturday, September 9, 1893

Having completed my enquiries in the Union assigned to me in England, and received instructions to pursue the same inquiries in Ireland, I proceeded on February 6th, to Dublin, for the purpose of making such arrangements as would facilitate my work in the Union of Loughrea-the first of the Unions selected for me.

Through the courtesy of the Right Honourable John Morlev, M P, and Mr T P O’Connor, M P, the facilities afforded me were very great. Sir David Harrel, C B, and the principal officials whom I saw, placed at my disposal any assistance or information they could give, while a letter from His Grace Archbishop Walsh assured for me the very valuable and intimate personal knowledge possessed by the pariah priests in the districts visited. I cannot speak too highly of the kindness of my colleague, Mr W P O’Brien, O P. At some inconvenience to himself he awaited my arrival in Dublin, and through his intimate acquaintance with all the departments in Dublin, an acquaintance based on many years employment in the Civil Service-and the groat esteem in which he is held, there was on every hand an anxiety not only to give such information as might be asked for, but to make suggestions and anticipate requests. Mr O’Brien was able to point out also many of the differences existing In Irish districts as compared with English, and to give many useful hints as to procedure.

Having completed the preliminary arrangements I proceeded to Loughrea on the 9th of February, arriving there in the middle of the quarterly fair. This, while in one respect, interfering with the enquiry, compelling me for instance to postpone the intended meeting with the Board of Guardians which did not sit-enabled me to take a bird’s-eye view of the products, cattle, etc, brought to the fair, and the dress, appearance and habits of those attending. I took an early opportunity of communicating with the Bishop of Clonfert (Dr Duggan), District Inspector Duffy, and Mr P Egan-the clerk of the Union, and at later period with Mr Tener, J P,-agent to Lord Clanricarde. From all of these I received much information and many suggestions, and the enquiry seemed everywhere to be welcomed as useful and necessary. I purposely postponed visiting Mr. Tener until the lapse of some time, as I was afraid in the still somewhat unsatisfactory state of feeling in some quarters-it might not facilitate matters to seem to be identified with so conspicuous an actor in the recent difficulties. At the suggestion of District Inspector Duffy, I secured the services of Mr John Kelly, the sub sanitary officer, to show me round these cottages in Loughrea tenanted by agricultural labourers. I carefully read to him the definition of an agricultural labourer as set out, sec 4, 49 & 50. Vict, cap 59, which it may be serviceable to set out here, “The expression ‘agricultural Iabourer.’ in the said Acts and in this Act shall mean a man or woman  who does agricultural work for hire at any season of the year on the land of some other person or persons, and shall include hand-loom weavers and fishermen doing agricultural work as aforesaid, and shall also include herdsmen.” I found it of service to have given this definition, and also to explain it in visiting the cottages; as it was the means of showing that a number of people who live in Loughrea, and who do not regard themselves and who are not generally regarded as ” agricultural labourers,” are really such, and as such entitled to any benefits conferred by Acts passed on their behalf, or to any which may flow from this enquiry. Mr Kelly’s assistance not only enabled me to get through considerably more work; but being known to all the cottagers they were not under the same temptation to prolixity or romance, as they might have been when confronted with an entire stranger.

The Loughrea Union is situated altogether within the County of Galway-in the South Eastern portion, For about ten miles on the South, the County of Clare adjoins the union, otherwise it is situated by other unions of the County.

The total area of the union is 198, 831 statute acres, the population in 1831 was 25,237 ; in 1891 22,241, or a decrease of 2.993. There ware in 1891, 4,823 houses, as against 4,650 in 1831, and 9,465 in 1841. This number was diminished between 1841 and 1851 to 6,389.

The Slieve Aughty mountains, which run across the south-western end of the union are almost entirely a barren waste, and in every direction in driving through the district one is impressed with the patchy nature of the ground. Out of a total area of 198,831 acres no loss than 57, 701 come under the head of woods and plantations, bog and marsh, barren mountain land, water roads, fences, etc. This is an important element in considering the condition of the agricultural labourer, not only as affecting the area of possible employment, but also the district in which the papulation is placed now, as compared with different dates in the past, It is stated that the decrease in population alone does not convey the whole change which has taken place, that not only has there been this decrease, but that those now left have been pushed off the best land, which bas been cleared for grazing purposes, and are now reduced to snatching from poor and barren soil such precarious subsistence as it will yield.

The formation of the soil is mostly limestone, and there are here and there traces of this limestone having been burned for agricultural purposes. On the road from Loughrea to Leitrim and thence to Duniry I passed through some rich grazing ground, but returning by a different route, there was s quantity of poor marsh land. This may serve as an illustration of what one meets in every direction. In former days Loughrea and Athenry, the two most important towns in the union-and still such-were considerable centres of industry. In Lewis’ Topographical Guide (1837), Loughrea is spoken of as a flourishing town with 1,229 houses and 7,876 inhabitants. A large brewery, and extensive quarries are also named as being an important element in its prosperity-these have disappeared. There are still a few hand-loom weavers of frieze and sacking. At Athenry, once a residence of King John, there are are still the remains of a fine castle and monastery, but it seems to have fallen further than Loughrea. Indeed the latter has bad a new fillip given to it by the opening of a railway from Attymon-on the Midland and Great Western Railway. This has already had the effect of inducing commercial travellers to visit Loughrea in larger numbers, and to stay there instead of formerly staying at Athenry or Galway. It also affords a ready and convenient means of transit for the horses and cattle sold at the fairs-and for which Loughrea is still a considerable market. This year this traffic has been temporarily disarranged through the increase in rates. Owing to this a number of the dealers were driving their purchases long distances, in some cases I was informed close on 100 miles, finding it on the whole advantageous to do this, rather than pay the railway demands.

The incidence of the fair led me to postpone for a few days driving round the district, and I was occupied  in the meanwhile with investigating the cottages and obtaining the particulars set out in Appendix B. I then drove into each section of the union, and met at various places gentlemen to whom I bad received letters of introduction. From them much useful information was obtained regarding the circumstances of their immediate
locality. I also met the Board of Guardians, and sat at the Courthouse, Loughrea, for three hours in three consecutive days, in order to receive such evidence from the the surrounding district as might be tendered; the constabulary having through the good offices of District Inspector Duffy, posted in the several districts of the Union the placards announcing the sitting. In consequence of the scant information I was able to obtain as to the reasons for the condition of the cottages, I determined to hold a public meeting also in the court house. This was not numerously attended, but served to bring out in public the fact that representations bad been made in regard to much of the property, and that nothing farther bad happened.

In driving through the union, I have been particularly struck with the marked contrast between the appearance of the Irish children and the children of the English labourers. I was particularly impressed with this at Leitrim, where I arrived on Sunday just as the congregation was leaving the Church (Catholic). On my commenting on the appearances of the boys and young men, Father Sellars, PP. informed me that they were without exception farmers’ sons. They were very shabbily and insufficiently clothed, and had a pinched and sickly appearance, Many of the farmers, however, had coats made of native frieze, which if not very elegant are very durable and the women of all grades were clad in thick shawls, thrown over the head, and surmounting a brilliant red skirt, which seemed of the material and consistency of an ordinary blanket.

Under the provisions of the Labourers Acts there have been in all ten cottages built, 4 in Loughrea and 6 in Athenry, as a cost of about ₤130 each. Complaint is made in respect of the cost of transfer and the charges attending the purchase of the ground. Three of the electoral divisions, Derrylaur, Loughatorick, and Woodford, have been declared to be congested districts, ie., the rateable value of these districts is less than 30s per head of the population.

Some years ago an attempt at land reclamation was made by the Scottish Land Society near Marble Hill, the residence of Sir Henry Burke, This land is really the fringe of the mountain range of Slieve Aughty, which runs all the way from Woodford through Loughatorick to and beyond Derrylaur-the three congested electoral divisions in the southern border of the union, The trees planted seem to have grown well, but all the land which had been formerly tilled had gone back, and is now not distinguishable from the rest of the bog land. It was stated that most of the ground will grow timber, and that application is being made to the congested board for a grant for forestry purposes. Near Woodford, where the evictions took place on the Marquis of Clanricarde’s property, the land of these tenants who have not been replaced has gone back, and will have to be again largely reclaimed by any future occupier, I must here express my regret that notwithstanding the fact that I had sent personal notices to over 40 guardians-including of necessity in Ireland a moiety of county justices-and the public placards, only in four instances was any information volunteered by landowners or farmers.

1.- THE SUPPLY OF LABOUR
Probably, the most accurate a statement which can be made in regard to this is the paradoxical one that there is too much and too little. Speaking more particularly of Loughrea and the immediate neighbourhood, that in the only way of conveying the exact position. A number of those who under former conditions were living in outside districts are now in the town. While they are able to obtain employment more or less during Spring and late autumn, and constantly during hay time and harvest, they have absolutely nothing to do during the winter months. The time during which these people are able to obtain work was variously estimated at from six to nine months: during the rest of the year, with the exception of two or three who had other resources, they were idle apparently under compulsion. In many instances the men were in bed at the time of my visit to the cottages even in the middle of the day this being the place where they could secure the most warmth at the least expenditure.

The bulk of the work is carried on by farmers assisting each other, farmers’ sons or relatives living in the house, and farm servants. Applying the test of continuous employment, I was told there was an abundant supply, and that those whom I interviewed-and this was the reply given in all cases-would willingly change their present position for that of farm servant with the certainty of employment. The statements collected in the various districts will show how far this is modified or confirmed by the conditions existing there. There has been a considerable decrease in the supply of labour during the last ten or fifteen years; large clearances have been made for grazing purposes, and the labourers have to a very large extent emigrated. This appears to be the one thing looked for, and I was constantly informed that the
moment a sufficient amount has been saved, or got together somehow, the labourer emigrates.

It seems somewhat anomalous that under such circumstances there should be any room for immigration; but such is the case in harvest and root pulling times, when
to a slight extent for almost every district labourers come from Connemara (Claddagh as they are called) to secure such employment as is to be found. The general opinion is, that the labourers are as efficient as formerly; this may be true of such work as they are called on to do. But in connection with this it may be well to consider the very important point of food mentioned in M. Tener’s Report. In visiting the cottages, I had observed to what a large extent the food of the labourers consisted of tea and cakes of white bread. This and potatoes, with an occasional admixture of stirabout (meal and flour) was all the prevailing diet. In only one case was any meat visible, a very marked contrast to what I found in some of the English districts. I was informed that when constructing the railway, the contractor had in the first instance engaged a considerable amount of local labour- the railway lies wholly within the union-but finding the men altogether too weak for the work, had to replace them with fresh men drawn from other sources. It may also be safely assumed, that the constant determination of emigration towards America must have greatly reduced the average efficiency of the average labourer. At the meeting ef the Board of Guardians there was a considerable difference of opinion on this point, but judging from the witnesses whom I saw both in the cottages and in the courthouse, they are with very few exceptions men of weak physical calibre and unfit for heavy work. In one department of skilled labour-thatching-there is obviously a fair amount of efficiency. Everywhere thatching was being done, not more than was necessary, and though not with drawn and duly seasoned wheat straw as is mostly the case in the Fylde district of Lancashire, there is a considerable amount of good work. The labourers would appear to be much on a par in all respects to those in adjacent districts, though I am told they were not equal physically to the men of Tipperary.

(To Be Continued)