Cornelius Flahavan: a Deaf Life On the Road (DHC Conference)

 

On 14 August I presented for the Deaf Heritage Centre's online conference. Have a look at my presentation by clicking above.

Clogher Workhouse, Co Tyrone: a Deaf Wanderer Decides to Stay

Clogher Workhouse (now derelict), Aug 2021.

Many people assume (wrongly) that people were forced to enter the workhouse and were not allowed to leave. However, sometimes, it was the opposite.

Clogher Workhouse - Entrance Block, Aug 2021

 

In 1913, a 'deaf and dumb' man was admitted to Clogher workhouse. The night he was admitted, he burned all his own clothes. Then, he wrote on a slip of paper and gave it to the workhouse master; he asked for a new outfit of workhouse clothes, cap, boots and a shirt. "I like to stop here", he added. 

Clogher Workhouse (now derelict), Aug 2021.

 

However the Board of Guardians of Clogher Union were not too keen that he stay. The man was given work to do and the Master tried to get him to leave the house within a week. 

 

Source: Freemans Journal, 4 November 1913, p. 4

Source: Ulster Herald, 8 November 1913, p. 13

 

More information: http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Clogher/ 

#deafhistory #irishhistory #workhouses

Mullingar Workhouse: A Deaf Boy's Evidence

 

Old entrance block, Mullingar Workhouse (now St Mary's Care Centre) - built 1841

The old Mullingar Workhouse (now St. Mary's Care Centre), Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

 

Old accommodation block, Mullingar Workhouse (now St Mary's Care Centre)

 

In 1858 there were several attempts by paupers (workhouse inmates) to set fire to the Mullingar workhouse. The crimes were witnessed by other male paupers sleeping in the same dormitory.

 

Old entrance block, Mullingar Workhouse

 

 An inquiry was held in November into a number of charges against male paupers there. None of the witnesses gave evidence willingly - except a Deaf boy who was an inmate there.

 

It was also reported that the Deaf boy was the only witness there who was able to read and write well. 

 

Source: https://books.google.ie/books?id=na5bAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA448

 

More info on the Mullingar Workhouse: http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Mullingar/

Lisburn Workhouse: A Deaf Boy's Education Hangs in the Balance

The building that was the workhouse in Lisburn (now Lagan Valley Hospital).

 

Thomas Burns was an 8 year old deaf boy living in Lisburn in 1889. The Lisburn Board of Guardians (who met regularly in the Workhouse and ran it) were asked to pay for him to go to Cabra to be educated, as his parents were very poor and could not afford to have him educated. His behaviour was wild and becoming a nuisance around Lisburn.

 

Some of the Board of Guardians were very willing to pay the £15 a year to send Thomas, but others passionately objected. They thought £15 was too expensive and that Thomas should be admitted for free. Others believed he should be sent to the deaf school in Belfast, as it would be cheaper, and local Protestant Deaf children from Lisburn had already been sent there.

 

It was proposed that £10 be offered to Cabra to pay for Thomas' education. But Cabra replied and said that they had to insist on the full £15 from every child sent. So, instead, the Guardians offered to pay £15 - but for only two years. Cabra reminded the Guardians that two years was not at all enough time to educate Thomas properly.

 

 

 

Thomas was eventually admitted to Cabra in October 1889. However, he did not stay there long. He suffered from many epileptic fits and had to be returned home to Lisburn.

 

Sources: local Lisburn newspapers - please contact me if you need references

See http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Lisburn/ for more information on the workhouse.

A Deaf Blind Workhouse Inmate, sentenced to a month's imprisonment in Galway

A story about Michael Curley - a Deaf-Blind man - sentenced to 1 month in prison - for disorderly conduct in Galway workhouse.

"At Galway Petty Sessions, Michael Curley, a blind man, was charged by the Galway Board of Guardians with disorderly conduct in the Workhouse on the 4th October. Mr. O’Toole, Master of the Workhouse, stated that Curley had gone into the workhouse 25 times since last January. On the 4th ult., witness saw the windows broken, but did not see the defendant do it. Defendant was a great nuisance. Cross-examined, witness said he was aware that defendant was both blind and deaf. Mr. Hanley, porter of the workhouse, deposed that on the night in question, he heard knocking at the door and the noise of windows being broken. When he opened the door, he found the defendant there, having climbed the outer gate. Defendant was a very great nuisance; came in under the influence of drink often, and kicked up rows. The Chairman inquired how it was that the defendant’s people managed to communicate with him, or how he got on if he went into a shop. Mr. Daly (defending) contended that the case could not be maintained, as the defendant was deaf and blind, and, therefore, unable to plead. It was a case in which the defendant ought to be sent to a suitable institution for the deaf and dumb. Sergt. Cunningham said the man had a very significant manner of making known his wants when in a shop, by tapping on the counter a certain number of times with his stick (laughter). He had already done a month in jail for begging at Salthill. The Chairman said the only place to which they could send the defendant was the prison, as they had no power to send him elsewhere. He would be sentenced to a month’s imprisonment." Source: Connacht Tribune, 14 Nov 1914 - see also https://connachttribune.ie/galway-in-days-gone-by-566/

A deaf beggar-woman with her own sign language?

 

1870: a Deaf beggar woman, Mary McQuaid, is hit by a train between Dromore and Fintona, Co Tyrone. She later died in Omagh. She was 70 years old. At her inquest, some very interesting information about her life. [The newspaper article doesnt mention her education - I cannot find any evidence she was in a Deaf school, though there was an Anthony McQuaid from Tyrone who went to Cabra in 1852. Her deaf brother or cousin perhaps?]

 Mary depended on charity but was apparently never in the workhouse. She had lived in Cornamuckla, with a woman named Ellen McGuigan but had gone "back and forward to other houses for the last 14 years". Ellen could not say if there was ever a relationship between them (I assume this means a family relationship) but Mary "always claimed friendship" with her. Ellen's maiden name was McQuaid so they may have been cousins. Most interestingly, Mary used signs. She signed to Ellen that she was going to Omagh, and that she had signs for different signs for different towns. 

**The sign for Omagh was near the neck - "meaning that was where people were hanged".** 

Public execution did take place in Omagh Prison - the last public hanging was in 1860 although hangings within the gaol continued until about 1880 (see https://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/tyrone/A1007498.shtml). It is very likely that Mary McQuaid saw a public execution before 1860 and associated this with the town - creating a new placename sign.