The Irish Workhouse Centre

If you like landmarks, then we recommend a visit to the Irish Workhouse Centre. Located in the charming town of Portumna, County Galway, Ireland, this unusual place has the merit of making us think. For this is a museum dedicated to the infamous “workhouses” that housed thousands of Irish people during the Great Irish Famine. Their principle was simple: they offered room and board to the most destitute, in exchange for work worthy of a penal colony…

Visit the Irish Workhouse Centre

Go behind the scenes of Irish workhouses during the Great Famine

The Irish try to get into workhouses – Domaine public

Dedicated to the history of workhouses in Ireland, this center offers an illuminating and often emotional insight into a dark aspect of Irish history.

As a reminder, the workhouse system was introduced in Ireland in the 19th century, mainly as a response to extreme poverty and the Irish famine. In these institutions, the destitute were housed and fed in exchange for hard labor. Although created with the intention of providing shelter and employment, these homes were often associated with terrible living conditions and intense social stigmatization.

It is estimated that families were separated as soon as they entered the factory: children apart, men and women in separate quarters. The boarders all had to work (including their children), doing extremely arduous jobs. There was also another condition: the Irish in these workhouses were condemned to confinement: it was impossible to leave the workhouses once they had agreed to enter.

They lived there like prisoners, unable to leave or escape.

Their only consolation was the assurance of a daily meal…

However, living conditions were extremely harsh. In addition to their back-breaking work, the people living in these workhouses are exposed to disease and epidemics. Their sleeping cells are freezing cold…

All these conditions precipitate the death of many children and the elderly. It is estimated that nearly 200,000 people perished here during the Great Famine.

Center Exhibitions

Let’s face it: a visit to the Irish Workhouse Centre is far from a happy experience. However, it is crucial to understanding just how much the Irish suffered during the Great Famine.

That’s why the Irish Workhouse Centre invites you to dive into these troubled times. One of the site’s strengths is its ability to personalize the tragic stories of the individuals who lived in these establishments. Through written testimonies, photographs and even personal objects, you can experience the lives and struggles of these people.

You’ll be shocked to discover the catastrophic conditions in which the residents of these workhouses lived. At the time, this voluntary prison was one of the only ways to survive the famine. Yet these houses were synonymous with hell. A place from which few could escape.

And to better understand the reality of the time, the museum has worked specifically on the possibility of complete immersion. The center has therefore painstakingly reconstructed various typical spaces, from the dining room to the dormitories of these workhouses, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the sinister atmosphere of the period.

Add to this a display of everyday objects from the period: plates, clothes, beds, blankets… All the relics of this era are carefully displayed in glass cases.

Alongside a series of documentaries and interviews with experts, you’ll understand how the museum offers a comprehensive analysis of the Irish workhouse system.

But expect a 100% emotional experience. It’s impossible to leave the museum without feeling the impact of your visit.

Nevertheless, it’s a visit well worth making, so authentic and powerful is it.