Filmed by Oliver Delaney and kindly donated to Tipperary Studies by the Delaney family.
As a result of the Poor Law Act of 1838, approximately 130 workhouse were built in Ireland. All were built to plans drawn by architect George Wilkinson.
This was the first attempt on behalf of the government to provide relief to the destitute poor . The workhouse system was devised to provide basic food, clothing and shelter to the utterly destitute and to deter all others. On 9 November 1842, the first five inmates were admitted to Thurles workhouse, which was intended for 700 inmates. However, the Great Famine resulted in greater numbers seeking shelter and relief and auxiliary building were required during this period to ease the pressure on the system. Families were divided on entry, females and males had separate accommodation .. Children over two were sent to children’s wards. A mistress and master were in charge. In 1877, some sisters from the Mercy Order arrived to assist in the running of the workhouse. The workhouse system was abolished in the early 1920s and henceforth, the building became the county home for North Tipperary. In the early 1950s, it became known as the Hospital of the Assumption and in the following years, the high surrounding walls were knocked and replaced by railings, so that the building became visible to the public for the first time. The Hospital of the Assumption continued to serve as a hospital for the elderly until the building was knocked and replaced by the modern building in place today.