The County Home

The Sacred Heart Home formally Carlow Barracks in Barrack Street before it moved to its current location in Old Dublin Road. Source: County Carlow Military Museum.

In the Irish Free State and Republic of Ireland, the county home was an institution which replaced workhouses from 1922 onwards. County homes were total institutions housing a wide variety of people, mostly poor, the elderly, the chronically ill, the mentally ill, children, the intellectually disabled and unmarried mothers.  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fr. Killian from his presbytery in Carlow wrote directly to President Cosgrave on 15th April 1923 seeking to have the "perfectly impossible conditions in which we have been placed by the Army resolved swiftly". Cosgrave represented the constituency of Carlow & Kilkenny in the Dail.

A week later Dr. Dwyer, Inspector of the Local Government Department reported on accommodation of the "workhouse inmates" in their new home at the Barracks.

Carlow County Home (former Army Barracks) - front elevation

This is a drawing of the entrance to the County Home, formerly the British Cavalry Barracks.

The main building, first and second floors was reserved for bedridden cases, the extreme left wing to be a maternity hospital.

Map of Carlow Barracks c.1900

Source: OSi Maps

The ground floor, at this time still stables, was to house a kitchen with a steamer or boiler to supply the whole institution. The stable next to it was to be turned into a dining hall. The remaining stables to be floored, extra light provided and to be used as dormitories and day rooms for infirm and insane men and women. The present clothing store was to remain.

The staff sergeants house to be used as a provision store. Homes on the left side to be used as offices and board room. The canteens were to be converted into a church and adjoining building turned into a mortuary.

Dwyer observed that a considerable amount of good work had been done for the money expended. He recommended that the drains should be tested and electric light extended to the ground floor.

He was willing to sanction a second £500 with a note that further payment would depend on plan specifications and estimates being approved first. The Board acknowledged receipt of a further advance of £550 on 25th June 1923.

By October Rev. J. Killian, Chairman of the Board felt that they had secured a permanent County Home in Carlow. He said he had accepted the position of Chairman in order to help secure this objective and he tendered his resignation. It was unanimously resolved that he consider his decision and retain his position as chairman of the Board of Health until a new Board had been appointed.

However, on the 26th November Rev. J. Killian appeared before the Board and in view of the possible action of the Military Authorities to resume possession of the present County Home [the Barracks] he decided to continue as chairman during this new threat.

There were 171 inmates in the County Home at this time.

Source: Carlow County Library (AskIreland)

County Home History
From the 1950s onwards, county homes were reformed and standards of care improved. By the 1990s, they had been abolished, with the buildings in some towns now serving as normal hospitals. The Carlow County Home was originally located in a former British Army cavalry barracks. When the facility closed it was moved to a new location at 36 Old Dublin Rd, Rathnapish, Carlow, Ireland in Carlow town and renamed the Sacred Heart Home in 1952.

Sacred Heart Hospital Carlow centre was first established: April 1989

Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia County Homes (Ireland)