Without Hope or Dignity – Boyle Workhouse in Famine Times

Without Hope or Dignity – Boyle Workhouse in Famine Times

My forthcoming book is in its final stages of completion.
I have linked up with an Australian Museum, (Hyde Park Barracks ) in Sydney who have sent me on some wonderful information on 52 young orphan girls, aged 14-18, who were ‘volunteered’ and sent off to Sydney in 1848 and 1850.
From Boyle they travelled by a Bianconi coach to Dublin and then on to Plymouth by ship where they then boarded a large sailing vessel the Tippoo Saib/Digsby with 200 other girls from all over Workhouses in Ireland.
This was the Earl Grey scheme (an attempt by the authorities at the time to balance the male/ratio and fares were paid by British/Australian governments. The scheme was one of the few that lost little or no passengers en route as they girls were well prepared and kitted out for their epic voyage. In total approx 4168 orphans left and made the harrowing 100 days journey, many of whom were never in a position to return. The orphans were of course never outside of the Parish of Boyle so its easy to imagine their anxiety and fear. Most had a fractured life rearing large families (8-12 children) in very remote countryside.
I hope to launch my book in October., but I have still ‘room’ for ‘good news stories’ from descendents of Boyle people (and its surrounds) who had some association with that period. There are a number of drawings I will have in the book and I enclose one by Michelle Simon
regards, Barry Feely