added note: Workhouses were desperate places in nineteenth century Ireland. They were the last refuge of the destitute and starving. They have been described as 'the most feared and hated institution ever established in Ireland'. There were 163 such places in operation between 1841 and 1920. Entire families had to enter the workhouse system together or not at all, which was a way for landlords to clear their land of tenants. Families were then split up within the workhouse, often to never again lay eyes on each other.

RIOT AT MOUNTKENNET WORKHOUSE

BALLINA CHRONICLE Ballina, Co. Mayo, Wednesday, July 3, 1850

The Limerick Reporter contains the following statement: - It appears that two boys, having committed some misdemeanour, the temporary master, Mr. James Morrison, deprived the delinquents of their morning meal, when the entire number of paupers in the house, with hardly one exception, rose up en masse and declared they would not submit to have any of their number treated in such a cruel manner. Mr. Morrison, finding his utmost efforts to quell the disturbance without avail, sent for the police, and twenty three of the city force under Head-constable Joynt and Constable Shannon, and accompanied by Dr. Gibson, J.P., went promptly on the spot.

On their arrival the yard was filled with a tumultuous mob, yelling most vociferously, shouting and flinging stones at random at the windows, and into the adjoining streets and quay, while a large portion of them were collected around an immense breach in the outer wall, of thirty feet long and twenty feet high, which, upon learning that the police were sent for, they had made as a means of effecting their escape from street. The police having drawn up in the dining hall, Dr. Gibson ordered the yard to be cleared, but the moment the door was opened a volly of stones was directed against the constables, one of which inflicted a deep gash on the cheek of Constable Hunt.

The door was instantly shut to, and for some time longer the rioters continued shouting and huzaaing at the retreat of the police, and challenged them to venture amongst them again. In the meantime the men fixed bayonets in the hall, and seizing an opportunity when the paupers' attention seemed to be divided, Head Constable Joynt rushed out, followed by the entire party, and threw the rioters into complete confusion. Stones, however, continued to be thrown by the persons most remote from the police, wounding and greatly annoying many of the men, who were prevented from seeing their assailants by the obstinacy of the rioters, who firmly withstood every effort to pass through the crowd. The assault continuing, an order was given to charge, and the police did charge with fixed bayonets.

Fortunately, no serious wounds were inflicted, although the ferocity of the rioters was so great that some of them caught the bayonets by the points, and struggled with the constables. The contest continued for over an hour, and the police, in the course of it, evinced the most exemplary forbearance, suffering themselves to be wounded with stones in the head and body, and yet exhibiting no exasperation against their assailants. A guard stationed at the breach prevented any persons from leaving by that means of exit, and thus saved the citizens from being annoyed as on the occasion of the late riots. The police, however, used the butts of their muskets rather freely, in a short time the malcontents were locked up in their wards, having suffered several contusions on shoulders, legs and arms from the carbines.

Sub-constable Mayburne had his nose and cheek split from a blow of a stone, and Head-constable Joynt received a severe blow on the ancle, and some less serious blows on the hands and head. Sub-constable Noble had his thumb split and others of the men experienced similar injuries.

No arrests were made, as it was impossible to distinguish, where all were disorderly, who were most so.