The Removal of Irish Paupers from Britain - (Reappraisals in Irish History) by Lewis Darwen & Donald Macraild (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

During the nineteenth century, local officials sought to deal with their Irish pauper 'problem' by removing these poor migrants back to Ireland under the laws of settlement and removal. Over the course of the century, hundreds of thousands of Irish paupers were forcibly repatriated in this way. Even though the settlement rights of Irish immigrants gradually improved over time, removals were still taking place into the twentieth century.

The system was widely recognised as being cruel and unfair, especially in Ireland where the removal of Irish paupers from Britain garnered considerable political and press attention. Much was made of the illegality of some removals, and of harsh removals involving widowed women, children and the elderly.

This book, which is the first sustained study of repatriation from Britain, demonstrates a persistent theme: the marginal nature of Irish life on the larger island. Drawing on extensive research from newspaper sources and parliamentary papers, it presents an original and richly detailed perspective on Irish immigration, poverty and pauperism in nineteenth-century Britain.

Review Quotes

'[T]he authors' handling of the evidence has a sure touch, reflecting Professor MacRaild's long experience as one of the leading historians of the Irish in Great Britain. The result is a clear, convincing and comprehensive investigation into a particularly problematic aspect of the complicated relationship between nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom.' S.J. Connolly, Northern History

'This meticulous study expertly navigates through the intricacies of political debate relating to the poor law and the nature of specific legislative changes that developed out of those discussions. It also shows how the legislation was enacted in practice, demonstrating with specific examples as well as statistical analysis the impact of heartless and sometimes cruel actions on the individual lives of those who were subjected to repatriation. [...] [T]his is an original, detailed and lucid study of the repatriation of poor Irish migrants and their families, people who were nominally citizens of the state that sought their removal at a time when they sought assistance.' Paul O'Leary, Immigrants & Minorities

'By blending statistical data with individual case studies, Darwen and MacRaild provide a compelling and empathetic exploration of the intersections between immigration, poverty, and repatriation. This book is an insightful study of nineteenth-century Irish migration to Britain and the corresponding development of removal practices and policies.' Jill C. Bender, Associate Professor of History, UNC Greensboro