The material below is taken from the web page Unless otherwise indicated, content is copyright Peter Higginbotham and may not be re-published without permission.
Ancestry UK

St Joseph's Industrial School for Girls, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland

On March 22 1873, St Joseph's Industrial School for Roman Catholic Girls was certified to operate in premises at Waterford Road, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny. The school could accommodate up to 100 girls, aged 6-16 at their date of admission.

The School site is shown on the 1900 map below.

St Joseph's Industrial School for Girls site, Kilkenny, c.1900.

St Joseph's Industrial School for Girls, Kilkenny, from the south-west, early 2000s. © Peter Higginbotham

In 1874, it was said that the accommodation was lofty, cheerful and well ventilated, and that the bathroom, lavatory etc. were properly fitted up. Water was supplied from the city main, and gas had been connected. The sanitary condition of tha school in was satisfaCtory, not a single case of serious illness having occurred amongst, the inmates. The institution was described as a model of cleanliness and order. Needlework, in all its branches was taught, together with the use of the sewing and the knitting machine. The girls were instructed in dressmaking, so as to cut out and make their own dresses. They worked in the laundry and in the garden. Some had charge of pigs and poultry. the staff comprised Mrs. Martha Murphy, and four Sisters of Charity,with a workinistresS and laundress.

St Joseph's Industrial School for Girls, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny, early 1900s. © Peter Higginbotham

In 2925, after the buildings had been standing empty for some time, the site was put up for sale.

Records

Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.

  • Barnardo's Origins Tracing Service — for people (and their families) who spent all or part of their childhood in an Irish Industrial School and are interested in tracing information about their parents, siblings or other relatives.
  • Irish Petty Sessions Court Registers 1828-1912 (available online to subscribers of FindMyPast) include details of committals to Irish Reformatories and Industrial Schools.

Bibliography

Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.