While the present system of local government dates largely from a parliamentary act of 1898, there were some earlier local authorities with long histories. Fortunately, a substantial quantity of their archives has survived in the county. Those predecessor bodies, from which there are archives in Leitrim include: The Grand Jury The Boards of Guardians of the Poor Law Unions
A. The Grand Jury
Grand juries were established by the Anglo-Normans and, originally, were involved only in the administration of justice. The high sheriff in a county called twenty-three landowners together twice annually (Lent and summer) to consider cases and refer them to court for trial. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, their remit was widened to include projects such as the building and repair of roads, bridges, courthouses and gaols. A tax known as cess was raised to fund the works. In the mid-eighteenth century, the practice of holding presentment sessions began, at which people would ‘present’ proposals for work. Abstracts of the approved works were then published. With the establishment of County Councils in 1899, the grand juries lost their functions in relation to infrastructure, but retained their judicial role. Surviving grand jury archives The local studies section of Leitrim County Library has photocopies of the ‘abstracts of presentments’, 1887-’99.
B. The boards of guardians of the poor law unions
The ‘poor law’ was extended to Ireland in 1838, with the division of the country into poor law unions, each served by a workhouse. A board of guardians administered the workhouse and it consisted of two types of member: those elected by ratepayers and those who were ex-officio. The board set a rate each year for each electoral division that reflected the numbers of inmates in the workhouse from that division.
In the early 1920s, the workhouses were replaced by county homes under amalgamation schemes.
The minute books of the board meetings provide statistics on the number of inmates at the time of each meeting, and detail the matters discussed and decisions reached.
Leitrim had three poor law unions: Carrick-on-Shannon, Manorhamilton and Mohill.
Surviving poor law archives
Carrick-on-Shannon
Union Minute books: 1843-1919 (some gaps)
Rough minute books: 1854-1855; 1899
Accounts: 1843-1894 (major gaps)
Abstracts of rates: 1896-1898
Mohill Union
Minute books: 1839-1922 (some gaps)
Rough minute books: 1843-1864 (some gaps)
Accounts: 1842-1897 (some gaps)
Carrigallen dispensary district – minute book of management committee: 1852-1899
Rowan (Fenagh) dispensary district – minute book of management committee: 1852-1894
Manorhamilton Union
Minute books:1839-1923
Rough minute books:1839-1857
Agenda books: 1861-1876; 1899-1900
Labourers’ Act minute books: 1886-1890
Letter books – incoming letters: 1870-1892 (some gaps)
Letter books – outgoing letters: 1882-1883; 1904-1908
Accounts: 1852-1886 (major gaps)
Relieving officer’s diary: 1880-1884
Treasurer’s rate-in-aid cash book: 1849-1853
Register of common lodging houses: 1889-1896
A new dispensation: the Local Government (Ireland) Act (1898)
The Local Government (Ireland) Act (1898) created a new system of county, urban district and rural district councils.
The first councils were generally elected in 1899. The grand juries lost all of their administrative functions at that point.
1. County councils County councils were given a variety of functions, with more being added in succeeding years including road building and maintenance; housing; sanitary services; the registration of vehicles and licensing of drivers; university scholarships and higher education grants; and planning. There are extensive surviving archives from all areas of the work of Leitrim County Council.
2. Rural district councils (RDCs) Rural district councils replaced the boards of guardians as sanitary authorities in rural areas, and they were also responsible for housing and road works. Councillors served as ex officio guardians. These councils were abolished in 1925. Leitrim had five rural district councils: Ballinamore, Carrick-on-Shannon, Kinlough, Manorhamilton and Mohill.
Surviving RDC archives
Ballinamore RDC
Minute book: 1900-1901
Carrick-on-Shannon RDC
Minute books – public health etc: 1916-1920
Quarterly minute books: 1901-1911; 1916-1921
Kinlough RDC
Minute books – public health etc: 1902-1925
Quarterly minute books: 1901-1925
Manorhamilton RDC
Minute books – public health etc: 1899-1925
Quarterly minute books: 1900-1924
Mohill RDC
Minute books – public health etc: 1899-1924
Quarterly minute books: 1901-1925
Register of road maintenance: 1913-1916; 1922-1923