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

'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