Kilkenny workhouse like so many workhouses has a dark history. During the great famine (1845-51) over 1,000 people died from the horrific conditions, 800 of whom were buried in the grounds of the workhouse.
Bizarrely however, in 2007 a €300 million shopping centre was opened in the workhouse. Claiming to have “sensitively and beautifully” restored the workhouse, the shopping centre perversely built a food court in the plaza surrounded by the workhouse called “workhouse square”. The fact that a mass grave of 800 famine victims was found during construction of the shopping centre seems to have been lost along the way.
Workhouse Square
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Ewww… I wouldn’t want to be tucking into a plateful of food on top of the graves of the poor people who died of starvation!!! … sensitive? I don’t think so
This is so completely insensitive. How did this ever get through a planning commission?? As a descendant of a famine emigrant, I’m horrified. I’ve been to Kilkenny, and its hard to believe the county could allow this. So sad.
[...] of queens let us remember the Famine Queen herself and this story featured by the excellent Irish History Podcast. The headline says it all: “Only In Ireland”. “Kilkenny workhouse like so many [...]
According to the development website the 800 remains were reburied in a single crypt within a garden of remembrance, so there’s no question of the food court being built on top of a mass grave. As the famine showed only too well, people have to eat. I’m willing to bet that you’re not far from a famine victim or two anywhere in urban Ireland, so it may be best not to be too sensitive about where you consume your lunchtime sandwich.
Interesting comment Pragmatic. The 800 persons that died were originally buried in their ‘final resting place’. Nobody has the right to disturb, remove or relocate the remains . . . whether for esthetic, commercial or cultural reasons. If we all chose to take the line of the planners and council, we might as well start to dismantle the burial grounds in the Townlands now . . . why wait until ‘beyond living memory’ ?
Interesting comment Pragmatic. The 800 persons that died were originally buried in their \’final resting place\’. Nobody has the right to disturb, remove or relocate the remains . . . whether for esthetic, commercial or cultural reasons. If we all chose to take the line of the planners and council, we might as well start to dismantle the burial grounds in the Townlands now . . . why wait until \’beyond living memory\’ ?
I agree with Pragmatic. Live continues and the death are not. The death have been remembered and have been given an alternative respectful resting place.
Let’s enjoy the fact that our lives are infinitely better now, compared to the 19th century, and enjoy a good lunch at the Kilkenny workhouse, I will on my upcoming visit to Ireland.