'Who of us care to be seen assisting an old woman?': the institutional care of Ireland's elderly women, 1845 - 1908

The impact of late life poverty is explored, alongside experiences of those from middle-class families, assessing the standard of care for older women of diverse social status. It considers the role of religion in gaining access to institutions established by religious orders, highlighting the treatment of women who adhered to different faiths. Lastly, by exploring the movement of women through these institutions, this thesis provides an insight into the changing demographic of Ireland, showing how family structure was altered by the Great Famine of 1845-53.

In doing so, it reveals the extent to which family members adopted the responsibility of caring for their older relatives. In addressing these key themes, this thesis serves to further our understanding of family dynamics and relationships, societal attitudes and responses towards old age and the importance of poor relief and welfare for aged women in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Ireland.<br>