On Wednesday, June 4th at 2pm in St. Joseph’s Care Centre in Longford the DVD “From the Workhouse to the County Home: a Longford Story” will be launched by Bishop Colm O’Reilly. All members are welcome to attend. Co. Longford Historical Society has funded the production of the DVD which sells for €10, with €2 of each sale going to Longford Social Services. We would encourage all our members to support this very worthwhile project. Copies will be available at St. Joseph’s Care Centre, Baxter’s Chemist and the Presbytery, Longford or from Committee members. You can also order it by contacting 087 2226037, cost €11 including postage.
The DVD is the outcome of an oral history project that began under the auspices of the HSE. A number of people associated with the County Home, such as former staff members, were interviewed about their experiences there. One of these was the late Sr Calasanctius Duffy, who worked in St Joseph’s for about forty years and served as matron. Extracts from the interviews have been skilfully edited and the many old photographs used contribute to a very impressive production, telling the story from 1842 when the Workhouse was founded, to the St. Joseph’s of modern times.