The Least of These: The Tragic Story of Dublin's Foundling Hospital

The Dublin Foundling Hospital, located at the edge of the eighteenth-century city, was a workhouse that took in poor Catholic children and raised them as Protestants, loyal to the king and empire. The hospital endured for so long due to its mission and the death toll was vast, with thousands of children fed opium and tattooed with identification numbers. This book brings the tragic story of the hospital to light based on original research.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 05 May 2022
Publisher: The History Press Ltd

The Dublin Foundling Hospital, situated at the outskirts of the eighteenth-century city, behind imposing walls and forbidding gates, had long been shrouded in fear and suspicion. However, after its closure, it seemed to fade from the city's collective memory. The Least of These delves into the history of the Hospital, tracing its origins as a workhouse in 1703 during the Penal Laws to its eventual demise in 1830. Its primary objective was to provide shelter and education for the children of impoverished Catholic families, aiming to convert them into loyal Protestants, devoted to the king and empire. This institution was characterized by several distinctive features, including the tattooing of identification numbers on every infant, the administration of opium to thousands of children, and a tragic death toll, similar to many foundling hospitals.

Yet, the question remains: why did this institution endure for such a long time? And why did so many lives tragically end within its walls? To answer these questions, Mark B. Roe has conducted extensive original research, drawing upon eyewitness accounts, letters from desperate parents, and individual life stories. Through his meticulous research, Roe brings forth the tragic story of Dublin's Foundling Hospital, shedding light on a chapter of Irish history that has been largely overlooked.

Weight: 432g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780750998765