I have been contacted by an RTE researcher who is looking for:
"...a personal story of someone who was institutionalised, perhaps in the
Cork Mental Institution in the 1800's. I understand women were sometimes
sent to the institution by brothers who didn't inherit the land from their
fathers, and needed to 'get rid' of the woman, in order to get the land.
People were often sent to the institutions for reasons other than insanity."
My own work doesn't focus on mental institutions. I wonder if a member of
the list might be able to help her. Let me know if you can and I'll give you
her contact details. The information need not relate to the Cork
institution.
All good wishes,
Sandra McAvoy
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