164 ON THE STATE OF IRELAND. [BOOK II, 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE AGED AND INFIRM POOR. 



Province of Connauyht, county of Galway ; examinations taken by F. 

 Diggens, Esq. and W. T. M'Cullagh, Esq. ; parish of Tuam, town 

 of Tuam, barony of Clare. Evidence of the Protestant Archbishop 

 of Tuam, written by himself. 



THE collections made at the Protestant places of wor- 

 ship are distributed among the Protestant poor generally, 

 at the selection of the minister. I know nothing of con- 

 tribution and distribution of other places denominated 

 places of worship. 



The head of a family feels a right to be supported 

 by those members of his family to whom he gives over 

 his land, if he holds under a lease. 



It is not the disposition of the Irish to cast off their aged 

 and infirm parents, if they have the means of supporting 

 them. Children do not feel aggrieved by having the sole 

 support of their parents. I have known the parent to go 

 from one daughter to another for support ; but if there is 

 a son, the parent generally resides with him. The rela- 

 tives of the aged are often in a condition which would 

 not enable them to afford sufficient subsistence to them, 

 but they always get from their children a part of what is 

 going. 



When children are in employment at a distance, they 

 generally send money to their parents for their support. 



