* v*e ,W " ***'" $+v $ fforts to promote a become an important agency in encour- J$ *** *" + t+ aging new enterprises. This is clear from >;*g* **"******v linen industry ,,+,,, ,,,::g coincided with a period the writings of Robert Stephenson, a +\a,*"""G ,, , , + e ** '; of intense activity in the merchant who arrived in Ireland in 1745, . A,"**- $?industry as a means of became a leading figure in the linen trade have been tidied. Based upon Stephen- promoting economic development. By and worked in close association with the son's observations, fig. 1 charts the 1704, a flourishing linen industry had Linen Board. He undertook extensive progress of Limerick's linen industry in already become established in the north tours of inspection on behalf of the the years 1760-3. It provides both a tem- of Ireland; fifty years later the linen trade Board, and the written reports that he poral and a spdtial overview and thus was being actively promoted in areas produced furnish a unique record of the serves as a composite of the industry's outside Ulster. The initiative came from progress and problems of a major con- history and geography during the forma- landowners interested in developing temporary economic activity. Most inter- tive stages. Later writers such as Young their estates and from merchants eager to est centres upon the years 1760-3, when (1776) and De Latocnaye (1796-7) testify exploit new lines of activity. A congenial such reports took the form of a series of to the continuing significance of the linen climate had been created by a growing county reviews. industry locally in , but body of literature on the benefits of the The reports for County Limerick are it was destined to wither away by circa linen manufacture while encourage- reproduced in full below, apart from that 1840 in the face of superior external com- ments of a more tangible kind were pro- of 1761 which has been abbreviated so as petition. vided by the Dublin Society, the Linen to exclude strictly technical data. The Board and, from the late 1750s, parlia- author's spelling has been followed County of Limerick, 1760"' ment. except for some renderings of place- This county is possessed of every advan- The Linen Board in particular had names; capitalisation and punctuation tage for establishing the coarser branches of the linen manufacture in it; flax is raised more in the farming way than in, any part of Ireland; the quality at present exceeds the consumption of the county, being sold in market, from 2d to 3d per pound, good in quality, and clean for the hatchel. About , they are most remarkable for flax farmzng, the great part of which zs carrzed into the countzes of Waterford, Wexford, etc for sale However, the linen manufacture has not zncreased sznce 1755, and the little they do m thzs county zn imitatzon of the Ulster manufactures is sold very cheap, and all their coarse yarn and bundle-cloth much under the current value of such goods, in Dublzn or England, when made a proper breadth The number of bundle- weavers zn this county zs vey great, and they follow thezr trade but a small share of their tzme, the inhabztants are very numerous, the spinning generally coarse, and most fit for doulass,"' and the coarser branches, such as are most extensive and in demand. There is reason to believe a societu will soon be established in this county, after the example of Clare, from whose bounty and influence much may be expected. There is a bleach-yard at Shannongrove, kept by Philip Gire,f3' under Colonel Bury, for several years, where a good deal is done; and one by Mr. Phil. Ryan at Reybage; what the appara- tus in either is, I have no certain account. In the city and liberties of Limerick Rathkeale, Edmund Greatrix,"" Rathkeale; to such as should become buyers, to there is not anything done of conse- Richard Yielding,"2' Esq. indemnify them from loss, on the first quence, except by Mr. P~e,'~'whois a very £100 value sent to Dublin market for sale. extensive manufacturer. He has a bleach- County of Limerick, 1761 This experiment was resolved on about yard near the city for his own use, is The report of last season, whilst it lays the first of October last, and in three mostly engaged in the cheque and cotton before you the foundation for establishing months before the first of January 1762, branches, and appeared very ready to sup- an extensive and valuable branch of the upwards of 12,000 yards of the best and port any schemes the Board are pleased to manufacture in this county, gives reason highest coloured loom doulass about 28 - - propose. The linen drapers, who are shop- to fear it may be a long time before that inches wide, which had ever been made in keepers in the city of Limerick, are can be effected; but the efforts of one gen- this kingdom, were bought in Rathkeale, resolved to discourage to their utmost tleman of influence in any county, when by James Leake, Esq., and Mr. John every scheme that may introduce a linen properly directed, will surmount every Bourke. However, Mr. Bourke lost on his manufacture into the county, from the difficulty: And as there is a particular first parcel about £2. 16s. 10d. and the selfish motive, that it may daily lessen instance (among many others) in this carriage; which was owing to his own their trade of bringing up north country place, it is as follows:f13i fears of the market, and selling his goods linens to vend in their shops to the inhab- When with the Hon. Thomas Southwell, too low; and agreeable to my indemnity, I itants. Esq."" in the county of Cavan this season paid him £5. 13s. 9d. and although I have The weavers and spinners of this and lamenting my not being able to pre- given indemnities for upwards of £3000 county will gain large profits as soon as vail with any one person to try an experi- in different parts of the country during an export trade is introduced, their flax ment, in making or buying manufactures my progress those two years past, in order being so extremely cheap, and if a society fit for exportation in a county so well cir- to encourage adventurers, this is the only can be formed the ensuing season, with a cumstanced in every respect, he was person ever called on me for a loss, by sell- tolerable subscription, considering their pleased to,write to his agent and other ing under the first cost. Mr. Southwell many advantages in the number of ban- gentlemen in the neighbourhood of and the gentlemen of this neighbourhood dle-weavers, flax farmers, spinners etc. Rathkeale to collect the shop-keepers, ban- have raised a subscription of about £70 they are possessed of, and the cheap terms dle-cloth weavers and such others as yearly to encourage a market for the sale on which they can bring their goods to might be any ways instrumental to try and improvement of their manufacture; market. there is no doubt of their becom- what might be done there. On my arrival for the application of which I prepared a ing very eminent in some branches, that at Rathkeale, every part of his directions scheme. I also prepared another scheme for they may be led into in a few years. was executed; and after having satisfied the same purpose, by direction of Henry The candidates that offered for the all parties of the possibility of introducing Hamilton,"" Esq. at Newcastle, to the three premiums of the Board are as fol- a double bundle-cloth, or doulass manu- amount of £120 yearly, that I have reason lows: David Roche, Limerick; Chrisfopher facture into the town and neighbourhood, to believe will be carvied into immediate Carr Davis, Limerick; Darby Cloghasy,'"' where it is computed there are no less execution for the employment of the Limerick; Thomas Pearse, Limerick; John than 400 bundle-cloth looms, taking in inhabitants of Sir William Courtenay's Rossel,'"' Limerick; Edward Poe, Limerick; two miles round the town. I promised estate. Since that time the gentlellzen of Geo. Brudenell,"' Newcastle; Henry Ball, three looms, value 30s. eack, to the three this county have, in some m&ure, deter- Rathkeale; Her. Browning,'"' Limerick; for weavers tkat should make and sell&-- mined to form themselves into a linen Counsellor Perry, one; Alexander Woods, Rathkeale, tke three first pieces of doulass, -* society, and give monthly premiums in Mountshan; Philip Cire, Newmarkrt; a,yrceable to my instructions, and not less the towns of Newcastle, Rathkeale, Ionas Lcnke,"" Ra&kcalc; /okn Burke,""' than 40 yards long each; I also promised , Kilfinane, and Castletown-Waller, for which purpose I doulass manufactured that have been ever linen trade, Edward Poe appears in recommended the scheme proposed for made in the kingdom; she observes that Ferrar's Limerick directory of 1769 Tipperary; as the spinning and bandle- the yarn of her doulass was spun on what where he is listed as a cheque manu- cloth in each county are much the same. is called an Irish wheel, with a hoop rim, facturer and linen bleacher at Main The Board will please to observe, that all and comes at half the price of the Dntch Street, Irishtown. these schemes are calculated so as to be wheel, and answers every purpose of the 5. According to the directory of 1769, executed in a single town, or estate, or Dutch wheel, whereby the Board would be Derby Clohesy was a linen draper at extended to a counfy, be it large or small; enabled to give double the number of Main Street, Irishtown. and there is reason to believe that the gen- wheels in those counties where no other 6. Ferrar's directory places John Russell, tlemen in ulhose estates those towns are, yarn than the coarse pound yarn is made. linen draper, at Baal 'S Bridge in 1769. will have markets immediately encour- Sir Henry Hartstonge, Bart. has done a 7. George Brudenell appears;on the aged, agreeable to this or more extensive considerable deal at Bruff and continues Courtenay estate rentals for the,years sclzemes, if a society cannot be supported. his spinning school in an extensive way; 1762-5. He held a ton~ntenemfait (no. The Palatines and others residing in the at , Mr. Quin has encouraged many 48) in Newcastle and also land at neighbourhood of Rathkeale, have this weavers to settle and Mrs. Quin keeps a Gortboy, alongside the town. year sowed flax seed of their own saving, number of children employed in spinning. 8. Hercules Browning still upheld his the fifteenth time, and the crop is Flax farming stands in the same point of connection with tlze linen trade in esteemed superior to the produce of any view as last season; Mr. Oliver distribut- 1769 when Ferrar enters him as a foreign seed imported which they have ed at a price considerably under the first linen bleacher at Main Street, yearly experience of in different parts of cost several hogsheads of flax seed this Englishtown. the county. The simple method of saving season. The manufactures and bleach- 9. He is numbered among the Protestant the seed with certainty and success is to yard carried on by Mr. Poe in the city and householders of Rathkeale parish in dry and save it like oats in the field when liberties of Limerick are continued and 1766, and his longstanding connec- pulled, and then stack it separately, or much extended, and he employs great tion with the area is attested by an among the corn until the following numbers of the inhabitants and is daily entry in the Rathkeale Church of spring, before the seed is thrashed out. adding to the variety of his branches in lreland register which records the the cotton and cheque way. burial of Jonas Leake Esq., Attorney, County of Limerick, 1762. .I have reported to the Board the person I on 25 February, 1808. This county is in a very prosperous situa- have no doubt of proving to be the author 10.h the Rathkeale Church of lreland tion, the doulass made in it hitherto being of the counterfeit certificates to obtain flax register the marriage of John Bourke the best in the kingdom, and the scheme premiums in this county, and Kerry, and Catherine Archdeacon, both of for market premiums has been carried and it is of the utmost consequence to tke Rathkeale, is recorded on 2 March, into execution with some small alter- Board and the ~ublicto detect all frauds 1756. However, Bourke does not figure ations I made by Silver Oliz~erEsq. at and attempts to impose on the Board, I in the census of Protestant households Kilfinane; Widenham Quin, Esq. at wish and sincerely recommend that the of 1766. Adare; and Sir Harry Hartstonge, Bart. authors and all concerned in this wicked 11. Edward Greatrakes is enumerated in at Bruff. Those markets, with that estab- scheme to defraud the Board and the pub- the census of 1766 and his connection lished at Rathkeale by the Hon. Mr. lic, may be prosecuted and punished in as with Rathkeale continued until he died Southwell, will in a great measure supply exemplary a manner as the law will admit in 1790. It is not possible to determine the necessities of the poor weavers and of. how long he remained interested in the spinners of this county. They are better The candidates that appeared for the linen industry. supplied with flax and yarn in this coun- county premiums of 1762 are as follows: 12. Ten of his children were baptised at ty than in any part of Munster, and I John Morrison, Kilfinane, 3640 yards Rathkeale between 1744 and 1763, but havehopes of speedily seeing the manu- white doulass, 101/4d. Yielding had apparently moved before facture of doulass flourish all over this John Bourke, Rathkeale, 3326 yards white the religious census of 1766. country; there are various private schemes doulass, 10d. 13. Like his father of the same name whom carrying on to promote the manufacture George Leake, Rathkeale, 2984 yards he succeeded in 1720, Thomas South- in different parts, all of which shall be laid white doulass, 10d. well was an enthusiastic supporter of before the Board as they become of any Mrs. Quin, Adare, 448 yards white the linen industry. consequence. doulass, 101/2d. 14.Hamilton proved a long serving and energetic agent to the Courtenay The candidates for the county premiums NOTES estate which in the eighteenth century of 1761 are as follows: 1. Robert Stephenson's reports for the comprised some 80,000 statute acres Mr. John Bourke, Rathkeale, 5107 yards years 1760-3 are deposited in the in south-west Limerick. For an insight white doulass, at 10d. per yard, all sold in Linen Hall Library, Belfast. into the role of Hamilton as agent and Dublin. 2. A variant of dowlas, named from for the introduction of the linen indus- Geo. Leake, Esq., Rathkeale,"5' Rathkeale, Da&las or Doulas in Brittany, and try to Newcastle, see P.1. O'Connor, 3600 yards white doulass, at 10d. per much used in the sixteenth, seven- Explorirzg Limerick's past, Oireacht yard, all sold in Dublin. teenth and eighteenth cenfuries to na Mumkan Books: , Mr. Sum. Leake!IAJRathkeale, 501 yards describe a coarse kind of linen. 1987, pp 67,774. white doulass, at 10d. per yard, all sold in 3. The most famous of the early Palatine 15. George Leake is counted among the Dublin. settlers, Philip Guier was also teacher Protestant household heads in the cen- to the German school at Ballingrane sus of 1766. The death of George Leake County of Limerick, 1763. and had the distinction of being the Esq., late of Rathkeale Abbey, is The linen manufacture is increasing in first local preacher recognised by Rev. recorded in 1804. this county, a>nd by the particular atten- John Wesley in Ireland. Wesley 16. Another member of the Leake lineage tion of the gentlemen in the several parts records his passing in a journal entry of Rathkeale, Samuel, also figures in of it, there is no doubt of its being extend- of 7 May, 1778, thus: 'Tzoo months the census of 1766 and he was still of ed throughout the whole; at Rathkeale, the ago good Philip Guier fell asleep, one Rathkeale when he died in 1791. best establishment of the doulass manu- of the Palatines that came over and Along with the Southwells and the facture made under the direction of the settled in Ireland between 60 and 70 Palatine colonists, the Leakes played a Hon. Thomas Southwell, is still main- years ago. He was a fathev- b&+ significant role in establishing a suc- tained; and at Kilfinane Silver Oliver, these and to the other German so&- cessful linen industry at Rathkeale in Esq. has got a pod beginning made; Mrs. eties. ' the eighteenth century: see P.J. Quin at Adare has got some of the best 4. Retaining the connection with the O'Connor, op. cit., 1987, pp 94-5.