Mayo memories: The ravages of consumption felt throughout county

By Tom Gillespie

IN the late 1940s and through the '50s the disease of tuberculosis (TB) ravaged Ireland.

In fact my own mother, the late Patsy Gillespie, was a victim of the dreaded ‘consumption’ and spent many months in Merlin Park Hospital in Galway before she was discharged.

Weight loss and the so-called 'wasting away' associated with TB led to the popular 19th century name of consumption, as the disease was seen to be consuming the individual.

Tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacteria that usually attacks the lungs, and at the turn of the 20th century it was the leading cause of death in the United States.

The Minister for Health, Dr. Noel Browne, was to the forefront in the fight against TB and established sanatoriums across the country, Creagh in Ballinrobe being the principal one in Mayo.

Mayo County Council were tasked with taking over Belmullet Hospital and converting it into a tuberculosis unit accommodating 16 patient.

The proposal was the subject of a long discussion at a meeting of the authority in November 1949, a report on which appeared in The Connaught Telegraph on the 19th of that month.

After many diverse views were expressed it was ultimately decided to take over the hospital as against a proposal to take over Belleek Manor, Ballina.

Even though the meeting was held in a most business-like manner, not usually associated with such gatherings, and despite the fact that a peaceful and calm atmosphere reigned throughout, standing orders had to be suspended at 7 p.m., and when a discussion continued after eight o’clock the business on the agenda was not completed.

Those present included Councillors P. Gibbons, N.T., P. Regan, M. Moran, T.D., R. Walsh, T.D., P. Duffy, C. Gilmartin, P. Healy, C. Gallagher, M. Cassidy, N.T., M. Walsh, T.J. Morahan, N.T., P. McAndrew, J. Clarke, D. Cafferky, B. Commons , T.D., M. Carney, D. Kelly, P. Bourke, J. Kearns, J. Forde, T. O’Hara and M. Kelly.

The county manager, Mr. Liam Mac Lochlainn, the county secretary, Mr. C. O’Cleireachain, Mr. James Daly, county accountant, Dr. D.F. McCarthy, C.M.O., Dr. J.G. Thornton, county TB officer, and Mr. T.P. Flanagan, county engineer, were also present.

At the outset, councillors McAndrew, Clarke, Commons and Carney protested against the failure of members to attend in time for the meeting in Castlebar Courthouse, pointing out that the time was 12.30 p.m. and that only six members were present.

A telegram was received from the chairman, Mr. B. Joyce, regretting his inability to attend, and, on the proposition of Mr. Clarke, seconded by Mr. Carney, Mr. Commons was voted to the chair.

Regarding the proposal to take over Belmullet Hospital and convert in into a TB unit, the chairman said that a deputation consisting of Deputies Walsh, Kilroy and himself met the Minister, Mr. Noel Browne, during the week.

They discussed the matter. In the minister’s opinion the hospital should be taken over, but he considered that the estimated cost of £11,000 for providing staff accommodation was nonsensical.

He did not say that the council would get a grant of two-thirds of that sum, but he did say he would arrange with CIE for transport to facilitate people with relatives in the hospital.

The chairman said the minister told them to go ahead and utilise the hospital, and when Deputy Walsh pointed out that the hospital would only accommodate 16 patients the minister informed them that he would make further arrangements to accommodate other patients.

Mr. McAndrew pointed out the necessity for immediately taking over the hospital to relieve the distressful conditions under which TB sufferers have to live in that area.

He stressed the urgency of removing sufferers from their homes and said homes in the area were a death trap where they had people suffering from TB living in a house with perhaps one room and a kitchen.

Mr. McAndrew proposed they take over the hospital and Mr. Healy seconded.

Mr. D. Cafferky said when they were trying to find accommodation for TB patients the council should have more far-reaching views. Belmullet was not suitable for climatic reasons and it would only accommodate 16 patients and that would not solve the TB position.

In his view the taking over of Belmullet was very short-sighted and the taking over of Belleek Manor would be a much better proposition.

Mr. Forde said he would agree to taking over Belmullet as a temporary hospital only to relieve the position as they could not have people suffering from the disease living in their homes, where there was a danger of spreading it.

Mr. Fadden said the money spent on Belmullet was worth while when they considered that there were 16 lives at stake.

Mr. T. O’Hara said he was against taking over Belmullet as it would only absorb 16 patients.

It was only nibbling at the position and it was their duty to set out and try and accommodate all the patients.

Mr. Regan said it would cost £7 per head per week to accommodate the patients in Belmullet.

Mr. O’Hara said they should take over Belleek as it would accommodate 50 patients. He might be pardoned for calling Belmullet Hospital a white elephant, but it would only accommodate 16 patients.

Mr. M. Moran said they should face up to the facts.

To his mind the Belmullet proposal was a complete waste of money.

The secretary said the council sent a resolution to the minister to take over Belleek, and he would not approve it.

Mr. Carney said in the interests of the ratepayers he would support taking over Belmullet as a temporary convenience for patients.