A poorhouse, also known as a workhouse, was a place set up to support and house dependent or needy persons.  The workhouse system was started in Ireland when an act was passed in April of 1838, aimed at relieving poverty and destitution in the country.

Ireland was divided into 160 Poor Law unions. Each union had to provide a workhouse for the relief of the destitute poor of that union. The people living in a poorhouse were given food and shelter in exchange for their labour. Life in poorhouses was very hard, and many people died of infectious diseases in them.