Ireland’s Children: Quality of Life, Stress, and Child Development in the Famine Era

A quantitative analysis of the situation of Ireland’s children during the famine era (1841-1861), this study utilizes census data to construct a series of indices to measure the quality of life for children in each of Ireland’s 32 counties. While relatively little is known about the particular effects of the famine on childhood, census records from 1841, 1851 and 1861 do exist. Jordan analyzes anthropometric data on military recruits and also examines emigration figures, school enrollment and church records to build a picture of quality of life for Ireland’s children in the 19th century.