The Connaught Journal Galway, Thursday, November 27, 1823 PEASANTRY OF IRELAND The First Report of the British and Irish Ladies' Society, for improving the Condition and promoting the Industry and Welfare of the Female Peasantry of Ireland. ROSCOMMON In Roscommon, a County Association has been formed, with the Baronial and District Associations in the Baronies of Boyle and Roscommon. The exertions of an able and intelligent Correspondent have put into activity nine parishes, out of thirteen which the barony of Boyle contains; many of them are very extensive, and without much assistance from the resident gentry. The population is also very great, and the women anxious to assist themselves by honest industry. It is the opinion of those on the spot, that promoting their temporary comforts, will greatly tend to improve the state of their minds, and to foster morality, and submissions to the laws of their country. An inquiry was set on foot at Killuken, relative to the spinning of cotton, in consequence of a present of 2006lb. weight of the raw material, having been made to the Committee by Messrs. James Cropper and Sons, of Liverpool, and 300lb. being sent there to be spun by the women, the Committee had the satisfaction of learning tht this grant gave great pleasure, for that many of the women had been in the habit of purchasing a pound of machinery cotton, and having it wafted on the end of a linen web, to make a gown, then colouring it with heath, and making in this way a strong and comfortable garment. Cathy Joynt Labath Abstracts from Irish Newspapers http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/Ireland/index.html