Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1882 — The Decline of Irish Industries. [ARTICLE]

The Decline of Irish Industries.

The revival of Irish manufacturing industries, largely destroyed by hostile legislation, is much agitated. The statistics of the decline are given as follows : In 1800 there were in Dublin 91 master woolen manufacturers and 4,918 hands; in 1840, 12 masters and 602 hands, 30 master woolcombers and 230 hands; in 1834, 5 masters and 66 hands. The carpet manufacturers in 1800 were 13 masters and 720 hands; in 1841,1 master. The blanket manufacturers in Kilkenny in 1800 were 56 masters and 3,000 hands; in 1822, 42 masters and 925 hands. The broad silk loom weavers in Dublin in 1800 at work were 2,500, and in 1840, 250. The calico looms in Balbriggan in 1790 in full work were 2,000, and in 1841, 226. The flannel looms in the

county of Wicklow in 1800 were 1,000 ; in 1841, not one. The case of the Cork .braid weavers, worsted weavers, hosiers, woolcombers, cotton weavers, linen check weavers, was even worse. These industries employed thousands of hands up to 1820; now there is nothing left but a few wheezy, hand looms near Shandon Church, and an almost extinct colony of calico weavers at Clonakilty. The linen trade once throve in Mayo, but there is not a trace of it now.