In Reply to: history posted by interested on May 06, 2009 at 19:33:37:

It closed in early October 1921, when the fledgling Irish Government introduced an “Amalgamation Scheme” which involved the closure of Workhouses throughout the Country. There were seven Workhouses at this stage-Ballina,Ballinrobe,Belmullet,Castlebar,Claremorris,Swinford & Westport. The Scheme meant that all the Workhouses had to close and all inmates (their words) were to be transferred to a Central Hospital in Castlebar which became known as the County Home and later, the Sacred Heart Hospital. At this stage, in Westport the hospital attatched to the Workhouse stayed open for a few weeks before finally closing.