The County Donegal Historical Society held their first field day of 2024 with a talk on Sunday 9th June to commemorate the centenary of the strike that took place at St. Conal’s Hospital in 1924.
The venue for the talk was the Donegal County Museum in Letterkenny, and the speaker was Hugh Devlin, a former employee of the Mental Health Services. A planned “walk and talk” around the grounds of St. Conal’s Hospital afterwards had to be abandoned due to adverse weather conditions.
Hugh gave an overview of the history of St. Conal’s Hospital, and the problems that led to the strike. These included the financial difficulties experienced by the hospital management and their subsequent decision to cut all staff wages by ten per cent. The strike which commenced on Tuesday 1st April 1924 involved more than 100 staff members, and left just seven staff behind to look after more than 600 patients.
The lack of engagement between management and striking staff led to an acrimonious relationship that resulted in the sacking and replacement of the striking staff. The outcome was a blow to the emerging labour movement in County Donegal and it had far reaching consequences for other institutions.
The talk was followed by some questions and answers and then refreshments. We wish to record our thanks to the Donegal County Museum Services, and particularly to Curator Judith Mc Carthy for facilitating this event.
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Our other planned Field Day events are listed here.
