Workmen at Clonbrock, Ahascragh, Co Galway, February 1870

In 1836, Lord Clonbrock paid summer wages of eight pence and winter wages of six pence per day, without meals, to his constantly employed male labourers. Women and boys were paid four pence in summer and three pence in winter, less one and half pence if fed in the servants’ hall. The turf cutter in this photograph was probably a constant rather than task-employed labourer.