"Clifden itself is an exotic in an unfavourable climate. It was reared by the patronage of the late Viscount; and since that ceased, it began to decline: the Poor-law has almost finished it. . . .Extreme poverty exists in the neighbourhood-- the soil around is poor-- great numbers of houses have been levelled-- but the poor, unlike those of Kilrush, have in great part disappeared with the houses. They have not found refuge in the workhouse-- they have not been carried away as emigrants; they have either wandered away or have died, or both may have contributed to cause their disappearance."