This thesis is about the Carlow area during the early Famine years of 1845 - 1847. The first chapter is about Ireland before the Famine, the phenomenal increase in population, the great amount of poverty among the people and all the problems which accompanied both. The second chapter looks at the background to the introduction of a Poor Law System to Ireland and the various commissions and reports prior to its introduction. It also looks briefly at the setting up of the system in Ireland. The third chapter looks briefly at the setting up of the Poor Law Union of Carlow, its Board of Guardians and the building of the Workhouse. The fourth chapter deals with the Workhouse and the Famine in Cariow up to December 1847. The fifth chapter deals with the number of paupers in the Workhouse between April 1845 and December 1847 and also studies the number of deaths there during that period.