Facilities for Transit: the Congested Districts Board and Steamship Services

Abstract

The Congested Districts Board for Ireland (CDB) was established in 1891 and is best remembered for its attempt to create a peasant proprietorship by the purchase, reorganisation and resale of estates. While this was the main thrust of the CDB's work, energy and funds were also expended in developing industries along the west coast, the principal focus being fisheries. Lack of transportation facilities was an obstacle in the way of this objective and the CDB attempted to remedy this by providing financial assistance to several coastal steamship services. This article examines the role of the CDB in establishing and supporting steamship services between 1891 and 1923. the year of the CDB's dissolution.

Keywords:

• Congested Districts Board
• fisheries
• maritime history
• steamship services