In 1838, the Poor Relief (Ireland) Act was passed, introducing a workhouse-based system of poor law in Ireland, organized through poor law unions. This legislation aimed to address widespread poverty and hardship, particularly during the Great Famine. However, the workhouse system faced criticism for its harsh conditions and treatment of the poor, reflecting the complexities of social welfare in 19th-century Ireland.

The Poor Relief (Ireland) Act of 1838 provided a framework for literary responses to the Irish famine, influencing poets like W.B. Yeats and Seamus Heaney. Their works often depicted themes of hunger, eviction, and the struggle for national identity, resonating with the broader narrative of Irish suffering.