The purpose of this paper has been to identify and describe the demographic, social and clinical characteristics of persons admitted to an Irish district lunatic asylum in the late 19th century as exemplified by the records of the Sligo District Lunatic Asylum. Some 21st century comparisons and epidemiological considerations from the same catchment area have been attempted.

The register entries and case books of a series of consecutive admissions to Sligo District Asylum during the decade 1892–1901 were surveyed in the Irish National Archive.

Most admitted patients were of lower socio-economic status, the majority male, poorly literate, unmarried and described as suffering from mania or melancholia. Most were first admissions. The predominant (62.5%) reason given for admission was for assault or threat of assault. These admissions were by order of the Lord Lieutenant as ‘dangerous lunatics’. Although it may be maintained that this admission process was a device of social convenience to maintain the peace and integrity of local communities and the convenience of families, clinical information indicates that the majority of admissions had symptoms of mental disorder recognisable in terms of 21st century psychiatric diagnostics.