Dunfanaghy Poor Law Union was formally declared on on the 20th July 1841, and covered an area of 200 square miles. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 18 in number, representing its 10 electoral divisions as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one): Co. Donegal: Ards (2), Creenasmear, Creeslough (2), Crossroads (3), Doecastle, Dunfanaghy (3), Dunlewey, Gortahork (2), Magheraclogher (2), Meenaclady. The Board also included 4 ex officio Guardians, making a total of 22. The population falling within the union at the 1831 census had been 15,793 with divisions ranging in size from Doecastle (population 603) to Crossroads (3,125) and Dunfanaghy itself (1,950). The Board of Guardians had their inaugural meeting on August 31st 1841 at which Alexander Stewart of Ards was elected Chairman and William Ramsay Vice-chairman. The opening minutes of the meeting are shown below.
