The Countess of Aberdeen's health promotion caravans

Lady Aberdeen took up the leadership of the Women's National Health Association of Ireland on its foundation in 1907. The Association's main objective was to combat tuberculosis, which was a considerable health problem in Ireland at the beginning of the century. Exhibitions on tuberculosis prevention were organised and a horse-drawn caravan equipped with health education material was dispatched to the more remote parts of the island in 1908. It carried the Crusade to the north-west of Ireland until the caravan was unfortunately burnt in Co. Donegal in March 1909. Although there are ample reasons for suspecting that the fire might have been malicious, all the evidence points to an accidental cause. A local photographer took photographs of the caravan on fire. Its replacement, Phoenix, went on the road shortly afterwards, followed two years later by Blue Bird.