Irish immigrants gained voyage how and when they could, often used as ballast for a cheaper rate than the 3d cost. When the great numbers arrived at the height of the successive famines, 1840's so great were the numbers that some ports banned immigrants so overrun were the small towns. Indeed in Cardiff masters were fined for carrying Irish, some vessels were licensed but limited to 30 souls,these rules were flouted. Officers patrolled the ports to enforce the regulations so masters took to landing passengers wherever they could, on [off] the beach at Penarth or in the estuaries, causing people to scramble over the mud flats to get access.
Many Irish headed straight for the workhouse to get immediate relief, a refuge and some food. Many avoided the workhouse as there was a period where they were turned away or returned to Ireland. The regulation was that if you weren't registered as an inhabitant you could get no relief, indoor [workhouse] or outdoor, a loan of money, food or goods to tide one over. Some never registered fearing the workhouse and the possibility of getting transported back.There was a question of convents, up to about 1830-40 there was not even a church let alone a convent, so without help expectant mothers had no recourse but to turn to the work house, mostly tho most expectant mothers feared the stigma of having their child born in the workhouse, there are cases where mothers left the workhouse and sometimes giving birth in small streets or back lanes, really!
As for records, those registered appeared on the census[town] mostly this was used for demographic purposes but usually for taxation reasons, to pay the poor tax. The Irish were loathed, feared and badly discriminated against blamed for bringing and spreading disease, undercutting wages, classed as lazy, thieves and drunkards. Much blame was laid at the Irish door, discrimination lasted as late as the 1960's, where the infamous signs 'no coloureds no Irish' were hung in lodging house windows, contrary to the opinion this was a myth. As an expert in Irish in Cardiff and coming from Little Ireland, Newtown, I witnessed these signs in the Tiger Bay/lower town area of Cardiff. For more information, you can see my facebook page 'Newtown and the Irish in Cardiff' or there is an official Newtown Association, website. Information is free!