Home / Education / Ireland's 1926 Census: Secrets Revealed After 100 Years
Ireland's 1926 Census: Secrets Revealed After 100 Years
6 Apr
Summary
- The 1926 census details nearly 2.9 million Irish people are now online.
- It challenges the perception of a monochrome, insular post-independence Ireland.
- Records include occupation, religion, and housing, revealing family secrets.
The 1926 census of Ireland is now accessible online, marking a significant release of personal details for nearly 2.9 million individuals exactly 100 years later. This extensive dataset, digitized from over 700,000 pages, aims to reshape perceptions of early independent Ireland. Historians suggest the findings will challenge the notion of a strictly conservative and insular society, revealing a more globalized and diverse population.
The newly available records detail information on age, sex, marital status, occupation, religion, and housing. Furthermore, the census returns, collected from households, hotels, prisons, and hospitals, may uncover family secrets previously unknown to descendants. The project involved a substantial effort by the National Archives of Ireland, restoring and digitizing the vast collection with government funding.
Scholars anticipate the census will help address historical enigmas, such as the significant decline in the Protestant population between 1911 and 1926. By tracking movements and occupations, researchers hope to gain insights into the reasons behind this demographic shift. A series of exhibitions, documentaries, and a book will commemorate the release.
