1926 Irish Census
On 18 April, the 1826 Irish Census was released. This is a landmark record set for anyone researching Irish ancestry, as it was the first census taken by the newly established Irish Free State. It's worth noting that Northern Irish records are not included, as those were unfortunately destroyed.
This fascinating collection can be viewed for free at https://nationalarchives.ie/.
Information collected includes the usual details: names, relationships, ages, sex, marital status and whether the person was orphaned. It contains further details than many census returns as you can find out whether a person spoke Irish or English, their religion, occupation and place of employment, the number of years of marriage and children born within that marriage, and details of any previous marriages. You can even see the signature of the head of the household who completed the form, alongside that of the enumerator. Could one of your ancestors have carried out that very role?
In addition to the Household Form A1, there is also the House and Building Return (Form B), which offers a fascinatinig glimpse into the homes your ancestors lived in.
What will you discover about your Irish ancestors?
