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Historic 1926 Census Shows Protestant Population Drop in Irish Free State
The archive digitised more than 700,000 return sheets, and the records will be searchable by name, address, age and employment.
- On Saturday, April 18, 2026, the National Archives of Ireland officially released the 1926 census records online, free of charge. These nearly 3 million records offer the public detailed insight into life in the newly independent Irish Free State a century ago.
- The 1926 census served as the first national count undertaken by the independent Irish Free State after its 1922 formation. Records remained confidential for 100 years under the Statistics Act 1993, which mandated public access restrictions on historical census returns.
- Documenting 2,971,992 individuals, the collection includes nearly 3 million records. Data reveals 53% of gainfully employed people over age 12 worked in agriculture, reflecting the nation's economic structure during that period.
- Describing the release as a "significant day," National Archives director Orlaith McBride noted the census provides a "story of us" rather than mere numbers. To mark the occasion, the archive opened a major exhibition at Dublin Castle running until August 15, 2027.
- This release helps reconcile the loss of records caused by the 1922 Public Record Office destruction. The data provides essential insights for a global diaspora of 80 million people claiming Irish ancestry to trace family history and kinship networks.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left6Leaning Right1Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution55% Left
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources lean Left
55% Left
L 55%
C 36%
Factuality
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