1926 census to be digitised under new €5m project
The 1926 census is to be digitised and made available online in a project carried out by the National Archives of Ireland.
www.rte.ieHere’s the latest on the 1926 Ireland census.
- Publication status: The 1926 census returns for Ireland are now publicly released online. The National Archives of Ireland, with funding of €5 million, digitised and published over 700,000 individual census sheets from 26 counties, dating to 18 April 1926. This makes the records freely searchable online for anyone interested in genealogical research.[5][6][8]
- What’s included: The digitised set includes information such as population counts, ages, occupations, religions, housing, and language details as captured in 1926. The release is part of Ireland’s 100-year privacy rule, with the data becoming public 100 years after enumeration—April 18, 1926, which is why the release occurred in 2026.[3][4][5]
- How to access: Access is through the National Archives of Ireland’s platform, with online indexing and free access to individual returns. They’ve also provided search guidance to help navigators locate people efficiently.[6][9]
Illustrative note:
- The 1926 census was the first conducted after the establishment of the Irish Free State and covers population, occupation, religion, housing, and language across all 26 counties. It reflects demographic changes in the post‑war period and pre‑modern emigration patterns.[4][5]
If you’d like, I can help you search for specific people, places, or occupations in the released records and craft a quick step-by-step search plan.
Citations:
- Ireland’s 1926 census release and digitisation funding and availability.[5]
- Public release date rationale and 100-year rule context.[4]
- Access method and search guidance from National Archives of Ireland.[9][6]
- Additional coverage confirming online availability and press context.[8][6]