When is the 1926 Irish Census released?

The release of the 1926 Irish Census offers a rare opportunity to reconnect with a pivotal moment in Irish history.

The 1926 Irish Census was taken on 18 April 1926. As per Ireland's '100-year rule', which restricts public access to census records to protect personal privacy, the census is due to be released in April 2026.

The 1926 Census is the first census taken after the establishment of the Irish Free State, following years of political upheaval, including the War of Independence and Civil War. As such, it offers a unique snapshot of Ireland at a moment of profound change. It is a comprehensive account of a population of 2.9 million people and over 630,000 households.

It also fills a major gap in Irish genealogy. Many earlier census records were lost in the destruction of the Public Record Office in 1918, leaving many families with limited surviving census material. The 1926 return helps bridge that gap, sitting between the surviving 1911 Census and later 20th-century records.

Like earlier Irish censuses, the 1926 Census includes rich household detail. Within each household's entry, census data includes:

• Names of all household members
• Ages and relationships to the head of household
• Occupations
• Birthplaces
• Marital status
• Religion
• Literacy and language (including Irish language ability)

Some records may also include information about housing conditions, offering insight into everyday Irish life and family structure.

The census will be made available online by The National Archives of Ireland, which hosts previous Irish census returns.

Once released, you'll be able to search household returns by name, location and other key details. Digitisation means you can view original images of the returns, not just transcripts.

While Ireland's official archives will provide initial access to this valuable resource, family history websites will add the census to their collections in years to come.