1926 Census of the Irish Free State

[Jon_ni]

The 1926 Census of the Irish Free State (the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland) is due to be released free online on 18th April, one hundred years after collection. Advertising is beginning to appear.

Example images of the householder and enumerator forms and a video on the digitisation preparation work, are now available on
https://nationalarchives.ie/engage-and-learn/census-1926-public-programme/census-1926-digitisation-project

I suspect initially at least it will only be accessible on NAI’s new website, and not via any subscription sites (so no hints from Ancestry etc for those used to relying heavily on it to infill entries in trees). Will need to manually search, enter the initial data, then refine adding additional parameters.
https://nationalarchives.ie/collections/search-the-census

Transcription has been conducted by computer OCR of the handwriting; there will presumably be a record error reporting facility for individuals as on the 1901/1911. Error corrections will assist future searches by others.

Birthplace includes name of townland or town, not just county, age is in years and months and occupation includes name and business of employer. Thus, some of the aspects of the 1921 census of England and Wales are incorporated, whilst still retaining the 1911 years married question, and actually expanding on questions relating to numbers of children, by asking married men, widows and widowers about number of living children and step-children under 16.

The Census indexing consists of 21 data sets, 13 from the Household Returns (A Form) and 8 from the Enumerator Returns (B Form). All searchable. Blank copies of these forms are viewable.

Unlike the 1901 & 1911 when older microfilm photographs taken by the LDS were converted, transcribed and indexed by Library and Archives Canada, the 1926 has been scanned in colour using modern technology, by NAI, from scratch.

The 1926 Census of Northern Ireland was conducted separately and does not survive, thought to be destroyed or pulped WW2 as a fire hazard after the Belfast Blitz. For N.I the next census after 1911 will be the 1937, not due for release until 28 Feb 2037.

Starting the topic to gather other's knowledge, thoughts and feedback before it goes live.

[Jon_ni]

The Garda Síochána were the Enumerators for the 1926 census, distributing and collecting the Family Schedules to every household.
Their Instructions are Appendix C of Volume 10 of the Census Report.
Appendix B has the Householder's Instructions on conpletion + examples.
Chapter 1 Introduction: summarises all historical census followed by background on the 1926 collection & data extraction.

https://www.cso.ie/en/census/censusvolumes1926to1991/historicalreports/census1926reports/census1926volume10-generalreports/

[gaffy]

The summary reports for the 1926 Northern Ireland census and indeed all NI censuses since partition (and those for all Ireland pre partition) are available on the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency website:
https://www.nisra.gov.uk/statistics/census/2011-and-earlier-censuses

[Jon_ni]

The summary reports for the 1926 Northern Ireland census and indeed all NI censuses since partition (and those for all Ireland pre partition) are available on the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency website:

The 1911 and older are not hosted on the NISA site, rather weblinks to the flaky HistPop - 19 times out of 20 I get a "web service is too busy at the moment. Please try again later." error.
The CSO site also directs you to Histpop for 1821-1911 reports. https://www.cso.ie/en/census/censusreports1821-2006

[aghadowey]

The summary reports for the 1926 Northern Ireland census and indeed all NI censuses since partition (and those for all Ireland pre partition) are available on the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency website:
https://www.nisra.gov.uk/statistics/census/2011-and-earlier-censuses

I see that you've edited your post again 

Earlier you commented about Protestants were now advised to state denomination but that was no different than earlier years. See here for sample of 1911 page regarding religion-
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000019402/

[Jon_ni]

Denomination/religion column as you say no different 1926 to 1901/1911.
https://nationalarchives.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Blank_4842_0005_0001_0_00001.pdf

(p) Area of Holding in the right margin of the typed example below is bottom left box on the blank return adjacent to the Head of Household's signature.

[Jon_ni]

I was asked elsewhere if I knew how house numbers in towns were going to be indexed and presented in the 1926.
"will house numbers will be correct to the postal address on this census? On previous returns the houses were numbered in order of visitation by the enumerator rather than by street number."
My initial thought was as houses were unnumbered and side roads unnamed in rural areas (only postal address the Townland) it would still be by Enumerators visitation in towns also.

The Enumerators Instructions may say something about numbering on forms, I did read they were allocated an area and could do it any way they wished.

The NAI video says they used sheet feed scanners to capture both sides at the same time but the 1926 Householders return was English one side, Irish the other.
Memorandum A was issued to all households which consisted of detailed instructions and the example completed return image (above). There was no sign of that being bound or scanned. [it was not collected]
So where might house number appear? They were on the other side of the householders return A on the 1901 & 1911 (though the 1901 reverse side was rarely microfilmed).

Turning to the blank forms -  they have squeezed a table, to be completed by the Enumerator, of house number, Townland etc onto both the English and Irish sides of the Household Form A at the right. There is a No. of Schedule box too!
Neither house number nor Schedule number are mentioned as specific indexed fields/datasets.
The Enumerator was asked to familiarise himself with his list of townlands or streets via maps & if a 'town' (cluster of 20 or more houses) to go over the ground beforehand. He was to complete the right hand Form A box before commencing any deliveries.

Column 1 of the Enumerator's House & Building Return Form B is entitled "Postal Number, Name, etc., of House (if any). That may be another place to look but again is not listed as an indexed field. Column 12 is 'Number of Schedule as given on Form A'.
Page 4 of the Enumerator's Instructions shows a completed Form B example (for a town).
We will have to wait and see what appears.

https://nationalarchives.ie/collections/search-the-census/about-the-census-collections/census-1926

comparison image of Householders 1926 and 1911 for "Street, &c with No. of House" attached

[Jon_ni]

Enumeration of streets & towns etc.

The Schedule number on Form A was to be entered in the box the night after collection (or as soon as all were collected, QC'd and missing data gathered) such that they matched his Form B's. He then had to sign & order all the A returns in bundles, inserting the form B's at the start of each Street or Townland and binding them so they were consecutive front to back Schedule 1 to Schedule 294 or whatever.

Names and house numbers weren't really of interest to them when it came to enter then process the data via punched cards for the purpose of population statistics / demographics. Only asked to try to ensure everyone in houses and households were listed and no areas missed. The census was a study of the living population at the time of collection, with privacy guarentees to householders against public release (Statistics Act, 1926). That was modified 1993 permitting our genealogical use 100 years later.