Is the 1926 Census of Ireland really free, and which counties does it cover?
Yes, completely free, with no account or subscription involved. The National Archives of Ireland released the 1926 Census online on 18 April 2026, a hundred years after it was taken: searchable by name and place, with the original household returns to view. It counted 2,971,992 people across the 26 counties of the Irish Free State. It does not cover the six counties of Northern Ireland: their 1926 household returns were destroyed, believed lost during the Second World War, and only the published statistical reports survive. For northern families the route is the 1901 and 1911 censuses, which cover all 32 counties on the same free site.
Useful pages: The Irish surnames map · Trace your Irish roots · The 1926 Census guide · Coming home · Irish around the world · Plan your journey
Sources
- National Archives of Ireland: the 1901, 1911 and 1926 censuses, nationalarchives.ie
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