The Irish Genie

31/03/2026

Why the 1926 Census Matters for Irish Genealogy

The soon to be released 1926 Census fills a 15‑year gap marked by war, upheaval, and mass emigration — finally helping us track Irish families through this turbulent era.

Follow Internal Migration - Birthplace details reveal how families moved for work, safety, or opportunity.

See How They Lived - Housing forms show rooms, building materials, outbuildings, and clues to living conditions.

Rebuild Family Stories - Questions on orphanhood and child mortality help explain missing branches in family trees.

A powerful new window into Irish ancestors’ lives — and the stories they left behind.

https://www.theirishgenie.ie/post/why-the-1926-census-matters-for-genealogy

29/03/2026

1926 Irish Census

The wait is nearly over. The 1926 Irish Census — the first taken in the new Free State — is about to open a whole new chapter for family historians.

Imagine seeing your grandparents or great grandparents in 1926: where they lived, what they worked at, who shared their home, and how life had changed after revolution and civil war.

This isn’t just another record set. It’s a snapshot of a country rebuilding — and a chance to rediscover the stories your family never told.

Get ready to meet your ancestors in 1926. Check out my website for Census 1926 updates & tips

https://www.theirishgenie.ie/post/unlocking-the-1926-irish-census-a-new-window-into-our-families-lives

28/03/2026

Not to be missed …

The 1926 census will be released on 18th April 2026, one hundred years to the day it was taken. It was the first census taken in the Irish Free State and as such, it has huge value for social and family historians. Between it and the previous census of 1911, Ireland experienced World War I, the Spanish flu pandemic, and of course, independence and the partition of the island. This talk will discuss the historical context of the 1926 census, demonstrate how to use it and how to follow on to other genealogical research. Join Claire Bradley, professional genealogist, on Tuesday 28 April at 7pm at Fingal Local Studies & Archives, 46 North Street, Swords. To book: contact archives@fingal.ie or (01) 8704486.

17/03/2026

Wishing you all a very Happy St Patrick's Day

14/03/2026

14/03/2026

How many grandparents do you really have? 🤔 Family trees double each generation — 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great-grandparents… and it keeps growing. Dive into a quick, clear explanation in our new post by Frances — perfect for curious family historians and anyone starting their genealogy journey. Read more: https://wix.to/qsTgQT9

Family trees grow quickly when you move back through generations. Each generation you go back, the number of your direct ancestors doubles. That’s because every person has two biological parents. Here’s how it works:Generation 1 – Parents You have 2 parents: one mother and one father.Generatio...

13/03/2026

⏱️ Track this countdown in real-time: www.countdown-timer.app/share/FOsgvdU0OPRD4i6wdHqf

03/03/2026

We’re on the count down ….

A new chapter in Irish history is about to open.

The Census 1926 – the first census of the Irish Free State – will be publicly available on 18 April 2026, inviting you to explore how people lived, worked, and connected one hundred years ago.

More than numbers, these records tell the stories of Irish households, families, and communities during the early years of the Free State.

To mark this centenary, the National Archives of Ireland is launching a public programme, including nationwide exhibitions, a special theatrical production by Anu Productions and an RTÉ documentary exploring the human stories behind the records.

As part of the lead-up to the Census 1926 release, RTÉ published an article this week on why these records are such an important part of the Irish history 🔗 https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2026/0226/1560189-census-population-ireland-culture-trends/

Whether you’re a genealogist, academic, or curious about your family tree, this centenary celebration reveals not only data but the lives behind the data.
Find out more about the plans for the Census release 🔗 https://nationalarchives.ie/engage-and-learn/census-1926-public-programme/

08/02/2026

Great news … really looking forward to Monday !!

They must have been listening to me. This is in the Sunday Independent today.

04/02/2026

We are on the countdown… I’ve a list I want to check as soon as they are updated … it would be fabulous to get the pre 1870 deaths … would help knock some brick walls I have.

When will we get a new year of data on Irishgenealogy? We're expecting 1925 births, 1950 marriages and 1975 deaths. It would be lovely if we got the 1864-1870 deaths (or even just the indexes back!) but I've almost given up on that. Last year's update was delayed by the launch of the new version of the website, so I'm hoping it'll be earlier this year.
That gap between the birth indexes on the commercial sites is closing fast. IrishGenealogy has births indexed with the mother's name from 1900. Ancestry/Findmypast/Familysearch have birth indexes to 1958 but they only have the mother's surname in the index from 1928. With the imminent release of the 1926 census, we should be able to get around this little 20th century gap. If you need to work with 19th century births, remember that Rootsireland often has the civil records indexed out so they might be a shortcut, albeit requiring at least a short term subscription.

03/02/2026

Unlock family secrets with Irish marriage records. Discover how names, locations, witnesses and occupations in marriage entries can break brick walls in your genealogy research. Read the full guide from The Irish Genie to learn practical tips and where to look. https://www.theirishgenie.ie/post/tracing-ancestors-through-irish-marriage-records

11/11/2025

Really looking forward to working with the Clonsilla and Porterstown Heritage Society

Our last event of 2025 is a talk, on Wed 19th November, at 7pm.

The talk will be given by local genealogist Frances Daly, about all the records available to assist tracing your family tree! We will also have refreshments and time for a chat afterwards. This talk will take place in St Mochta's Parish Centre, Porterstown.

Please email cpheritagesoc@outlook.com if you'd like to book a place, as spaces are limited!

The Irish Genie was founded by Frances Daly. Frances is based in Dublin and specialises in Irish Genealogy. Frances is a member of the Irish Genealogical Research Society and the Pharos Pro-Am Genie Networking Group. https://www.theirishgenie.ie/

Hope to see you there!

Fingal Heritage