Ireland’s 1926 Census Reveals a Nation Becoming Itself
Built around the 1926 census, this Irish history title makes archival material feel personal and alive. It uses expert voices to show a young state through households, occupations and communities, giving readers a grounded way to understand independence beyond speeches and dates.
In Stock
The Story of Us: Independent Ireland and the 1926 Census
Collect 59 Reward Points
- Free Delivery from
- Order by 6pm for Same Day Dispatch
Ireland’s 1926 Census Reveals a Nation Becoming Itself
Built around the 1926 census, this Irish history title makes archival material feel personal and alive. It uses expert voices to show a young state through households, occupations and communities, giving readers a grounded way to understand independence beyond speeches and dates.
- Book Synopsis
-
On 18 April 1926 the first census of an independent Irish state was undertaken. Across the 26 counties over 700,000 census forms were completed by, or on behalf of, the 2,971,992 people living in the Irish Free State. But what can we know of the lives that they led?
A century later, with the release of the 1926 census by the National Archives on 18 April 2026, those forms come alive again - revealing a nation in transition and a people forging their identity in the early decades of independence.
The Story of Us brings together an wide range of scholars to illuminate the individuals and communities hidden within the census returns. From island settlements to expanding cities, from rural farms and urban tenements to the mansions of the aristocracy, the book traces a vibrant cross-section of society.
Lavishly illustrated, it explores themes ranging from entertainment and the arts to housing, infrastructure, family life, and social change.
The Story of Us offers not only a compelling portrait of 1926 Ireland but a deeper understanding of the world in which these lives unfolded.
Ideal for readers who:
- Love exploring Irish history through households, archives and the real everyday lives behind official records.
- Want to examine the 1926 census as an invaluable record of actual people rather than just numbers and statistics.
- Are keen to see independent Ireland through the lens of local farms, changing cities, remote islands and social evolution.
- Value lavishly illustrated history books that seamlessly link national identity with vivid human detail.
- About The Author
- Orlaith McBride has been Director of the National Archives/An Chartlann Náisiúnta since April 2020. She previously served as Director of the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaìon, where she led major national initiatives including the 2016 commemorations programme. Earlier in her career, she worked widely across the arts sector. She has served on Dublin City University's Governing Authority and is a member of the Brian Friel Trust. John Gibney is Assistant Editor with the Royal Irish Academy's Documents on Irish Foreign Policy programme. He has written widely on Irish history and historiography. His books include A Short History of Ireland (Yale University Press), and he was one of the co-curators of the major international exhibitions presented by the National Archives in partnership with the RIA to mark the centenaries of both the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 and the Irish membership of the League of Nations in 1923.
- Product Details
-
- ISBN
- 9781788551816
- Format
- Hardback
- Publisher
- Irish Academic Press, (20 April 2026)
- Number of Pages
- 216
- Language
- English
- Dimensions
- 240 x 190 mm
- Categories: