To honour those who were recorded in the census and are still with us today, the National Archives is launching a Centenarian Ambassadors Programme. We are inviting individuals born before 18 April 1926 or their families to come forward and share their stories. These ambassadors will help us connect the historical record with living memory, offering personal reflections on a century of change. Their voices will be central to our commemorations, reminding us that history is not just something we read, it’s something we live.
This programme will capture first-hand reflections from people who will see their own family’s 1926 Census records released for the first time on 18 April 2026. Ambassadors will help bring these stories to life for the centenary celebrations.
What’s involved?
There are various levels of involvement, and you can choose what feels right.
Options include:
- sharing personal reflections (written or recorded)
- being interviewed and photographed by the National Archives or a family member
- highlighting key milestones – family, work, sport, community, etc.
- speaking with local or national media about their lives over the past 100 years
- taking part in a short, filmed interview
- attending a small number of events as a VIP guest
- or simply a mention by name and/or a short, written note
If you or a loved one were born before April 1926 and would like to participate, please contact us at census1926@nationalarchives.ie.
Important information about your data
The 1926 Census will be published on the National Archives website on 18 April 1926, in line with the Statistics Act 1993, where individual census returns must be published 100 years after a census was taken.
However, if your personal information appears in the 1926 Census, you are protected under General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
You have the right to opt out of having your personal information included. If you choose to opt out, we will redact the lines relating to you, but the rest of the household information will still be searchable on the National Archives website.
If you do not want your personal data to appear as part of your household return in 1926, please contact us at census1926@nationalarchives.ie.
Here is a blank copy of the 1926 household return – Form A, so that you can see the information that was recorded.