More than 200 delegates gathered at Dublin Castle on Thursday, 4 June for the National Archives’ one‑day conference, Exploring the Census 1926, held in partnership with the OPW. The event was officially opened by Minister Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, and we were delighted and honoured that President Catherine Connolly was able to join us, underscoring the national significance of the release of the 1926 Census.
Set within the historic surrounds of Dublin Castle, the conference traced the journey of the census from its historical context in 1926 to the extensive conservation, transcription and digitisation work undertaken by the National Archives, and onward to its public impact and future research potential.
Programme highlights
The day opened with a wonderful keynote from Professor Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, University of Galway, who offered a compelling and insightful framing of Ireland in 1926. His address set the tone for a programme that explored the census as both a historical document and a contemporary resource. keynote overview
Across keynote lectures, thematic panels and discussions, contributors examined the census from multiple perspectives. The programme moved through four focused panels:
- Deepening our understanding of Irish society in the early years of the State
- Highlighting the conservation, transcription and digitisation work that enabled the release
- Exploring creative and public engagement initiatives, including theatre, documentary and artistic responses
- Demonstrating innovative digital methodologies and tools that support research and reshape our understanding of the past panel overview
The conference featured contributions from leading Irish and international scholars and practitioners as well as genealogists, artists, documentary makers and members of the Census 1926 team at the National Archives.
The day concluded with a forward‑looking discussion on what lies ahead for research using the 1926 Census and for the National Archives’ broader mission to preserve, interpret and share the archival record.
Remarks from the conference
Speaking at the event, Minister Patrick O’Donovan said:
“Since its release over a month ago, the whole country and beyond has been captivated by the 1926 Census… It provides a wonderful opportunity for people to explore and further deepen their understanding of Ireland in 1926.”
Director of the National Archives, Orlaith McBride, added:
“We hope this conference provides a further moment for historians, academics, archivists, genealogists and the interested public to explore the census journey… Census 1926 is a rich source of information to better understand people and places in Ireland in 1926.”
Conference programme
The full conference programme is available to download here: Download programme (PDF)