A government census of the Irish population was taken every 10 years between 1821 and 1911. Unfortunately, many of these original records have been destroyed. This can make researching Irish history and genealogy challenging.
Missing and destroyed census records 1821 – 1891
The majority of Irish census returns for 1821, 1831, 1841 and 1851 were destroyed in a fire during the Irish Civil War in 1922.
No individual household returns exist for the years 1861, 1871, 1881 or 1891.
- The returns for 1861 and 1871 were deliberately destroyed in 1877 after analysis was complete.
- The returns for 1881 and 1891 were destroyed during the First World War, due to a paper shortage. This decision was made after the data had been analysed.
Surviving returns 1821 – 1851
The 1841 and 1851 censuses are particularly useful as they list members of the household who were not at home on census night, as well as family members who had died since 1831/ 1841.
Although almost all original census returns for the years 1821, 1831, 1841 and 1851 were destroyed in 1922, official copies of a small number of individual returns made by staff of the former Public Records Office of Ireland (PROI), or others, prior to this date have survived.
A list of 19th century copies and certified copies is available for consultation in the Reading Room.
Surviving original census returns
Some original census returns for specific counties and years survived the 1922 fire. These surviving records are available to search online.
- Antrim: 1851
- Belfast city: 1851 (one ward only)
- Cavan: 1821, 1841
- Cork: 1841
- Dublin city: 1851 (index to heads of household only)
- Fermanagh: 1821, 1841, 1851
- Galway: 1821
- King’s County (Offaly): 1821
- Londonderry (Derry): 1831, 1834 revisions
- Meath: 1821
- Waterford: 1841
In many cases, only one or two records survive for a family in a particular county for a given year.