The Looooong Wait for the 1926 Census for Ireland Is Over

 

The Long Wait for the 1926 Census

Most countries have a 10‑year wait between census releases. Ireland had a 14‑year gap between the 1911 and 1926 censuses — a long wait. On top of that, census records are restricted for 100 years. In the United States, census records are restricted for 72 years, and the most recent one available to search is the 1950 Census.

Unfortunately, I had an emergency eye exam on the day of the census release. It turned out not to be an emergency — just a vitreous detachment, which can happen with age. I had to wait for the dilating drops to wear off before I could look at the records. Finally, I got to see what I had waited years for.

Searching for Patrick and Mary Mullen

I was searching for my great‑great‑grandparents, Patrick Mullen and Mary Huvane/Huane, in Pollaturick, Milltown, Tuam, Co. Galway, Ireland. I searched for “Mullen” in Pollaturick but didn’t see them on the list that came up. Maybe my eyes were still bad? I eventually found them by searching the townland instead.

What I Found on Form A

I first looked at Form A, which lists the individual members of the household. The first thing that caught my eye was that Patrick and Mary’s son Michael was living with them, along with his wife and three children. He was the eldest son and inherited the property when his father died. His siblings — Helen, Thomas, Bridget (Sister Mary Kathleen), and Winifred — all migrated to the United States.

I knew about Michael Mullen and his wife Ellen Charles’s son Patrick and daughter Mary Ellen, but not their son Aeneas. I’ll have to research Aeneas and his descendants. I’ve been hoping to find family photos that their descendants might have.

I wondered what the notation for Michael and Ellen’s children meant in the “Marriage or Orphaned” column. The notation for the children is “BP IH alive.” I knew it meant both parents were alive, but I didn’t know what “IH” meant. I asked Copilot AI, and it suggested that IH likely stands for “in house.” That does make sense.

The age column caught my attention as well. Ages were supposed to be recorded in years and months. Only two household members have months listed. So were all the others born between March 18 and April 19? Mary Ellen has no months listed, though she should — she was born in June 1921. Her brother Aeneas's age is given as 3 years and 9 months. He was born in July so 9 months would have been correct. 

My great‑great‑grandparents’ ages are way off. Based on Patrick’s age at marriage, he should be about 76 years old. Age discrepancies are common in Irish census records.

The fact that Michael and his wife lived with his parents is supported by other records. My great‑great‑grandmother Mary was present at the birth of Patrick in 1919, her grandson. Mary Ellen was present at the death of her grandmother Mary in 1940.

Mary Ellen Mullen‑Thornton died recently at age 102. She was listed on the 1926 Census.

Trying to Date the Mullen Houses

I was happy to see acreage included on Form A. I’ve been trying to figure out when the front house on the Mullens’ property was built. I was disappointed that the Building Form B didn’t include descriptions of each house like the 1901 and 1911 censuses did. Those descriptions could have helped me determine whether the front house on the Mullen property existed in 1926. Using the ordinance maps, I determined it was likely built after 1913.

Instead, I had to look for clues in the order of visitation on Form B1. Michael Mullen — my ancestor Patrick’s brother — lived in a house set back from the road. The newer house is on the road. My ancestor Patrick is number 146 in the order of visitation; his brother Michael is 152. They both lived on land owned by their father, which they split evenly. Each reported having 28 acres of land. Patrick owned the land near the road. I believe he was visited earlier because his house was easier to reach. But I can’t be certain — the census taker may have had to return to some houses if no one was home on the first visit.

What Form B Does (and Doesn’t) Tell Us

The 1926 Census House and Building Form B doesn’t provide the detailed information about building materials or outbuildings that the 1901 and 1911 censuses included. It only records whether the house was inhabited and how many rooms it had. Both brothers, Michael and Patrick, had the traditional three‑room cottage.

Worth the Wait

I enjoyed seeing my family on the 1926 Census. It was worth the wait.