The Story of Us: Census 1926 is a landmark exhibition marking the online publication of the complete returns from the first census conducted in the Irish Free State. It explores the world reflected in the census and reveals what life was like in 1926: in towns and cities, across rural communities and islands, from crowded urban tenements to the mansions of the aristocracy.

Using contemporary documents and photographs, audio visual displays, and — at its heart — the census returns themselves, the exhibition presents a vivid portrait of Ireland a century ago. Visitors will encounter stories of work and daily life, language and culture, sport and entertainment, religion, gender, and the social realities of a newly independent state.

The exhibition forms part of a major public programme presented by the National Archives, with events in Ireland, the UK and the United States.

A companion book, The Story of Us: Independent Ireland and the 1926 Census, is available for purchase online or through the Boston College Bookstore.

The exhibition will be open during the library’s regular hours: 9am-5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday*, and 9am-8pm on Wednesday. 

*Burns Library will close at 3pm on Fridays from May 22nd to August 14th.

Visitors with accessibility needs are encouraged to contact Burns Library administrative assistant Caroline Pace (617-552-3282 / caroline.pace@bc.edu) in advance.

More on the 1926 Irish Census

The 1926 Census of Ireland, the first conducted after independence, was launched on 18 April on www.nationalarchives.ie. The National Archives made the entire census, comprising over 700,000 individual household returns, freely available and fully searchable online, marking a momentous occasion in Irish history.

The release of the 1926 Census records saw one million users from the United States visit the site during its first week online.

The online platform provides an unprecedented resource, allowing users to efficiently navigate detailed household returns and offering a unique snapshot of life one hundred years ago