UCC to host landmark symposium on 1926 Census

• Registration opens for UCC public symposium on 1926 census.
• The National Archives website has been visited nearly 40 million times since the 1926 census records were released in April.

On 25 May 2026, University College Cork will host a one-day public symposium to mark the release of the Ireland’s digitised 1926 census, the first full census conducted in independent Ireland.

Rich in socio-economic and cultural detail, the 1926 census returns offer far more than a population snapshot. At a national level, the records provide new insight into how households understood and experienced life in the early Free State. At a personal level, they reveal the texture of everyday life, mapping kinship ties, institutional affiliations, and social networks across communities.

Organised by UCC’s School of History, with support from the Central Statistics Office and the Future Humanities Institute, the interdisciplinary symposium brings together 20 speakers from across history, demography, statistics, genealogy, archival studies, cultural studies, and linguistics. The programme takes an all-island perspective, combining short presentations with moderated discussion and opportunities for audience engagement.

Registration is now open for 'Census 1926: Capturing a Social and Cultural Moment'. Register here. 

The event will also feature a dedicated genealogy clinic, delivered in partnership with Accredited Genealogists Ireland, offering attendees practical support in exploring the 1926 census and related historical sources.

A methodological roundtable will bring together representatives from the National Archives of Ireland, the CSO, Cork Archives, the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA).

The symposium will include contributions from a diverse range of speakers, including: Dr Donal Ó Drisceoil (University College Cork); Niall Bergin (Kilmainham Gaol Museum /OPW); Dr Sorcha de Brún (University of Limerick);  Dr Aoife Granville (University College Cork), Ciara Hayes (Central Statistics Office) and Dr Adrian Grant (Ulster University).

View the symposium programme 

View speakers' biographies

Registration

Attendance is free, but advance registration is required. Places are limited.

Register here