c7d3b33c-f943-4afb-8665-b0b200e579f7 b73af1ec-438d-4e0f-807b-b2aa00bb19a0 118bc0a7-07f7-450c-82b3-b42001659053 181d8ff5-5d55-4887-9f0d-b420016594ef en-ie Come To Your Census: The Podcast https://rte.ie/podcasts In April 1926, a few short years after the foundation of the Irish Free State, a census was taken to count and record people resident here. Nearly three million people were recorded in that census, every household return capturing the fabric of everyday life: names and families, occupations and languages, faith, birthplace. The details that shaped communities across the country.

A century later, the release of the 1926 Census of Population into the public domain offers a rare and intimate glimpse into a pivotal moment in Ireland’s history as the foundations of a new state. To mark this historic release, the National Archives of Ireland have partnered with RTÉ to produce a two-part landmark documentary series, Come to your Census and an accompanying six-part podcast series.

In this podcast series, historian Liz Gillis is joined by archivists and fellow historians – all of whom were granted early access to the records before they were issued to the public – Liz unpacks some of the key themes that emerge from the pages of the 1926 census.

Over six episodes, the series reveals the stories, communities and social changes that shaped Ireland during the early years of the Free State.

]]> serial In April 1926, a few short years after the foundation of the Irish Free State, a census was taken to count and record people resident here. Nearly three million people were recorded in that census, every household return capturing the fabric of everyday life: names and families, occupations and languages, faith, birthplace. The details that shaped communities across the country. A century later, the release of the 1926 Census of Population into the public domain offers a rare and intimate glimpse into a pivotal moment in Ireland’s history as the foundations of a new state. To mark this historic release, the National Archives of Ireland have partnered with RTÉ to produce a two-part landmark documentary series, Come to your Census and an accompanying six-part podcast series. In this podcast series, historian Liz Gillis is joined by archivists and fellow historians – all of whom were granted early access to the records before they were issued to the public – Liz unpacks some of the key themes that emerge from the pages of the 1926 census. Over six episodes, the series reveals the stories, communities and social changes that shaped Ireland during the early years of the Free State. radio radio.player@rte.ie RTÉ no https://www.omnycontent.com/d/programs/c7d3b33c-f943-4afb-8665-b0b200e579f7/118bc0a7-07f7-450c-82b3-b42001659053/image.jpg?t=1776162283&size=Large Come To Your Census: The Podcast https://rte.ie/podcasts Dublin’s Social Housing Dublin’s Social Housing This episode delves into the 1926 Census to explore the stories behind some of Dublin’s earliest public housing projects. In it, Liz Gillis is joined by local historians Maria O’Reilly and Eamonn Delaney, both with personal family connections to some of these schemes.

From The Tenters in Dublin 8, an ambitious 1922 development on the edge of the Liberties, to the visionary Marino estate on the northside, we look at some of the first residents there through their census entries and discover how these new communities offered stability in a city facing increased housing pressure. This episode also examines British built housing provided to Irish First World War veterans, even after the formation of the Free State and discusses the widows they left behind them.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> This episode delves into the 1926 Census to explore the stories behind some of Dublin’s earliest public housing projects. In it, Liz Gillis is joined by local historians Maria O’Reilly and Eamonn Delaney, both with personal family connections to some of these schemes.

From The Tenters in Dublin 8, an ambitious 1922 development on the edge of the Liberties, to the visionary Marino estate on the northside, we look at some of the first residents there through their census entries and discover how these new communities offered stability in a city facing increased housing pressure. This episode also examines British built housing provided to Irish First World War veterans, even after the formation of the Free State and discusses the widows they left behind them.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> Census 1926 History Census 1926, History full 1 6 RTÉ relay-22893 fd58f5e1-826a-40ad-80cb-b420016c1273 Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:05:00 +0000 1479 Foreign Nationals And The Free State Foreign Nationals And The Free State In this episode, we look beyond the idea of a newly independent Ireland as isolated or inward looking and turn to the 1926 Census to uncover a more complex picture. Liz Gillis speaks with Dr. John Gibney from the Royal Irish Academy about the foreign-born nationals captured in the census. 

They explore the legacy of British military presence, the impact of major civic projects drawing workers from abroad, and the family run businesses that brought international influences to high streets across the country.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> In this episode, we look beyond the idea of a newly independent Ireland as isolated or inward looking and turn to the 1926 Census to uncover a more complex picture. Liz Gillis speaks with Dr. John Gibney from the Royal Irish Academy about the foreign-born nationals captured in the census. 

They explore the legacy of British military presence, the impact of major civic projects drawing workers from abroad, and the family run businesses that brought international influences to high streets across the country.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> Census 1926 History Census 1926, History full 1 5 RTÉ relay-22892 8e891213-6cbf-41f8-9b1f-b420016b6645 Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:04:00 +0000 1771 The Protestant Population Of Ireland’s Border Counties The Protestant Population Of Ireland’s Border Counties In this episode, Dr. Cormac Moore joins Liz Gillis to explore what the 1926 Census reveals about the Protestant population in Ireland’s border counties. While the data points to an overall decline, Liz and Cormac look at how that trend was notably bucked in Drum, Co. Monaghan, where the Protestant population grew, and in Pettigo, Co. Donegal, a town newly divided by the border. Here, demographic shifts reshaped the town centre as its Catholic population increased. 

Together they examine the local impact of partition, the work of the Boundary Commission, and how national decisions were felt in the everyday lives of border communities.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> In this episode, Dr. Cormac Moore joins Liz Gillis to explore what the 1926 Census reveals about the Protestant population in Ireland’s border counties. While the data points to an overall decline, Liz and Cormac look at how that trend was notably bucked in Drum, Co. Monaghan, where the Protestant population grew, and in Pettigo, Co. Donegal, a town newly divided by the border. Here, demographic shifts reshaped the town centre as its Catholic population increased. 

Together they examine the local impact of partition, the work of the Boundary Commission, and how national decisions were felt in the everyday lives of border communities.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> History Census 1926 History, Census 1926 full 1 4 RTÉ relay-22891 3ae9350b-ca3d-4f98-ac69-b420016aac48 Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:03:00 +0000 1815 Be Our Guest – A Temporary Bed For The Night Be Our Guest – A Temporary Bed For The Night In this episode, Liz Gillis is joined by Zoe Reid, the National Archives’ Keeper of Manuscripts, to explore the stories hidden in census entries from those who were not at

home on census night. From hotels and guest houses to city lodgings, the records offer a snapshot of an emerging tourism industry in the Free State, Irish people travelling for work, and visitors passing through a newly independent nation.

Zoe also uncovers a lively house party at the home of the Guinness family, complete with some notable names on the guest list. While looking at these temporary residents, the census also captures, in Upstairs Downstairs fashion, the staff whose job it was to care for these guests.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> In this episode, Liz Gillis is joined by Zoe Reid, the National Archives’ Keeper of Manuscripts, to explore the stories hidden in census entries from those who were not at

home on census night. From hotels and guest houses to city lodgings, the records offer a snapshot of an emerging tourism industry in the Free State, Irish people travelling for work, and visitors passing through a newly independent nation.

Zoe also uncovers a lively house party at the home of the Guinness family, complete with some notable names on the guest list. While looking at these temporary residents, the census also captures, in Upstairs Downstairs fashion, the staff whose job it was to care for these guests.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> Census 1926 History Census 1926, History full 1 3 RTÉ relay-22889 13a27924-e71f-458c-b95c-b420016a3fb7 Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:02:00 +0000 1814 Revolutionaries – Where Are They Now? Revolutionaries – Where Are They Now? By the time the 1926 Census was taken, Ireland had endured fifteen turbulent years that

reshaped the nation, from the 1916 Rising to the War of Independence and Civil War. In this episode, Liz Gillis speaks with Greg Walls, a historian and PhD candidate from Trinity College Dublin, to uncover where some of the revolution’s most recognisable figures found themselves after the creation of the Irish Free State. From Eamon de Valera and Kevin O’Higgins to Constance Markievicz, we explore how these Pro and Anti-Treaty leaders were living in 1926, the conditions they returned to, and how the census itself became, for some, a subtle act of protest.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> By the time the 1926 Census was taken, Ireland had endured fifteen turbulent years that

reshaped the nation, from the 1916 Rising to the War of Independence and Civil War. In this episode, Liz Gillis speaks with Greg Walls, a historian and PhD candidate from Trinity College Dublin, to uncover where some of the revolution’s most recognisable figures found themselves after the creation of the Irish Free State. From Eamon de Valera and Kevin O’Higgins to Constance Markievicz, we explore how these Pro and Anti-Treaty leaders were living in 1926, the conditions they returned to, and how the census itself became, for some, a subtle act of protest.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> Census 1926 History Census 1926, History full 1 2 RTÉ relay-22888 15ed1118-5f80-41de-8fed-b420016d4e13 Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:01:00 +0000 2295 From Gola Island To The World From Gola Island To The World In this episode, Liz Gillis speaks with Orlaith McBride, Director of the National Archives of Ireland, who reflects on the personal and national significance of the Census. From her family’s home on Gola Island in Co. Donegal, she shares how census records have helped preserve the story of a small island community across generations, and reveals the immense, labour-intensive effort undertaken by her team to transform fragile original returns into a free, searchable digital archive now accessible around the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> In this episode, Liz Gillis speaks with Orlaith McBride, Director of the National Archives of Ireland, who reflects on the personal and national significance of the Census. From her family’s home on Gola Island in Co. Donegal, she shares how census records have helped preserve the story of a small island community across generations, and reveals the immense, labour-intensive effort undertaken by her team to transform fragile original returns into a free, searchable digital archive now accessible around the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

]]> Census 1926 History Census 1926, History full 1 1 RTÉ relay-22887 bd1466cf-831b-4d77-8cfc-b4200166de79 Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0000 2176