Major news on Irish 1901 and 1911 censuses

Chris Paton · Post by **Chris Paton** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:01 pm

I have just received the following e-mail from Catriona Crowe of the National Archives of Ireland, with some major news on the project to digitise and place online all of the 1901 and 1911 Irish censuses (with Dublin 1911 already available at www.census.nationalarchives.ie):

My apologies to everyone who has been seeking information about timescales for the further releases of the 1911 and 1901 census records online. Thank you for your patience, and your messages of encouragement regarding the Dublin 1911 material.

Our Canadian partners have been engaged in an extensive procurement and recruitment process to hire contractors who will finish the project. That process has now been completed, and I’m pleased to be able to tell you that the records for Kerry, Antrim and Down will be going online in October of this year.

The rest of 1911 will follow quickly thereafter in batches of counties, in the order listed at http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/a ... plans.html I expect to have more precise timescales for the other counties as soon as the contractors start work, which will be in early August, but it is intended that all of 1911 and 1901 will be online by mid-2009, as originally scheduled. The timescales will be posted at http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/a ... plans.html

Again, my apologies for your having to wait to get this information, and my thanks for your patience. I hope that the website’s continuing augmentation will fulfil your expectations and provide a fruitful free resource for family and local history.

Best wishes,
Catriona Crowe

This is brilliant news for those with Irish ancestry. It should be noted that the Irish Family History Foundation only a few days ago launched its 1901 census transcription service, commencing with North Tipperary, where they are offering a service to view transcriptions of these records at 5 Euros a household. For a long time I have been campaigning against the extortionate prices charged by Irish records holders, north and south, who must think we are all made of money - in light of Catriona's announcement, you may wish to keep your purse or wallet closed for a few more months, as the National Archives project is completely free to view, and will have the digitised remains of the original household schedules, not just transcriptions.

I've said it before, but I will say it again - the National Archives of Ireland are a big bunch of luvs...!!!

Chris

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:06 pm

Great news for all those with Irish connections.
Chris - hope you dont mind, I edited the full stops out of your post where they were stopping the links from working.

Come on, Fermanagh!! $\:D/$
(its half way down the list....)

the National Archives of Ireland are a big bunch of luvs

Sure they are xxx

Best wishes
Lesley

Chris Paton · Post by **Chris Paton** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:09 pm

Lesley, you're a luv as well...! lol

By the way, this month's Family History Monthly has an article on Fermanagh ancestry. Part of my lot come from Magheraculmoney in the county - I'm still untangling my tongue from my teeth after the last time I tried to pronounce it...!

Chris

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:02 pm

Ah, your lot were across the water from my lot in Devenish parish.

Best wishes
Lesley

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:42 pm

Hi Chris

By the way, this month's Family History Monthly has an article on Fermanagh ancestry

Ah, interesting - is that the July or August issue?

Best wishes
Lesley the luv

Chris Paton · Post by **Chris Paton** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:48 pm

Hi Lesley,

Actually, it's the September 2008 issue!

I've contributed the lead article this issue, so I've got a contributor's copy just ahead of its release - I think it goes on general sale next Thursday. The "Spotlight on County Fermanagh" article is four pages long, pages 52-55.

Chris

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:06 pm

Well, that explains why I was seeing no mention of Fermanagh for July or August issues on their web site!

Chris Paton · Post by **Chris Paton** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:10 pm

Something to look forward to...!

Chris

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:19 am

All of my Irish departures are prior to the 1850s and I’m not interested in trying to bridge the hiatus to 1901. But in 1883 my Welsh Great-grandfather wrote about his brother’s children “Another daughter Anna is in Ireland. She has a First Class Lady’s School in Bray”. Maybe she’s still there in 1901 and 1911. Now Bray’s not far from Dublin but in County Wicklow and that’s at the end of the list. That figures but regardless I’m very pleased with National Archives of Ireland’s efforts and only too happy to wait.

Alan