Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my search return fewer results than expected?

Records may be indexed under a different spelling. Try searching by surname only, or use a shorter forename. Irish surnames in particular have many variant spellings — O'Brien, OBrien and Brien are all grouped together in our surname index, but some historical spellings may not be captured. Try also leaving the county field blank to broaden the search.

Why are some records missing from certain years?

Civil registration of births, deaths and marriages was introduced in Ireland in different years — births and deaths from 1864, marriages from 1845. Coverage is also affected by the destruction of records in the Four Courts fire of 1922. Some years and districts may have gaps due to incomplete digitisation by the source archives.

What does the household graph show on census records?

The household graph shows all people recorded at the same address on census night. The head of household is shown in the centre. Family members (spouse, children, parents) appear in the inner ring; lodgers, boarders and servants appear in the outer ring. Clicking any card shows that person's individual details.

Can I see the original document?

Yes — where available, a 'View original document' or 'View census image' button appears on the record page. This opens a preview of the scanned original record image sourced from the relevant archive. The full image is available as a preview; full access may require a subscription in future.

Why does the 1926 census only cover 26 counties?

The 1926 Census was conducted by the government of the Irish Free State, which comprised 26 of the 32 counties of Ireland. The six counties of Northern Ireland (Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone) were part of the United Kingdom and are not included in this dataset.

What does 'linked household' mean on a census record?

Where we have identified the same household appearing in both the 1901 and 1911 census — or in 1911 and 1926 — a linked household is shown on the graph. These links are based on matching the head of household name and address and may be exact (high confidence) or phonetic (moderate confidence). Always verify links against the original records.

How accurate is the AI-generated household description?

The household description is generated from the census record data by an AI model and is intended as a helpful summary, not a definitive account. It reflects only what is present in the data. Do not treat it as a historical authority — always refer to the original records.

Can I download or export records?

Not currently. We are considering export options for future versions of the platform. For now, original documents can be opened in a new browser tab via the document viewer on each record page.

How do I report an error in the data?

If you notice an error in the underlying record data, the source is the relevant national archive — Irish Genealogy (irishgenealogy.ie) for civil records, or the National Archives of Ireland for census records. Use the Contact page to report any issues with how data is displayed on this platform.