27/04/2026
The 1926 Census and Edenderry
So there was great excitement recently with the release of the 1926 census. More than 20 million views of the census were recorded on the first weekend of its release.
Have you had a look and checked it out? It is free to view, and search, and there's lots there waiting for us all.
I had a look through many of the Edenderry files over the last couple of days and while there are family names recorded that are no longer in Edenderry, some are still here. All of these people left an indelible mark on the history of the locality.
The returns tell us much more than family history and the Edenderry returns paint a picture of life in the area at the time. It wasn't all easy and perhaps that is the biggest take away from the census in Edenderry. The grim realities of life three years after the Irish Civil War is revealed.
Chief amongst these was the number of people who filled in 'out of work' on the census return - reflecting the fact that Alesbury's booming empire was coming to an end and the Offaly County Council heavily in debt because of Civil War claims had laid off hundreds of workers.
Yet other businesses were thriving as evidence from the number of boarders in the town - workers in MP O'Briens and Fays. Indeed, Mary Doyle of Blundell Street (now Fr Paul Murphy Street) had five people in different employers represented under her roof. There were lots of small businesses too. For example, Stephen Yore of Louth and his wife, Nora ran a small shop, while William Lee of Youghal, was a grocer.
Professions and employment are perhaps the best insights that the census contains - Lilian Alesbury listed as a 'Teacher of Dancing'. James Beatty, the man that received the 'Countermanding Order' ten years previous in 1916, was listed as a 'shoe maker'. Michael Foley who had fought in the 1916 rising in the GPO was listed as a 'French polisher', obviously depending on work in Alesbury's.
The world was a smaller place than we think in 1926. Take for example the fact that John Patterson, publican and farmer, of the 'Old Established House (1821), was born in Australia or that George Homan's wife was born in Milwaukee, USA! Or that several members of the Mangan family listed as coach builders were born in Fulham, England.
Some other snippets include the fact that we can see individuals named who would go on to leave their mark elsewhere. Young Norman Acheson, son of Edenderry drapers, would serve in WW2 where he was killed in action. Likewise, William Burke of Murphy Street (known as Blundell Street until 1932) was just aged 11 and at school, but was captured in Singapore in 1942 and died in a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp in 1943.
The census also reveals insights into families who had suffered loss since the previous census was compiled in 1911. These included the family of George Nelson, who was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. His father, Henry, was a former town clerk of the Petty Sessions Court in Edenderry and in 1926 was listed as a 'Commissioner of Oaths'. The census returns also suggests that the family had spent some time in Ballymahon, county Longford. Fifteen year old Alexander McBride is listed as 'at school', his father, a native of Tyrone, had been a casualty of WW1 and is buried in Monasteroris.
Of course there are still businesses and names in Edenderry that we will recognise. For example, if you search for Farrell you will see Thomas Farrell 'Hairdresser' born in Athy, Kildare - cue Des the barber in Edenderry today. Those of an older generation will know that part of Byrne's Pub (Lounge) was formerly the premises of Thomas Farrelly, then aged two on the census in the home of his father, Henry, a 'Retail Licensed Trader' and a native of Kilcock.
Looking through the census of 1926 of course I look to my own ancestors. My grandfather is listed as a 13 year old 'assisting on fathers farm' in the Derries, while my grandmother, then 15 years old, clearly completed the census form for her father in their three roomed house in Drumcooley [CR].
Lots to uncover in Edenderry (and indeed other parts) and do share what you uncover.
To search the census visit: https://nationalarchives.ie/colle.../search-the-1926-census
