Grealish, Bridget and Family

Census of Ireland 1911

Household Return (Form A) for house No. 4

In 1911, Bridget Grealish (48), a ‘Farmer’ and ‘Widower’ was head of the household and lived with her children in the townland of Carnmore West, Claregalway. Bridget could not read nor write but spoke both Irish and English. Bridget had two sons, Martin (17) and Pat (14) and one daughter Mary (11). Both Martin and Pat are recorded as ‘Farmer’s son’. Both could read, write and spoke Irish and English. Mary was a ‘Scholar’ and could to read, write and spoke Irish and English. All were born in County Galway.

There are three new columns in the 1911 census compared to that of 1901, ‘Years Married’, ‘Children Born’ and ‘Children Living’. As Bridget did not fill this part out.

Enumerator’s abstract (Form N)

The Grealish family were the only family living in the house, there were two males and two females. All were of the Roman Catholic faith.

House and Building Return (Form B1) & Out-Offices and Farm-Steadings Return (Form B2)

Bridget was the owner of her house. The house was a 2nd class stone or brick cottage with a thatched roof. It had three front windows and two rooms occupied. There were three out-offices and farmsteads a stable, a cow house, and a piggery.

The returns were filled out and signed by Bridget. It was witnessed as a truthful return and collected by Constable Thomas Fitzgerald on April 11^th.

Neighbours

1. Peter Fahy, 2. Peter Flaherty, 3. Patrick Lally, 4. Bridget Grealish, 5. Patrick Cooney, 6. James Carr, 7. Matthew Donoghue, 8. John Carr, 9. John Higgins.

Sources: NAI, (National Archives of Ireland) www.nationalarchives.ie, accessed 23/04/2017

Census of Ireland 1926

The next census in Ireland was not taken until 1926. It was not taken in 1921 as Ireland was in the midst of the ‘War of Independence’ against Britain. By 1926 Ireland was a Free State and the government was able to take their first census. The official due date for the release of the 1926 Census is January 1st, 2027 as there is a 100-year privacy law in Ireland. There have been many attempts to have an earlier release date, but to no avail yet.