Census Ireland 2022 and a reflection of an Ireland gone by
04 April 2022
The name of our townland’s reveal so much about Ireland’s rich past. Place names can unearth secrets about the landscape, the people and the culture of the Ireland that came before us, and that’s exactly why we love them so much. But this week, we got thinking about the other things that preserve our history and the glimpses into a fascinating Irish story that we have access to today
THE IRISH CENSUS
An All-Ireland census was carried out every ten years, between the years of 1821 and 1911. These records reveal so much about life in Ireland during this time, and give us so much clarity about the way those before us lived! Reading these early records can prove incredibly informative, but also at times, quite bizarre, as we read with a modern mind! For example, as well as including questions about the number of people within a household, they also included sections such as, “Who is the head of your household?” and “How many servants have you got?” Nowadays, those kinds of questions might cause a little more than a slight tension! As well as this, the census checked how many members of your household could read and write, and when asking about members of the family who may be unwell, the words “Imbecile”, “Idiot” and “Lunatic” were considered perfectly normal descriptors for the population. Reflecting on this gives us such an amazing insight into how much Ireland has changed both politically and socially!
SACRED SPACES
Ireland is lucky to be adorned with a treasure trove of ancient sacred spaces that reveal so much about Ireland’s story that would otherwise remain unknown. A great example is the Beaghmore Stone Circles. This site is home to numerous stones placed in a perfect circle outside Cookstown in County Tyrone, which are remnants of the bronze age. The site was used by neolithic farmers as a space for farming practices, as well as the surrounding mounds being used as burial grounds and places for spiritual ritual. We also have Newgrange. Newgrange is a 5,200 year old passage tomb located in the Boyne Valley in Ireland's Ancient East. It has been discovered that Newgrange was a space of great astrological, spiritual and religious practice for our neolithic ancestors, and is now respected as an ancient temple. People come in droves from all over the world to discover these sacred gems that decorate the emerald isle, and we feel so lucky to have these spaces to learn from and protect.
CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES
Ireland’s heartbeat is preserved every day through the customs and practices that its people still hold dearly. It feels like there’s a deep knowing within the Irish that allows them to preserve ancient practices with ease. A great example of this is the celebration of Halloween. Many people believe that Halloween is an American festival, made for pumpkins and ‘candy’. When in fact, Halloween originated in Ireland, as the celebration of Samhain. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season, and the beginning of winter for our ancestors. They would dress up as ghosts and ghouls to ward off evil spirits and would carve out some turnips and place a candle within the hallow to light the way for their deceased relatives to come home safely. Another practice that remains very much alive in today’s Ireland is the practice of the ‘Irish Wake’. Sticking true to traditional practice, Irish wakes occur in the three days before a family member is buried. Families gather together, never leaving their deceased relative alone. They cover mirrors and reflective surfaces and never leave the body on its own. This all comes from age old superstition that remains extremely important and part and parcel of the grieving process.
All of these things that Irish people take for granted, are fascinating ways to get a glimpse into the magic, power and uniqueness of the Irish experience. Taking the time to soak up the magic of sacred spaces, to revel in our customs and to explore the history books and important documents from our long existence on this island is a wonderful way to connect with the land and its people. Lately, we have been reflecting on what future communities will think of our generation and the legacy we’re leaving behind. We have been considering what we would place in a time capsule to educate our descendants on the ways of our people and our communities. What would we put inside? Would we have any way of preserving the rich history of Ireland that by then, may be long forgotten?
For us, of course, the first thing that springs to mind is a Irish Homelands print. An Irish Homelands print allows us to pay homage to all that Ireland was, is and will be. We truly hope they’ll be passed down from generation to generation. Now, wouldn’t that be something!