Brian Gurrin

My @historicaljnl.bsky.social article has been published open access alongside great articles by @adambforsyth.bsky.social, @davidandress.bsky.social, and others I couldn't locate here, in the most recent journal issue.

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Wolfe Tone on Paine: I have been laterly introduced to the famous Thomas Paine and like him very well. He is vain beyond all belief, but he has reason to be vain and, for my part, I forgive him. He has done wonders for the cause of liberty ... and I believe him to be conscientiously an honest man.

1766 religious census of Boho parish, Co. Fermanagh, by Revd John White.
‘One Papist is generally a herdsman for a whole townland. There is not a Papist in the parish anyway considerable, either in circumstances, or mental capacity, all poor, low, illiterate people’.

Image of a surviving original return from the 1766 Religious Census. The rector blames the local 'insurrection called Hearts of Oak' on the 'Dissenters' (Presbyterians) who are 'the spawn of Scottish Covanenters, avowed enemies to all civil and religious establishment, and the most virulent, and furious persecutors of the Established clergy during the late tumults in the north of Ireland.' See full transcript here: https://virtualtreasury.ie/item/NAI-IHP-1-668 National Archives, Ireland IHP/1/668.

1766 Killeeshill, Co. Tyrone
Original 1766 census return on Dissenters (Presbyterians): 'spawn of Scottish Covanenters...most virulent, and furious persecutors of the Established clergy during the late tumults in the north of Ireland.'
virtualtreasury.ie/item/NAI-IHP...
@presoutlook.bsky.social

Image of a rare surviving original return from the 1766 Religious Census showing the bare minimum totals for Ballymore Parish, Co. Armagh. https://virtualtreasury.ie/item/NAI-IHP-1-651 National Archives, Ireland IHP/1/651.

The 1766 Religious Census gold seam on the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland. https://www.virtualtreasury.ie/gold-seams/1766-religious-census

Ballymore parish, Co. Armagh
A rare surviving original census return! 🤩
But - instead of listing 901 names Rev. Sacheverell only sent
615 Protestant families
206 Popish (Catholic) families
'2 reputed Popish priests' 😩
virtualtreasury.ie/item/VRTI-CE...
virtualtreasury.ie/item/NAI-IHP...
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Printed transcript of the 1766 return for Castlewellan, '15 families, 2 of whom were papists' and including names such as: Terence and Elizabeth Hagan; Lord and lady Annesley; William and Mary Bridges; Andrew and Rebecca Newell; Cromwell and Anne Nicholson; Joseph and Grace Lascells. Source: James O’Laverty, Historical account of the diocese of Down and Connor, volume 1, p. lxxi

https://www.virtualtreasury.ie/gold-seams/1766-religious-census

The ruined interior of the Public Record Office of Ireland in 1922. Almost all the original 1766 census records were destroyed in the fire.

A route map from Dromore to Castlewellan (1777) https://www.virtualtreasury.ie/item/LBC-mid-348 Taylor and Skinner's Maps of the Roads of Ireland, plate 284-285: Dromore to Castlewellan and Clough-Ballynahinch and Rostrevor-Moira

Prudence Riddle, Elizabeth Hagan, Grace Lascells, Deborah Milligan.
Most 1766 census records for Co. Down were lost in 1922, but this transcript for Castlewellan records some names of adult women, and not just 'elite' women. A rarity in the census returns!
virtualtreasury.ie/item/VRTI-CE....
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Image of a single sheet with a transcribed list of the names from the 1766 Census for the Parish of Inchigeelagh Transcript in possession of Cumann Staire Uíbh Laoire/Ballingeary and Inchigeelagh Historical Society. For a full transcript of this document see https://virtualtreasury.ie/item/VRTI-CEN-1766-6-757

https://www.virtualtreasury.ie/gold-seams/1766-religious-census Home page for the 1766 Religious Census Gold Seam in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland

Long thought lost this transcript of the 1766 census for Inchigeelagh Co. Cork was generously made available though the VRTI by Cumann Staire Uíbh Laoire/Ballingeary and Inchigeelagh Historical Society.
virtualtreasury.ie/item/VRTI-CE....
@johncreedon.bsky.social
@corkbeo.bsky.social
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1766 census return, Inchigeelagh, County Cork, from our friends in Cumann Staire Uíbh Laoire/Ballingeary and Inchigeelagh Historical Society. It's a complete transcript and (my view) a very accurate census return.

Kilmegan parish, Co Down - partial 1766 census return. The original return was probably one of the finest returns issued. #census

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It's a fine book. 😉

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VRTI will be posting some information about the 1766 religious census returns over the next few days (260th 🎂 approaching). Keep an 👁️out. We'll be revealing some hidden gems 💎 among the surviving returns.

Thumb/finger print on PRONI T808/15122. Most likely a print of Tenison Groves, who transcribed thousands of names from the 1766 religious census, and the 1821-1851 censuses of Ireland. One of my heroes...

After 30 years of researching the 1766 census of Ireland, my latest find (Dublin Diocesan Archives) is - by happy coincidence - a transcript for my home parish, Delgany. Alas no names, but this is the full transcript of the destroyed return. Click to view: virtualtreasury.ie/item/VRTI-CE...

Better late than never. Census names in VRTI for end January, 2026 - a whopping 139,102, incl. >50,000 names from 1766 Religious Census of Ireland. Cork leads the way with 16k+ names from 1766 and 1821-1851. Next big mark is 150,000k Click for sample: virtualtreasury.ie/item/VRTI-CE...

Census of Ireland, 1766.

Great census of Athassel, Co. Tipp. Gives names, details on family, occupations. My fave is entry number 435, John Birrane, 'a beggar man in cabin on the road'. Probably the only record for Birrane.
virtualtreasury.ie/item/VRTI-CE...
@tipperarylibraries.bsky.social

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Quick note that the # of names from Irish censuses, 1766-1891, has leaped forward over the past few weeks, and now stands at a whopping 115,911. And the good news is that we have 1,000s more names to come in over the first half of 2026. Here's a cracker: virtualtreasury.ie/item/VRTI-CE...

Censuses of Ireland, 1766-1891.

At end Nov. our total for names in VRTI CEN from 1766 religious census, 1798 census of Dublin City and censuses of Ireland 1813-1891 hit 98,000. On Tuesday we'll give the end Dec. total. Will we hit 100k? Tune in Tuesday for update. Any guesses?

Maps showing 1766 religious census returns received at House of Lords, in response to their 15 March call for census details, and the surviving details from the census. 83% national coverage in 1766; 63% survival of details, in some form. Significant losses. Significant recovery.

Censuses of Ireland, update.

We've updated our 1766 survivors map to reflect some recent discoveries, including numerical details for Nenagh Union (Tipperary) and Tacumshin Union (Wexford), and expansion within Kilkenny. Coverage (survivors) now at 60.32% of the island.

Me when I find a new census transcript.

9 years to finish the big 6.

Berlin, 2016, 2:44:54 (fastest).
London, 2017, 2:48:34.
Boston, 2018, 2:56:59 (coldest).
Tokyo, 2019, 2:45:04.
Chicago, 2024, 2:58:34 (slowest).
New York, 2025, 2:49:48 (best).

The big 6, done and dusted, and all sub-3s. 😃 #tired #runner #marathon

Was a fantastic first day at ’Ireland and the American Revolution’ capped off by a brilliant keynote address by Prof. Eliga Gould. Looking forward to day two.

From left to right: Holly Ritchie, PhD researcher, Department of History TCD, Ciarán Wallace, Mary Colclough, Community Engagement Manager, Unit18.

Great to see a good turnout at @tcdunit18.bsky.social for @cwallacedublin.bsky.social's talk on Wed 17th titled "30 June 1922 – Dublin’s biggest explosion? Recovering the lost Public Record Office of Ireland”. @historytcd.bsky.social

So, Andrew's wife is from Inchigeelagh. Click here to check out the 1766 religious census for the parish (our most recent 1766 discovery): virtualtreasury.ie/item/VRTI-CE...

Census of Ireland, 1861

The 1861 census returns were never in PRO/never open to the public. Not knowing this, Samuel Gilmore wrote to PRO seeking info from 1861 census, providing a mock-up for the Patterson household, Lisburn. Click link: virtualtreasury.ie/item/VRTI-CE...
@narireland.bsky.social

Tickets are now available for ‘Ireland and the American Revolution: 250th Anniversary Perspectives’. The conference will take place @tlrhub.bsky.social on the 9-10 October. For booking and more information use the link below.

www.eventbrite.ie/e/ireland-an...

Beautiful lazy-beds at The Deserted Village, Achill. The lazy-bed agricultural practice was anything but lazy.