Photo source: National ArchivesThe long-awaited records of the 1926 census are finally available to the public

Two major events are to take place for the country of Ireland.

On the 18 April 2026 the long-awaited records of the 1926 census have finally been made available to the public.

View the 1926 records for:

Abbeymahon  Ballybane

Butlerstown  Clonakilty

Courtmacsherry  Timoleague

And on the 9 May 2027 the next census of population will take place.

What is a Census?

Jeremiah Denis Murphy: 1832 - 1895

Diver ahead of his time

One of the great pioneers of deep sea diving, Corkman Jeremiah Denis Murphy, is still feted thousands of miles away from his birthplace.

Born in Melmane, near Courtmacsherry, in 1832, he made his name in the late 19th century on the Caribbean islands of the Turks & Caicos, which hit the headlines in September when they were ravaged by Hurricane Irma.

His story is the centrepiece of the Turks & Caicos National Museum, whose chairman, Dr Donald H. Keith said: "Murphy's story is so amazing and he was so larger than life, it is surprising he hasn't been discovered by Hollywood!"

The islands are today a magnet for scuba divers but Dr Keith said:

"Few now realise that diving here started in about 1854, when a Boston-based undersea treasure-hunting company used Grand Turk as their headquarters while exploring for shipwrecks to salvage.  Jeremiah, a young Irish helmet diver, was among them.