Monivea Heritage Association welcomes Dr Brian Gurrin for 1891 Census Publication Launch

VRTI Census Specialist Dr Brian Gurrin gave a talk last week to Monivea Heritage Association (Co. Galway) for the launch of their 1891 Census of Monivea Locality, published by Galway County Council.

Details of the 1891 Monivea Census were transcribed into a copybook by John F. Kennedy, a constable with the R.I.C in Monivea and an enumerator for the 1891 census. John and his family lived at the Gate Lodge on the Ffrench Estate in Monivea. Many years later when the Gate Lodge was being cleared John’s Great Grandson Paddy Moyles found the copy book, and he passed it to the Monivea Heritage Group for publication. The amount of information recorded by John and published in the book gives an invaluable insight into the lives of people in Monivea in 1891 capturing families, their ages, occupations, crops grown, farm animals, land ownership, census wages and immigration.

Brian’s talk covered Co. Galway Census Records that can be found on the VRTI, as well as the new Population Portal.  Additionally, two local TDs spoke at the event: Albert Dolan (FF) and Peter Roche (FG).