Genealogical tourist groups are awaiting a implementation of a redesign by the National Archives of Ireland, accessible here, for accessing the 1901 and 1911 census records designed for improved efficiency on mobile devices.
While there are enhancements such as a new search form, the ability to the ability to download search results as CSV files, a better mobile experience compared to the old one, where users constantly had to pinch and zoom, and the use of Soundex for variant spelling identification, users report challenges regarding usability and the introduction of temporary URLs for census images. There are no longer distinct pages for entire households.
Feedback from researchers indicates that the updated system has slowed down the research process due to the need for increased scrolling to view the results and difficulties in navigating search results compared to the old version. When you reopen the search page, the details you entered during your last search remain in the search fields and are not always visible,
The initiative has sparked discussions among genealogy communities regarding the loss of old URLs and the lack of consultation in the system’s development, with hopes for improvements based on user feedback.
The old system will go offline in the coming months. Users can search pre-1901 census fragments here.
While the search by location option is not immediately obvious on the new system, it can be accessed here. Users must first select the census year they wish to search. Then, they must select from a list of counties. After choosing a county, a list of District Electoral Divisions (DEDs) is displayed. Unlike the old system, where the DEDs were listed alphabetically on a single web page, the new system spreads them across several pages, requiring users to click through multiple pages to find the relevant DED.
In addition, 6,331 entries in the 1901 census and 23,067 in the 1911 census have been corrected.
A notice on the website shared: This census records system has been replaced with a newer version… and will be coming offline in the coming months. Any updates made to the data will only be reflected in the new system and there will be no automated links established between the old and new census systems. Please ensure you make all necessary arrangements as soon as possible.”
