1901-1911 Irish Census Whenever the census is consulted be it 1901-1911 we are looking mainly for genealogy data and thankfully in Ireland the original household schedules survived, often written in our ancestor's hand writing and now all available on line in a digitised format at www.census.nationalarchives.ie <http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/> . Each census record begins with a primary return known as Form A, this covers the basic genealogical details we are seeking. But your ancestors can be found on different forms, 1-Shipping returns-form B3 2-Workhouse -Form E 3-Hospitals-Form F 4-Academic bodies Form G 5-Barracks Form H 6-Assylums Form I 7- Prisons Form K 8-The sick at home plus Form C 9- Lunatics' or 'idiots' at home Form D As well as on the key primary Form A On the primary form A returns in the top right hand side of page a number is given, No, On Form B, duly noted this number can help you locate more information for your household within the subsequent pages. Form N the Enumerator's extract summarises the information from Form A, but it also lists how many houses were inhabited, how many people were in each household, and the sex of each person and religion., it pinpoints boundaries within which area your ancestors house existed, with the added information of the PLU, DED , townland and parish etc. Don't be in too much of hurry to decide this is not worth a search, as it does indeed show that whilst Form A may list your party as a 'head of household' it does not mean he is the head of the 'entire household' there may well be others living within the property, making up a separate household but still residing in same property. So From N and B1 Can help you flesh your family's domestic situation out considerably The form B1 in the House and Building return. Not to be ignored either, there are four key sections, with each line relating to different households, the first section corresponds to form A allowing you to seek out your correct family, then it is followed by a series of questions about the buildings, whether built, being built, dwelling, public, school, factory, hotel etc., and more. The second part asks for particulars on the building etc The Third section then asks Under Families, number of families in building as well as how many rooms occupied by each, the total number of people, in each family and the numbers of who may have been sick on census night, it also provides head of households, in the building and the name of the landholder. The fourth section relates to the landowner only a further form M1 filled in by them not available online. Sometimes for some households there is a further form B2 Consulting the subsequent forms should be as important as looking at Form A or the Primary Form you need, As well as fleshing out your families situation it may hold a key to neighbours, and friends and no doubt to some of those related to your family . I am not preaching to those who know, just allowing that some may not know to go further into these forms, because it is only in the past 6 months I have learnt these things myself. Cheers I now have a net server again Cara