100 Years into the Future…….

I was a bit taken aback by the emotion I felt writing in the Time Capsule section of Census 2022.

I considered writing about all the things bothering us these days – war, housing, cost of living, the never-ending violence in our country, and of course, Covid is still here. In the end, I thought better of it as all these things should be easily available through the technology of the future.

In our family, we have three grandsons – who more than likely won’t be around in one hundred-years’ time, but wouldn’t it be great if they had children and grandchildren, who could read about the boys their forefathers were – things they won’t find on any census or registers – things which only grandparents can see in the treasure of grandchildren. I wrote of their individual and special personalities, of their interests, and how they relate to each other and us.

It felt very strange writing to these people whom I would never know, and yet be related to.
Many times, I have looked through the 1901 and 1911 Census, and wondered so much about those people – my grandparents, and some great grandparents are in there. They could all read and write – a question we’re not asked now.

Looking at the Lucan area in the early 1900’s, many of the houses hosted up to three generations of a family at a time – it looked like Granny looked after the grandchildren, while her children and their spouses worked in the local mills in many cases. Curiosity really takes over when we look back in time.

To me, the Census Time Capsule was a chance to create a link to the future, so I gladly penned my piece. It wasn’t long before I ran out of space, but I hope the future generations get some semblance of the people we are in 2022, and I look forward to updating them on Census 2026 when it comes along.

Incidentally, the next census to be available online will be for 1926, and will be available on the hundredth anniversary in 2026 – no census was taken in Ireland between 1911 and 1926.

Looking to the future…….
Mary Mulhall