New Census Search form on NAI (after a security warning) - original site was basic looking but worked mostly, ok, not sure about this yet…
added : interesting download search results option as csv, and search results filter
Sorry, didn’t realise there was a separate thread.
Just a reminder that this page is for discussing the update to the census website.
The thread for discussing the update to the Irish Genealogy website is here - LINK.
Not sure but I’ve mostly used it on a mobile. I find the new layout cumbersome and time consuming compared to the previous version.
Has it been redesigned for mobile devices perhaps?
Aghhh, just used irishgeneaology and the new search results layout are so awful compared to the old version IMO. The results of a simple search gave me 175 records on 18 pages (10 pp) to scroll through. The old output would have been about 3 pages with a list of records easily visible at a glance.
How can anyone think this is better? Who makes these decisions? Do professional genealogists have any input into decisions made by public servants who are not the users of these services? It is bonkers.
Edit: maybe it’s just me and other users prefer the new search results ☹️
Delete, posted in error 🙄
The web developers are linked at the bottom of the homepage.
This is likely because of the incoming EU Accessibility Act 2025. The site is likely certifiably "accessible", i.e. it meets the technical criteria for accessibility (I haven't tested it, so don't quote me on that…).
However, that doesn't mean that the redesign made the best user experience (UX) decisions. Clearly, from feedback so far, people are finding it less "usable" than before (important to draw the distinction between usable and accessible, though both measures should be aimed for).
Hopefully, there will be a process of continuous improvement implemented (though I'm not holding my breath), where user feedback and testing result in continuous adjustments to the design to create the optimal workflows for users.
FYI, I am a very experienced UX Designer and this update definitely could have been better. I'd love to know which group was involved with it.
@Cobham - let's keep that for the separate thread, thanks.
I notice there has been a 'refresh' of the BMD page. Is there one step less before access?
One peculiar aspect of the new site is that some of the data has been re-transcribed e.g. A person who on the original hand written form had written "no occupation" had exactly that transcribed on the old site, but on the new site has "unemployed" - this is rather misleading considering that she was 69!
Here's a video on the new site - if you prefer a visual discussion!
This isn't the case. There's a few examples on 1901 and many many examples from 1911 in Irish. They were partially transcribed for the current site into modern Irish by a native Irish-speaking genealogist.
delete…
I've pointed out exactly this in a follow-up email to the NAI.
Why mess with something that works fine and most people are familiar with, it makes no sense. Busy work? The existing census website is great, easy to use, clear results. The new search results seems cumbersome. I prefer lists, it’s easy to see a lot of information together.
The 1926 census is the first census where people completed it in Irish using the old Irish script. This is causing an extra challenge for the digitisation.
Yeah Gem, that's my feeling on the matter too.
Making the search difficult to use thick’s all the boxes for modern accessibility! Someone didn’t read the brief properly.
We live in hope.
On the bright side, assuming the 1926 Census is eventually added to the "New" site, any bugs should be well ironed out before the launch in April 2026.
Well I wrote to the NAI and they got back to me this morning.
They say that the old site did not comply with modern accessibility requirements and that the new layout is done with that in mind.
Not exactly what I wanted to hear - it looks like the new layout is here to stay as is unfortunately.
They haven't been advertised: I've been checking periodically.
@pinkypinky Thanks for that info on the Advisors, it explains the information void in the Annual Report.
My earlier remarks are a total coincidence with the breaking news on the Arts Council waste, I've had no connection since Lar Cassidy died years ago.
So it’s now almost 3 years since there was a need to replace the Advisory Board. AFAIK the roles have not yet been advertised. Not that it matters a huge amount, because inevitably the eventual appointees will be mates of the Minister or Party hacks not prepared to rock the boat, or those prepared to work for free.
When FOI happens, the word 'eye-watering' will probably be used.
That'll never happen: eventually we'll be able to FOI the costs for redeveloping the site!
Why don't they just admit the old site was better. Copy & paste please with additional information! Seems to be too much to ask.
Oh thanks for the Dáil link - yes @Mick Tator I meant the board. What a nothing answer! I know one of the previous members and asked about it a while back and they had no update.
Someone has written a nice conversion tool for the links. He posted it on Facebook. To get around the fact that the old transcription linked to household and the new one is linked to an individual, he's selected the head of house as a way to get you to the right place.
https://daenis.com/census-tools
See this link - apparently the previous advisory council expired in 2022 and the Minister has not yet appointed replacement
National Archives – Thursday, 17 Oct 2024 – Parliamentary Questions (33rd Dáil) – Houses of the Oireachtas
I sent in feedback about lack of wildcard search functionality on the new site on 10th February and received an email today saying that it was enabled. So sending feedback works.
