The release of the 1926 Irish census has provided a valuable insight into student life at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) in the early years of the Irish Free State.
Research by Dr Paul O’Brien, Assistant Professor in the Learning, Society and Religious Education Department and the Academic Learning Centre, has highlighted that 59 students were recorded at MIC in 1926, all of whom were young women training as teachers at a key moment in the development of the State’s education system. At the time, MIC was the only third-level institution in Limerick, and all students were listed as inghean léighinn (students), with none recorded as earning a living, reflecting their full-time role in teacher training.
The census also shows that students came from across Munster and the west of Ireland, including Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Galway and Mayo, pointing to MIC’s role as regional and national centre for education even at that early stage. The use of Irish-language census forms and Irish versions of names further highlights the strong connection between teacher education and the promotion of the Irish language.
Almost 100 years on, while still firmly rooted in Ireland, MIC’s student body now reflects a much broader international community, illustrating the College’s growth and evolving reach.
Click here to view the original 1926 census form relating to MIC
