Mayo master calligrapher creates illuminated manuscript to mark release of milestone 1926 Census

When the newly formed Irish Free State conducted its first major census in 1926, the young nation was doing something quite extraordinary.

For the first time, an Irish government and not a colonial administration was counting its own people.

Now, as the National Archives of Ireland today releases those records to the public, master calligrapher Karen (Brett) Brennan, a native of Garryduff, Castlebar, is creating a traditional illuminated manuscript to honour this pivotal moment in Irish history.

This manuscript, available as a fine art print on archival paper, can be personalised in hand-scripted calligraphy with family surnames to mark this special moment in our shared history.

The illuminated manuscript, executed in the grand tradition of Irish and European decorative penmanship, draws inspiration from some of the finest examples of the form including a remarkable manuscript created before the turn of the century in Mayo by the calligrapher’s own great-grandfather, William Brett, who worked with Irish artists of his time such as Harry Clarke.

That earlier work, produced at a time when Ireland was still under British rule, now serves as both artistic anchor and emotional touchstone for this new creation.

“The 1926 census is different to everything that came before it,” said Karen.

“Because it was the Irish government doing the counting, with nothing to gain from distorting the figures, the records are remarkably accurate and unfiltered.

"For anyone tracing their Irish roots and especially those who have been searching for generations, this release is a watershed moment.”

The illuminated manuscript as an art form flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Presented on occasions of great civic, personal, or historical significance, these handcrafted documents were adorned with decorative borders, heraldic motifs, gold leaf, and intricate lettering with each element imbued with symbolic meaning.

William Brett’s turn of the century Mayo manuscript is a distinguished example of this tradition, and the new work honours its visual language whilst speaking to the present moment.

Karen, a daughter of Aiden and Mary Brett, really enjoyed delving into historical works like her great-grandfather’s and the Book of Kells.

She stated: "In thinking about the generations of Irish people who share a common lineage I was able to paint in a sneaky DNA double helix pattern into the Celtic knotwork.

"I’ve thought deeply about the significance of this moment in time in the world and how to represent it. I figured if you asked someone back in the time of this census in 1926 what would someone in 2026 want most.

"We are in such a precarious time internationally with so much war and dissension so the word that comes to mind is peace, of course. The word peace takes up a significant part of the right-hand panel of the work and is richly decorated in Celtic style."

The 1926 Irish Census holds a unique place in Irish historiography.

Previous census records, particularly those from 1821, 1831, 1841, and 1851, suffered catastrophic losses, with many destroyed in the Four Courts fire of 1922.

The 1926 census, compiled by an independent Irish government for the first time, provides an unparalleled, accurate snapshot of Irish life in the early Free State era: who was living where, what they did, and how they identified.

For the global Irish diaspora which is estimated at over 70 million people worldwide, the release of these records offers the prospect of finally locating ancestors, filling gaps in family trees, and connecting with the land and people they came from.

Karen (Brett) Brennan is an artist and master calligrapher with 35 years of experience in traditional penmanship and illuminated lettering.

Working in the centuries-old tradition of Irish decorative script, she produces commissions for clients across Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia.

The illuminated manuscript commemorating the 1926 census is available as a certified edition signed and numbered on fine art print archival paper.

Each fine part print comes with a certificate of authenticity and a gift copy of the turn of the century address created by William Brett in Co. Mayo.

It can be personalised in handscripted calligraphy with family names so it is of particular significance to those with an interest in their Irish genealogy.

Karen can be contacted at https://www.karenbrennanart.com or by email at artbykarenbrennan@gmail.com.