FREE STATE CENSUS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1929, Page 5

FREE STATE CENSUS

INTER ESTIN GIN FORMATION

DUBLIN, March 20

Volume HI. of the Free State Census of Population, 11)2(5, is issued for publication and entitled “Religions and Birthplaces,” and contains some highly interesting information. The total population of the Free State tell from 3,140,01)0 in IS)LI to 2.072,1500 in 1026. The numbers born in Northern liel.md remained steady. Those born outside Ireland increased from 62,000 in 3801 to 100,00!) m 1911, but fell to 67,000 in 1926. Some 75 per cent, of this latter decrease is due to the departure of the British Forces and their dependents. There has been a decrease in the membership of every religion. Ihe Roman Catholic population has fallen by 2.2 per cent., while the Protestants have lost nearly 33 per cent, of their members. The Jews have declined by 3.1. per cent. Naturally the departure of the British forces has increased the Protestant decline, but when allowance has been made for that fact the drop in Protestant numbers remains abnormally high. Of the total population of the 'Free State 92 per cent, are Roman Catholics. Only in one town, the little seaside resort of Greystones, County Wicklow, is there a Protestant majority of 57.4 per cent. The other extreme is found in the village ol Newcaste, County Limerick, where the Protestant percentage is only 05. Of the small farmers, the vast majority are Roman Catholics, hut in the five counties of Carlow, Longford, Wicklow, Cavan and Monaghan more than 50 per cent, of tho holders of 200 acres and over are Protestants. In nine of the remaining counties Protestants own more than one-third of the holdings of like size.

In the professions 61 per cent, of the barristers, 8 per cent, of the doctors, 83 per cent, of tile journalists, and 54 per cent, of the chartered accountants are Roman Catholics.