Surviving 19th century Irish censuses - findmypast

[kiterunner]

Have to just post this up before I go to bed. Bear in mind that most of the old Irish censuses were destroyed so these only cover a few places:

Irish Censuses 1821-1851 (http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/ireland-census-1821-1851#./ireland-census-1821-1851?&_suid=13987252681670696081687009926)

There are also these:
Irish Census Search Forms 1841 and 1851 (http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/ireland-census-search-forms-1841-and-1851#./ireland-census-search-forms-1841-and-1851?&_suid=1398725298555036843098962743104)

They seem to be free to view!

[Mary from Italy]

Have you found an explanation of the databases anywhere? The images I've looked at so far don't appear to be census schedules at all, but census searches conducted years later.

[kiterunner]

Yes, this is what it says about the Census Search Forms on the National Archives of Ireland website:

There are also census search forms for each county giving the results of searches made in the returns of 1841 and 1851 (largely) for old age pension purposes covering the years c.1908-1922 (but mainly c.1915-1922) and these are organised within each county by barony, parish, townland or urban street and the name of the applicant (including maiden name where applicable). The result of the search is also noted, though a positive search which located the family did not necessarily locate the applicant.