The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-10-18
IRELAND's TIDE TURNS
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN rs YEARS
THE IRISH CENSUS SHOWS IN
CREASE IN POPULATION.

That the tide of Irish national life,
which has been steadily ebbing for
IS years, has turned and that the "old
sod" promises to take on new vigor,
is the claim made by Francis J. Kill
kenny, originator of the Irish home
going movement, according to the
Washington correspondent of the Bos-
ton Transcript. In a statement to
the press a year ago he asserted that
a new era had already dawned for
Ireland, which is now substantiated
by figures of the recent Irish census.
Today he is out with new calculations
which show that for the first time in
more than 70 years the population of
Ireland is increasing. During the fis-
cal year ended June 80, 1912, it APP
pears that the birth rate exceeded by
1,102 the loss by death and emigra-
ton. For the same time the deaths
from all causes we're the lowest since
1871, and the infant mortality the
lowest ever recorded, being only Sc
in every 1000.
'The population of Ireland was at
high-water mark in 1841, the official
figures for that year being 8,175, 124,"
says Mr.. Kilkenny. Between 1841
and 1851 the loss by death and emigra-
ton amounted to over 1000, 900. Cen
sus statistics for the ten years ended
in 1851 showed a decrease of over II
per cent; in 1871, the returns showed
q RlZ nor anUf dnarnorn. ~ 1901
about AZ per cent; in 1891, 9 per
cent, and in 1901, 5 per cent. For
the decade ended 1911 it was only
about III per cent and now, for a
single year there is shown an increase
instead of the constant decrease. l
am satisfied that the next ten year
census figures instead of showing a
decrease will display a most satisfac-
tory increase in the population Of the
island. The census returns of April
2, 1911, make the total population
4,390,210, viz: 2,192,048 males, $685.
III females, being a decrease from
the prior ensus of 1856; or the
smallest since the decade 1S71-1881.
However, in n province (Leinester)
there was an increase of 9,215, or
nearly / per cent. So it is shown that
Ireland at the time of her low tide
has about half the population that
she had IS years ago; and that she
is therefore the only country in the
civilized world whose population has
been terribly depleted through restric-
tive legislation.
ireland has suffered a heavy loss
from emigration. The drain upon her
population in this direction even dur
ing the past five years averages 10000
annually. In 1907, $4,000 left ireland
for other countries, in 1908, $4,000;
1908, $4,000; 1910, $4,000; 1911, 10000;
1912, $4,000.
From May 1, 1851, to March 81,
1911, nearly 1900, 900 natives of Ire
land emigrated to other countries.
The larger portion Of these emigrants
were between the ages Of is and 35
years. Remunerative employment in
Ireland for men and women win help
largely to check this drain upon her
population.
"One good sign OF Ireland's growing
prosperity is the increase in the num-
Der Of Inhabited houses. The number
of inhabited houses i'm 1911 was re-
ported at 861,879, or an increase Of
1921 over the returns for 1901, while
the returns also show that a better
and more modern class OF cottages is
being built than in former years. An
other sign promising great things for
the future Of Ireland is that the vast
estates formerly held by absentee
landlords are now being cultivated by
the Irish occupiers Of the soil, who,
under the land act of 1901, and subse-
Quent acts, have become the owners
thereof. The land acts Of 1903 and
1909, the laborers' cottage act of 1906
and the o1d-age pension act Of 1908
were enabling measures which have
given much relief and encouragement
to the Irish people"
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