516 



Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



3. Vital Statistics : — 



(a) Population. — On the whole, the popixLation of this district has 

 (like that of Gormnna and Lettennullen, but unlike that of most of over 

 west-coast parishes) increased since 1851, though a falling-off is now 

 apparent, evidently due to emigration. Prom 1851 to 1881 the 

 population had increased from 7242 to 8858, but between that year 

 and 1891 it had from emigration, declined to 7917, and the di'ain 

 having continued, is now probably less still. 



The districts specially worked have undergone about the same fluctu- 

 ations as is shown in the subjoined table. In them there was an increase 

 during the years 1851-1881, and a decrease in the decade 1881-91. 



The proportion of males is rather larger than usual, the 7916 of 

 the 1891 Census being made up of 4010 males and 3907 females. 



District. 



1851. 



1861. 



1871. 



1881. 



1891. 



Mason Island, . 



74 



84 



110 



127 



118 



M'weenisli Island, 



471 



523 



418 



510 



514 



Ai-d East. 



199 



176 



173 



138 



117 



Ardmore, 



143 



221 



255 



317 



277 



Ard West, 



170 



170 



135 



165 



162 



Carna, . 



94 



87 



174 



189 



168 



Glinsk, . 



172 



141 



131 



164 



75 



Mace, 



166 



143 



162 



153 



121 



Mop'us, . 



100 



127 



98 



130 



118 



(b) Language and Education. — Among themselves and in their 

 every-day life the people speak Irish exclusively, and veiy many of 

 them know no English whatever. It is quite common to meet not 

 only old people but children and young persons who cannot converse in 

 English. The rate of illiteracy is high, though probably much lower 

 than it was at the time of the last Census ia 1891. The subjoined 

 table shows what the condition of the parish of Moynis then was as 

 regards illiteracy : — 



1 



Population. Persons, j Male. 



Female. 



5 years old and up'wards, . 

 Number illiterate, 

 Percentage, 



7305 

 3917 

 53-6 



3684 

 1744 

 47-3 



3621 

 2173 

 60-0 



(c) Health. — I regret that I am imable in this case to give any full 

 or particular information regarding the prevailing diseases, sufficient 



