The 1926 Census of the Irish Free State provides a valuable snapshot of households in Gardamus Little in the years following independence.
Among those recorded is the household of Andrew McCarthy, offering a clear entry point into the McCarthy (Carthy/Carty) family history in the area.
Census 1926 Record found here
The McCarthy Household (1926)
The census records:
- Andrew McCarthy, age 66, widower, farmer
- Michael McCarthy, age 34, son, single, agricultural labourer
- Thomas McCarthy, age 32, son, married, agricultural labourer
The family are recorded as Roman Catholic, born in County Wexford, and associated with a small holding of approximately 4 statute acres.
This places Andrew’s birth around 1859–1860, with Michael and Thomas born in the early 1890s.
Best Reconstruction
The 1926 census aligns closely with earlier civil and parish records, allowing a working reconstruction of the family.
Andrew McCarthy in the 1926 return appears to be the same individual as Andrew Carty, a tradesman (described as a saddler / harness maker) associated with the Tullycanna / Cleariestown area.
He married Margaret Wallace at Cleariestown Church on 23 November 1891. The marriage record identifies Andrew’s father as Thomas Carty, also a tradesman, and Margaret’s father as Michael Wallace of Waddingtown.
First Marriage and Children
Two children from this marriage can be identified:
- Michael Carty, born 4 January 1892 at Waddingtown
- Thomas Carty, born 20 August 1893 at Waddingtown
In both cases, Andrew is recorded as a saddler / harness maker, confirming the link to the same individual.
These birth years align closely with the ages of Michael (34) and Thomas (32) recorded in the 1926 census, forming one of the strongest connections in the reconstruction.
Death of First Wife
Margaret (née Wallace) died on 27 March 1897, aged 28, in childbirth.
Andrew Carty is recorded as present at her death in Waddingtown.
Second Marriage
Following Margaret’s death, Andrew married Anne Rossiter of the Cull / Doncormick area.
Anne would have been the second wife and stepmother to Michael and Thomas, and is likely the wife present in any household returns for 1901 and 1911.
By 1926, Andrew is recorded as a widower, indicating that Anne had also died prior to the census.
Likely Family Tree
Thomas Carty
└── Andrew Carty / McCarthy (b. c. 1859/1860)
├── m1. Margaret Wallace (m. 23 Nov 1891; d. 27 Mar 1897)
│ ├── Michael Carty / McCarthy (b. 4 Jan 1892)
│ └── Thomas Carty / McCarthy (b. 20 Aug 1893)
└── m2. Anne Rossiter (after Mar 1897; d. before Apr 1926)
How the Census Fits
The 1926 census provides a clear and reliable anchor point for this reconstruction.
Earlier census returns for Gardamus Little (1901 and 1911) record households under the surname Carthy (or Carty). While these are likely connected to the same broader family, the exact relationship between those households and Andrew McCarthy’s 1926 household requires further confirmation from the original census forms.
Surname variation is a common feature of Irish records of the period, and forms such as Carty, Carthy, and McCarthy may refer to the same family line.
Conclusion
The overall evidence points to a continuous McCarthy (Carthy/Carty) family presence in Gardamus Little into the early 20th century.