23-05-2025
Canadian prime minister's grandfather was one of the first men to join gardaí
One of the country's leading historians and genealogists has discovered the new Canadian prime minister's grandfather was one of the first men to join the Garda force when it was established in 1922.
Jim Herlihy, a former garda who has written many groundbreaking books on that force and its predecessor the RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary), said his research shows Canadian PM Mark Carney's grandfather, Robert, was born in Aille, Aughagower, Co Mayo on June 12, 1902, and that had joined the Garda at the age of 19.
'He was the 87th man to join the then 'civic guards' when he signed on in February 1922,' Mr Herlihy said. Robert was the son of Patrick Carney (1859-1938) and Bridget Moran (1856-1911) who lived in Aughagower.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's Mayo connections are extremely solid. File photo: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP
'Robert emigrated from Belfast to Quebec, Canada on the Canadian Pacific ship 'Montnairn' (Ticket no.16356) on July 18, 1925,' Mr Herlihy said.
HISTORY HUB
If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading
Robert married firstly Eleanor Moran (1894-1961) from Mace, Westport, Co Mayo on April 28, 1926, in Vancouver. His second marriage was to Edith Palfreyman (1906-1984) also in Vancouver. She was also from Westport.
Mr Herlihy's research shows Robert was listed as a 'Steam Railway Policeman' in Vancouver 1931 Census and he then went on to join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, more famously known as 'The Mounties'.
Robert Carney's name at the bottom of the passenger list for the Canadian Pacific ship 'Montnairn' (Ticket no.16356) on July 18, 1925.
'Robert died on December 4, 1977 in Vancouver and is buried in the city's Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Cemetery and his son, Robert James Martin Carney, (Nov 3, 1933 – Dec 9, 2009) was Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's father,' Mr Herlihy added.
Mr Herlihy revealed some years ago who instigated the infamous 1920 'Burning of Cork' which at the time is estimated to have caused £2m worth of damage and put 2,000 people out of jobs.
He reviewed letters written by British cadet officer Charlie Schulze, in which he confirmed that he had led his colleagues in K Company to set fire to buildings in retaliation for an earlier IRA ambush on 20 British Auxiliaries at Dillon's Cross.
Ironically, Schulze's father had fought for the Germans against the British in the First World War.
Garda Robert Carney's grave.
Mark Carney's Mayo connections are extremely solid and he's the first cousin of Pat Carney, father of Tom Carney, who operates Carney's Quarry in Aughagower. Mr Carney has never visited Aghagower, although his father did around 40 years ago.
But it's hoped that the new Canadian PM will make an official visit there in due course. A number of previous American presidents with Irish roots have 'come home' to see their ancestral past.
They include John F Kennedy (1963 to ancestral home in New Ross, Co Wexford); Richard Nixon (1970 to Timahoe, Co Laois); Ronald Reagan (1984 to Ballyporeen, Co Tipperary); Barack Obama (2011 to Moneygall, Co Offaly) and most recently Joe Biden (April 2023 who has relatives, the Blewitts from Co Mayo and Finnegans from Co Louth).
It is yet unclear if Mr Carney will attend the 40th anniversary of the Air India disaster which claimed the lives of all 329 passengers and crew onboard when a bomb exploded on the aircraft off the Cork coast.
However, he is expected to be invited to the special commemoration by Irish authorities which will take place on June 23 at a memorial listing all the dead at Ahakista, which is the nearest point in West Cork to the crash site. The Boeing 747 was blown up by Sikh separatists as it was travelling from Canada to Delhi, India.
In 2005, then Canadian prime minister Paul Martin attended the annual memorial service in Ahakista. The same day, his country declared June 23 would be recoginised as Canada's National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism.
Read More
Clodagh Finn: Lessons in the extraordinary power of forgiveness
