Thank you all for the replies and suggestions.
According to the 1901 census my grandmother Mary Kate Gavin circa 1897 is residing with her aunt and her Colsh relatives, age 4 in Tullamore, Co Offaly and her father Patrick, age 42 is at home and married at 22 Quarry View, Tullamore.
By 1911 Patrick, Mary Kate age 14 and her sister Bridget age 10 are still at Quarry View but Patrick is now widowed. This I can confirm are my correct family.
My problem being that I have been unable to find any marriage or births in Co Offaly which match, only a death for an Anne Gavin in 1901.
It is only in Westport that I have been able to find marriages and births which tally in dates and may be this family,thus I have posted to this board as well as on the Offaly board..
My thinking is this and I would very much welcome your opinions :
Patrick and ? were married in Westport abt 1896/7. Mary Kate born there 1897 and at some stage the family moved to Co Offaly. Could it be that Mary kate is boarded out in 1901 at around the time of her sisters birth back in Westport, this might account for her mother not being at home on census night. It may be the case that her mother returned to Offaly with new baby and died shortly afterwards in Co Offaly in 1901. How possible do you think this may be ?
All ifs,buts and maybes at this stage I'm afraid
Again, very grateful for any thoughts.
Best wishes to all
Scatty