Finding where my family come from in Ireland

[Sorchafow]

Hi there,
Can anyone give me tips on where to locate where my family come from in Ireland?
I first find them on the England 1851 census. The family were all born in Ireland, one as recently as 1848 but how do I know where to look in Ireland to take it back further? The name is Gaherty and each census sees the name spelled differently. I understand the Irish censuses have large chunks missing. I've looked at Irish parish records on line but can't find enough birth records to confirm I have the correct family. Are all parish records online?
Many thanks for any tips.
Sarah

[aghadowey]

Civil registration of births began in 1864. For earlier dates you need to see what parish records survive but not all are online and you really do need a location (parish if not actual townland). The first complete census is 1901- only small fragments for earlier years survive.

[Ruskie]

Welcome to rootschat Sarah.

Do you have all family members in all English censuses? If so, do any give a place of birth in Ireland? If you don't have all family members in all censuses, it might be an idea to try to find them, as just one of them giving a place of birth might give you a place to start.

[Sorchafow]

Thanks for your reply. Yes I was hoping the English census would help. I've noticed others give more information other than just "Ireland" but this is a widow with her 5 children aged 3 to 15 in 1851. I've already worked out her husband died in South Shields in a cholera epidemic in 1849.
I've followed all 6 of them through each census but every "Where Born" is Ireland.

Incidentally the husband's death certificate gives him as School Master. What qualifications would he have needed in Ireland or England to work as a School Master back then? Maybe this is a root I could follow.

Sarah

[Ruskie]

It is a shame that your family are simply noted as being from "Ireland" in ALL censuses. Many of my research families have said the same which is most frustrating.

Regarding schoolmasters, I believe that school teaching was similar to an apprenticeship where the student learned through working alongside a more experienced teacher. One term used for them is  "pupil teacher" and they were lften young themselves (one of mine was.

 As far as I am aware there are no formal records, but others may have more knowledge about this.

[Radcliff]

would you like to give us their names and ages and the 1851 census for your
Gaherty family

[Sorchafow]

Hi there,
They are on the 1851 census in Jarrow, South Shields as the following:

Mary Geaherty    Head Widow  47 Housekeeper Ireland
John Geaherty    15
Thomas Geaherty    12
Ann Geaherty    10
James Geaherty    8
Mary Geaherty    3

She would've been 32 when John was born so it's possible there are older children somewhere else.

Many thanks,

Sarah

[Radcliff]

Thanks Sarah