Argentina

Patricio (Patrick) M^cCarthy my grand-uncle and his brother Timoteo (Timothy) M^cCarthy my grand-father, were born in Balcarce, Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1897 and 1895 respectively. The family occupation is listed in the 1895 Irish-Argentine Census Irlandeses e hiberno-argentinos censados en 1895 en la Provincia de Buenos Aires, TABLA 1V-1, at No 7 - BALCARCE, a) Zona Rural, as a Tambero [Dairy Farmer] see photos 1 and 2. The McCarthy's are also listed in Doctor Eduardo Coghlan's book on Irish families who had migrated to Argentina. It appears from records that our family had emigrated from Ballyclough in Mallow, Co Cork, to Argentina on Friday 25th January 1889 on board the SS DRESDEN via Queenstown, arriving in Buenos Aires on 15th of February 1889. They farmed in Balcarce, an area approximately 64km West of Mar Del Plata in the Province of Buenos Aires. Both Timoteo and Patricio were brought to Ireland in 1905 and ended up in the Sacred Heart Home Drumcondra run by the Sisters of Charity. In 1906 they were sponsored by the St Vincent de Paul Society and sent on to St Vincents Orphanage, Glasnevin in Dublin. Spanish was their spoken language at the time. Later on both went to sea, serving in the catering departments of various national and international shipping lines. Patricio [Patrick] McCarthy had served on the Irish registered fishery protection vessel Fort Rannoch a former Steam Trawler before he lost his life on the Steam Trawler Leukos on the 9th of March of 1940. Timoteo [Timothy] McCarthy served on the Muirchú during 1939 until the handover to the Irish Department of Defence; see also The Irish Naval Service - The Formation . He also served with distinction on Irish merchant ships throughout world war two and was a great friend of Captain Henrik Kurt Carlsen of the Flying Enterprise. Timoteo [Timothy] McCarthy died at sea in August 1960 and is buried in the catholic cemetery Cimitero Latino Rue De Port Said in Alexandria, Egypt.

Timoteo McCarthy had three sons, Timothy, Gerard, Ernest, and one daughter Evelyn.. All the McCarthy's served on British and Irish vessels throughout the war years. Gerard had been chief steward of the City of Antwerp and served on other British vessels. Married to Maeve and with one daughter Olwen, Gerard went to live in London where he ran a coffee shop for many years at the entrance to Blackfriars Bridge tube station until his death in 1989. Timothy (junior) became chief steward on the Empress of Canada and served inter alia on the Ulster Prince and Ulster Queen before coming ashore and retiring in Wallasey, Wirral, Cheshire, UK. Married to Norah and with one surviving son Alan, and only daughter Linda, Timothy died in 2003. Ernest came ashore and worked for the Irish Electricity Board in Dublin. Our family had all served at one time or another on the Irish Fir, City of Antwerp, City of Bremen, Irish Plane, City of Dublin, Irish Willow, Kyleclare, City of Cork, Munster and Leinster. Other sea service includes time with the Bibby Line, Irish Shipping, Liverpool Steamship and Navigation Co, Cunard, P & O, Canadian Pacific, Suttons, B & I, City of Cork Steamship Company, British Rail, Union Castle and Blue Funnel Lines. Patricio, Timoteo and his sons Timothy and Gerard McCarthy were all decorated by the Irish Government for their services to Ireland during 1939-1946. Timoteo's daughter, my mother Evelyn Mulvany nee McCarthy, was employed during world war two in the administration block of the Royal Dockyard at Pembroke South Wales. My Father and Mother lived happily in Haverfordwest. He joined the local air raid warden precaution service and she got involved with the local WVS and assisted the ARP engaged in general duties. Both were Irish nationals born in Dublin. They subsequently moved to Wallasey in Liverpool and worked for Cammell Laird in their dockyard from 1944-45. My mother had always expressed the wish that someday our families Argentinean heritage would be vindicated. The presence of his excellency Mr Victor Beauge, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to Ireland, at the mercantile marine medal ceremony in Dublin Castle on the 24th of February 2002 was the achievement of that aspiration. In August 1998 while on passage to Dublin for the Tall Ships a section of the crew of the Argentinean Tall Ship Fragata ARA Libertad paid a visit to Foxford in County Mayo, the birthplace of Admiral William Brown, founder of the Argentinean Navy to unveil a statue dedicated to his achievement. The historical bond that exists between Argentina and Ireland was significantly enhanced through this gesture.

Presentation of Irish marine valour medal with 3 bars and citation, awarded posthumously by the Irish Government to Patricio (Patrick) McCarthy, lost as a result of belligerent action, 9th of March 1940 on the Irish steam trawler Leukos, to his next of kin, Mr Peter Mulvany. Patricio (Patrick) McCarthy born in Balcarce, Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the only Argentine National lost on an Irish registered vessel during world war two. Patricio es el único argentino muerto en un buque irlandés durante la guerra. Presentation of medal with 3 bars by Mr Hugh Byrne TD, Minister of State for Marine and Natural Resources. Presentation of citation by his excellency, Mr Victor E Beauge, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to Ireland. In his speech the Mnister highlighted the nautical ties that exist between Ireland and Argentina and paid a special tribute to the role of Admiral William Brown from County Mayo, an Irish citizen, who founded the Argentine Navy in the 1800s. As a result of this occasion and the marvellous response he received from the Irish people following the visit of the ARA Libertad in 1998, the Argentine Ambassador indicated his intention to request his Government to consider inviting an Irish Naval Cadet to be a participant as a member of the crew of the Libertad on one of her voyages. We are honoured that his excellency has been successful in his endeavour. Cadet Alan Flynn of the Irish Naval Service eventually joined the crew of the Argentinean tall ship Fragata ARA Libertad for a part of her 2003 voyage.

Argentinos en Irlanda		Los descendientes del Dresden