True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: June, 2025
CPR Police Officer Robert Carney -- A Pioneer Irish Garda
and Paternal Grandfather to Prime Minister Mark Carney
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
In the early days of Canada, historical records of family connections, occupations, births, and deaths were not always accurate, making genealogical research particularly challenging. Despite these limitations, I was able to locate the grave of Robert Carney, who passed away in 1977 and is interred at Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Cemetery in New Westminster, British Columbia. This is the story of present-day Prime Minister Mark Carney's paternal grandfather and his remarkable journey from Ireland to Canada and his reported connection to the RCMP.
Irish Origins and Early Police Service
A recent online article by journalist Sean O'Riordan titled "Canadian prime minister's grandfather was one of the first men to join gardaí" in the Irish Examiner (May 23rd, 2025) provides remarkable genealogical details about Robert Carney's origins and police career. According to O'Riordan's reporting, Jim Herlihy, one of Ireland's leading historians and genealogists, discovered that Robert Carney was born in Aille, Aughagower, Co Mayo on June 12, 1902. He was the son of Patrick Carney (1859-1938) and Bridget Moran (1856-1911). Herlihy's research shows that Robert was among the first men to join the Garda force when it was established in 1922. "He was the 87th man to join the then 'civic guards' when he signed on in February 1922," Herlihy noted, adding that Robert joined at age 19.
Immigration and Life in Canada
Robert emigrated from Belfast to Quebec on the Canadian Pacific ship 'Montnairn' (Ticket no.16356) on July 18, 1925. Once in Canada, he married 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 from Westport, in Vancouver.
Herlihy's research shows Robert was listed as a 'Steam Railway Policeman' in the Vancouver 1931 Census. In Canada, Robert Carney joined the C.P.R. as a police officer. Journalist Sean O'Riordan claims that after a stint with the CPR, Robert Carney joined the RCMP, although detailed records have not yet been found to substantiate his connection to the RCMP. Research is continuing.
Historical Connections
It is worth noting that the RCMP has its roots in the Royal Irish Constabulary, creating an interesting historical connection between Robert Carney's service in the Irish Civic Guards, the CPR Police, and the RCMP. Wikipedia's page on the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) confirms that "The NWMP combined military, police and judicial functions along similar lines to the Royal Irish Constabulary," chosen as "a small, mobile police force to reduce potential for tensions with the United States and First Nations."
Family Legacy
Robert Carney died on December 4, 1977, in Vancouver. His son, Robert James Martin Carney (1933–2009), became the father of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, creating a remarkable lineage from early Irish police service to Canadian political leadership.
Memorial and Documentation
Robert Carney is buried at Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Cemetery, located at 150 Richmond Street, New Westminster, British Columbia. The grave marker bears the inscription: CARNEY Robert. 1902 – 1977. CHRIST WITH ME.
The Find a Grave memorial page confirms his burial location and includes genealogical information showing his occupation as a retired C.P.R. policeman. The discovery of Robert Carney's grave site, combined with Herlihy's meticulous genealogical research, helps piece together family histories that were incompletely documented during Canada's early settlement period.
This story is dedicated to the honour of CPR Police Officer Robert Carney, paternal grandfather to Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney. The research for this story and the photographs of Robert Carney and PM Mark Carney were gleaned from journalist Sean O'Riordan's online article titled "Canadian prime minister's grandfather was one of the first men to join gardaí" in the Irish Examiner dated May 23rd, 2025. The story's structure, grammar, and readability were enhanced with assistance from an AI language model (Anthropic's Claude).
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
May 23rd, 2025
