Thomas McCartney (abt. 1760 - 1855)

Born about 1760 in Glenarm, County Antrim, Ireland

Died 1855 at about age 95 in Cloghfin, Islandmagee, County Antrim, Ireland

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Anne Johnston [send private message]

Biography

Thomas was born about 1760 in Glenarm, County Antrim, Ireland.

About 1798, Thomas, who by then had 2 adult sons, came to teach at Redhall, Ballycarry and also taught at Windy Gap School, Ballycarry. By the 1820s he also held a school at Castletown in Islandmagee while living in a large cave near Blackhead. He was an eccentric character with mental issues supposedly resulting from the separation from his wife through jealousy after which he attempted to commit suicide. Local people left food and clothing at the cave. About 1827 McCartney was persuaded to move and teach from a barn in Cloughfin, offered rent free by a local farmer Robert Houston. He later retired to a cabin built by his friends, near the cottage of Dan Connolly. He died in 1855. attended by one of his ex-pupils, Thomas Houston, son of Robert, and was buried in Ballykeel Graveyard, although there is no headstone.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ An Islandmagee 'Schoolin' - a History of Education in Islandmagee and District by Pauline E Bingham. Published by Pmacdee Publishing 2016.