Margaret Harriet McCarthy nee Ronayne 1869 - 1950 Artist and Sea Bather Margaret Harriet Ronayne was born in Duncourney, County Cork, Ireland on the 15 February 1869 to farmer John Ronayne and his wife Bridget Fitzgerald. Margaret had two sisters, Cornelia and Mary and four brothers, Edmond, John, Joseph and James. Most of Margaret's siblings emigrated to Canada but Margaret married Michael John Fitzgerald McCarthy, a maternal cousin, on 1st September 1887 in Middleton, County Cork. Michael was a barrister and a re-knowned anticlerical author. Margaret and Michael had 5 children, Ethel, Herbert, Muriel, Winifred and Michael.
Margaret was an active sports woman and enjoyed painting.
Sadly, Herbert and Muriel died in infancy. Ethel married Oscar Pearce and travelled extensively in the East. She became famous for shop window designs and making model cinema exhibits. Winifred was a successful actress and married three times: firstly to barrister, James Dickinson, secondly to Dr John Sidney Pearson and finally to Kenneth Dodds-Price.
Margaret died in Worthing during a visit to her daughter Winifred. She spent the afternoon sea bathing before being taken ill at her hotel and dying.