Slaters is an equivalent to todays yellow pages - mainly concentrates on Gentry, Shops, Businesses and the larger farmers.
from Slaters 1881 :
Kearney Patrick, Ennistymon - Grocer
Kearney Patrick, Ennistymon - PUBLIC HOUSE.
no - O'Halloran's listed
Slaters : 1894
Kearney Patrick, grocer & publican
no - O'Halloran's listed
(no farmers listed for Ennistymon)
It seems the alternate spelling is Carney and both names are common in Clare on Griffiths valuation with about 70 listed. This would only include people who leased or owned land, which may not apply to a young Ag. Lab.
1855 - Parish of KILMANAHEEN
Connor Carney, Leased a House from Denis Rowan on 'Lane off Church Hill St, Ennistymon"
Mary Carney, Leased a house from Frances Tobin in Deerpark West (near Ennistymon)
I'll have another look in the directories under the Carney spelling later on...
Shane.