Start by coming to one of our Branch Libraries and log onto Ancestry Library Edition (ALE). You can get access to the US Federal Censuses, 1790 - 1950 via ALE. In the main search screen under the "Search Tab", choose "Census & Voter Lists." 
Now start to narrow down your search by selecting U.S. Federal Census Collection list from the "Narrow by Category" box to the right.
Pick a census year between 1850 and 1950 to search more thoroughly. The 1850 Federal census was the first census to include where a free person was born so if the answer is "Ireland," Bingo, you have a Real Irish person! -- Maybe. Genealogical data gathering is all about securing documentation to prove a person's identity and relationships. It is a rare family historian who never ever finds conflicting information and/or documents! That written, though, the census can provide you with a clue that someone may have been born in Ireland or that their parents were Irish-born.
Now it's time to hone in on Irish nativity and residency in Beaufort County, SC. You do that by typing in "Ireland" as the Birth location; and "Beaufort County, South Carolina, USA" as the Lived In Location for each of the decennial censuses: 1850; 1860; 1870; 1880; the 1890 census was destroyed by fire so skip that one; 1900; 1910; 1920; 1930; 1940; and 1950. [The 1960 census won't be released until April 1, 2032.] 
In 1850, there were 38 Beaufort District residents who had been born in Ireland. Surnames represented include: Butler, Cardwell, Connolly, Dailey, Doyle, Dwyre, Kennedy, McCarty, McElheran, O'Conner, and Morris.
In 1860, the number of Irish born residents had dwindled down to 28.
Thomas Catherwood was a clerk; Catherine Early, a ship captain's wife; Pat Kennedy, a drayman, Miss M. Cunningham and Margretta A. Clarke, teachers and Harriet Butler was a governess to planter John E. Frampton's 9 children aged 17 years to 6 months old. Ann Hanrahan was a child's nurse. Irish born William Bennett and his South Carolina bride were lighthouse keepers. Richard Egar and James Egar worked on the Light ship. John Gelston was a tailor while Thomas Rooney and William Cullens were painters. Rooney's wife, Mary, had also been born in Ireland. Michael Doyle age 36 and his apprentice William, age 19, were coachmakers. Thomas Rout was an overseer. John Noonan and Francis Cassidy were listed as farmers. The economic well-being of those described as laborers varied. Thomas Winn, a day laborer, had $300 worth of personal property; William O'Bryant, $500; while there was no indication of the value of the personal property owned by Charles Hurley, Patrick Corcoran, or Edmund Fitts. The woman who resided in Patrick Corcoran's household, Agnes, was a nurse. There were no occupations given for Ellen Wallace nor Charles Brown in the 1860 census.
The only Irish person on both the 1850 and 1860 censuses is "Francis Cassady," 60, a farmer who owned $6000 worth of real estate and $14,500 worth of personal property, including 15 slaves. He lived with his South Carolina born wife, Mary, in the Whippy Swamp area of the District.
The 1870 Federal Census lists 34 Irish born residents of Beaufort District, but none of the Irish males listed on the 1860 census re-appear on the 1870 census. It's harder to tell about the female Irish because upon marriage women dropped their maiden names. The census takers didn't care what a woman's maiden name was.
Interestingly, one Irish born man, by the name of Thomas Farrigan, a Mariner living on Hilton Head, Beaufort is listed as a "Mulatto" in the transcription of the census record. I think, though, that the transcriptionist got it wrong. The family group, Thomas, aged 33 Anna, "Keeping House" aged 42 [also born in Ireland], and John, age 9, born in South Carolina, had "B" assigned to their "Race." The census taker had sort of scratchy handwriting and appears to have replaced the "B" with a scratchy "W" that the transcriptionist interpreted as a "M."
Tip: Always consult the original image or document. The occupations of Irish born residents of 1870 St. Luke's Parish were laborer, farmer, seaman, carpenter, merchant, and one "Agt. McLeod Bros."
One of the few Irish people to permanently settle in Beaufort was Ellen Driscoll (variant spellings Oduscol, Driscol, Bliss). Her obituary from the September 9, 1926 Beaufort Gazette, is headlined: "Mrs. Ellen Driscoll Passed Away Tuesday. For Over Sixty-Five Years a Resident of Beaufort -- Loved by All Who Knew Her." The content indicates that she had been born in "New York City." Yet, both she and her husband Dennis, a ship's carpenter, are listed in the 1880 Federal Census as having been born in Ireland. She was a Roman Catholic whose funeral was presided over by Father F. Murphy of St. Peter's Church. Her bones lie in the St. Peter's Catholic Graveyard on Carteret Street.
The 1890 Federal Census was destroyed by fire so there isn't a quick check to finding out what Irish born people were here in 1890.
In 1900 Alice F. Odell, the daughter of Irish immigrants, but herself born in Maine, is working as a Confectioner and her husband James as a baker. However, their daughter, Matilda's parentage is given as "Place of Birth of the FATHER of this person" is given as "New York" but the "Place of Birth of the MOTHER of this person" says "Ireland." How can Alice be born in both "Maine" and "Ireland?" Another discrepancy that deserves investigation at some point, but not right now. Alice Odell would go on to be the proprietress of the Sea Island Hotel for almost 40 years according to her obituary published in the Beaufort Gazette in 1921. Matilda (aka "Tillie" AKA Maude O'dell Doremus) would go on to become a famous Broadway actress.
Men working at the Marine School on Parris Island in 1910 comprise the bulk of the Irish contingent in Beaufort County that census year: Martin Haney, Alexander Henry, Daniel McHenry, Dennis F. Doherty, Michael Powers and John Riordan are all stationed there. Michael and Patrick Gallagher are not connected to military services. Women in the County stating that they were born in Ireland were Carroll Santos, Mary Leno, Susie M. von Harten, Annie Gray, and Mary McIntyre (?) [Her name is difficult to decipher on the original record.]
Of the dozen Irish born residents, Catherine Paul, Alice Odell, and Annie Gray appear on more than one census. In 1920 they are joined by Margarete Brown, Anne Cronin, and Peter O'Neill. Counted out on Parris Island are John J. Fooley, Josephine Pate, William Howard, Nicholas J. Dillon, John Fitzpatrick and Edward A. Mullen.
The Irish born population of Beaufort County shrinks down to nine people in the 1930 census: Katherine Paul, Carl J. Laine, John Murphy, Patrick J. Kehoe, John Mahoney, Mary Brosseau, Annie B. Gray, Margaret Murphy and John J. Murphy.
It shrinks even further in 1940. Annie Gray is still here but Jeremiah S. Hayes, Patrick J. McAleavey, George J. Hyland, John Kelly, Mary Kelly and Elizabeth Jennings seem to be newcomers or temporary residents at best.
By 1950 Katherine Paul and Elizabeth Jennings are the only Irish born hold-over residents from 1940. They are joined by Irish born Josephine P. Farthing, her husband James W. Farthing, Ellen C. Harter, Aleck Dever; and Katherine Butler.
For additional guidance on how to Find Your Ancestors From the United Kingdom and Ireland and Finding Your Irish Ancestors download the ALE flyers.
If you want to work from home, sign up for a free subscription to the FamilySearch.org genealogy database. The process will be somewhat similar but not identical even though the source data, the US Federal Censuses will be the same.
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