Godparents in register - 1870 Irish Catholic Baptisms in Macroom, County Cork, Ireland

numbers

Did people listed in the church register as Godparents have to be present at the Baptism or could they just be named in their absence. Thank you for any advice.

Áine.ní.Donnghaile

In that time, generally, the sponsors or godparents were present.
At my own baptism, in the 20th century, I had proxy godparents because my father's family all lived at some great distance. Both my family godparents and the proxies are listed in that register entry.