Lizzie Cunningham was born on the 4th August 1906 in Brackenagh, Kilkeel, Co Down to parents Thomas and Sarah Cunningham (Nee Doran)
1911 Census
In the Census of 2nd April 1911 the family are living at no 23 Brackenagh East, in the record are the following people
Patrick Cunningham (Age 60) Grandfather to Lizzie. Sarah Cunningham (Age 33) Mother. Patrick Cunningham (Age 7) brother. William Cunningham (Age 5) Brother. Lizzie (Age 3) Herself. There is no mention of her father Thomas Cunningham on this Census. It could be that he was working, either somewhere else in Ireland or another Country.
Departs From Belfast For New York 1930
Moving forward we now come to Lizzie leaving home and setting sail for America. Lizzie departs from Belfast port on the 22nd March 1930 aboard the ship Antonia that sets sail for New York City, New York. She arrives in New York on the 3rd April 1930. Her residence is to be with her brother William Cunningham at Tuckahue Avenue. Lizzie has given the following information about her self that is recorded on the ship records. I am 5ft,4ins tall, I have black hair and my eye colour is Gray and my complexion is fair.
Wedding Of James Young and Lizzie Cunningham
On the 18th June 1933 James Young and Elizabeth as it is recorded married in Bronxville, New York.
James Young her husband was born in 1900 around Abbeyleix Laois in the Republic of Ireland to William Young and Elizabeth Delaney. To our knowledge they met in America and married in America.
Return To Ireland 1933 to 1934?
There is no record that can be found of them returning to Ireland, but family members have confirmed that they returned to Brackenagh for a short time. While they were here their first Child was born. James Thomas (Tommy) Young was born on the 3rd April 1934. Present at the birth was Maggie Cunningham which I am assuming is Margaret Ann Cunningham (Nee Higgins) wife to Patrick Joseph Cunningham, Lizzie’s brother
Three More Children
After James Thomas Young was born, the family moved to a farm that they had bought in Ballycleary, Castletown, Portlaoise, Laois. They then had the following children:
Elizabeth (Betty) born in 1935 Abbeyleix, Laois.
Charles Young born 1936 Abbeyleix, Laois,
Josephine Young born in 1938 in Abbeyleix,
The family ran the farm for many years. As the children grew up, they left home and moved to Dublin, all but James Thomas.
James Thomas (Tommy) Marrried Joan Phelan
Tommy as he is called took over the farm when it became too much for Lizzie and James
Sadly both have passed away and are buried at the Aghaboe Cemetary Co Laois
Elizabeth (Betty) married James B Monks in 1957 in Dublin.
Betty was a Draper. Betty is still in Dublin and is now in her 90’s
Josephine Married Brendan Maguire and drove a sports car and owned and ran her own Hotel. Josephine sadly passed away around the end of 2024
Charles Lived In Dublin, He passed away in his 60’s
Lizzie and James Moved to Dublin to live
The Wonderful And Talented Lizzie and Post WW2 Story
I have been hearing great things about Lizzie. One of them was that she was a fantastic seamstress and when she lived in Dublin she ran her own shop. Having spoken to my dad (John Francis Cunningham) about her he remembers as a young boy Lizzie coming up from the South to the North to see the family. Everyone was still on rations after the war and you couldn’t get certain items. If you did come to the North you were stopped and checked. This is where Lizzie’s skills and ingenious idea came in. Inside the lining of her coat she had concealed and sewn in “Tea.” She didn’t get found out. I think if the inside of her coat had been checked, because she was so talented there would be no way that you could tell that the coat had been altered.
Last Know Address
Lizzie’s last known address is 10 Greendale Court, Kilbarrack, Dublin
Final Resting Place
On the 13th January 1982 at the age of 75 Lizzie passed away
On the 26th November 1986 at the age of 86 James passed away
Both are buried together at St Fintans Cemetary, Sutton Cross Dublin
Special Thanks
Special thanks to Ciaran Cunningham for posting about wanting to find out more information about Lizzie Cunningham. To Kathy Phelan for responding to my post on FB and putting me in contact with Lizzie’s great grandchildren and family. To Betty Young, Lizzie’s Granddaughter for the great chat on the phone and providing me with lots of information about the family and last but not least my old dad John Francis Cunningham for giving us lots of stories and great memories to share with everyone.
