cunniffe

[ewtordella]

Good day,

I am looking for information about my grandmother, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Cunniffe. She was born in Dunmore, Galway in 1891. Her parents were Thomas Cunniffe and Catherine Brennan. Catherine was the daughter of Sally Rabbitte and John Brennan. A bit of background:

Patsy Cunniffe of Carranthomas, Dunmore, Co. Galway married Peig Healy of Russeltown, Milltown, Co. Galway. (A sister of Peig married Tom Concannon, Shanballymore, Dunmore, Co. Galway). Tommy Cunniffe, son of Patsy and Peig, married Catherine Brennan in Carranthomas. Catherine Brennan is the daughter of Johny Brennan, Chequerhill, Dunmore and Sally Rabbitte, Gortaleam, Dunmore. They had 8 children, 7 girls and one son. A few of the family were born in Carranthomas, the rest in Shanballymore, as they inherited that holding from Tom Concannon who had no family of his own.

Other Cunniffes in the Carranthomas locality were Mickey Bawn Cunniffe and family. Mickey was a first cousin of Tommy Cunniffe. Thomasheen Johny Cunniffe were on the western end of Carranthomas, the Peter Mhairteen Cunniffes a little further west. A sister of Tommy Cunniffe married a Greally in the same locality. so did a sister of Catherine Cunniffe. Bridget Brennan married a Johny Clancy in a house where Fallon's Barns now stands. They had a small shop there. Another sister of Catherine, Sara, married Pat Brennan of Liskeavey, Milltown, Co. Galway.

My grandmother had loads of sibs. They were:

1. Margaret (1870-1943) married Patrick Delaney of Carrowkeel, Tulrahan, Co. Mayo and lived in Carranthomas.

2. Mickey (1871-1911) was found drowned in lower Shalballymore after falling from his side-car on the way home from Ballyhaunis. Foul play was suspected because he was mixed up in the Fenian Movement.

3. Molly (1872-1955) had a millinery business in Tuam, Dublin and London where she died unmarried.

4. Delia (1874-19??) married Patrick Fallon, Ballyroe, Kilconly, in Carranthomas. They had 3 children: Patrick, Michael, and Tommy.

5. Sara (1876-1957) was educated in Mercy Convent, Tuam. She was a primary school teacher and taught for some time in Mercy Convent, Tuam. The rest of her life she taught in a Shanballymore school. She died unmarried.

6. Nora (1878-1966) was educated in Roscommon Convent. She was a lace teacher and kept house in Dublin. She had a long retirement in Shanballymore and died unmarried.

7. Elizabeth (Lizzy) (1881-1947?), my grandmother, was educated at St. Louis' Convent, Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo. she worked in the millinery business in Ballyhaunis where she met Thomas (Tommy) Winston (my grandfather) (1876-1963) of Ballinlough, Co. Roscommon. Tommy went to the USA in 1907, Lizzie in 1910. They married in Washington, DC and had one son, Thomas Jr (my dad).

8. Kitty (1884-1944) was educated in Kiltimagh Convent, settled in Dublin, where she married Jimmy Gleeson of Carrowkeel, Dunmore. They had 3 children: Maureen, Paddy, and Michael.

If anyone has any ideas about any of these persons, please let me know. I will be deeply grateful.

Beth