Elizabeth Dunne

Elizabeth Anne Dunne (known as "Lizzie") was born in Rock Big on 28 July 1888, to Peter Dunne and Catherine Kavanagh. Her birth was attended by Elizabeth Kavanagh, who registered the birth on 22 August 1888.

Like many young women from rural Wicklow households, Elizabeth entered domestic service at a young age, living away from the family home at Rock Big during both census years.

1901 Census

At just thirteen years old, Lizzie was enumerated as a live-in domestic servant on the farm of William R. Hughes in County Wicklow. At this stage, she was recorded as being able to "read only".

1911 Census

By age twenty-three, Lizzie was working as a dervant in the household of Jane Simpson, a district Jubilee Nurse in County Wicklow. A Jubilee Nurse was a professionally trained community or district nurse who provided free or low-cost medical care to the sick poor in their own homes.  The return reflects her educational growth, recording that she could now both "read and write".

Marriage to James Kavanagh

On 1 June 1915, Elizabeth married James Kavanagh, a labourer from neighbouring Rock Little and son of the late Henry Kavanagh.

The wedding took place at Arklow Roman Catholic Church, officiated by Parish Priest James Flavin. The witnesses were Patrick Deathe and Sara Anne Murray.

Two years prior to this, James's brother, William, married Elizabeth's first cousin, Sarah Dunne on 14 Apr 1913. James was a witness at the wedding.