Sarah Dunne

Sarah Mary Dunne was born at Askintinny, Arklow, on 16 May 1890, the daughter of James Dunne and Elizabeth Kavanagh. Her birth was attended and registered by her grandmother, Elizabeth Kavanagh.

1901 Census

At eleven years old, Sarah was living at home with her parents in Rock Big and attending school.

1911 Census

By age twenty, Sarah was employed as a General Servant on the farm of William Lochaberry in Askintinny. Among her fellow servants on the farm was twenty-year-old farm labourer William Kavanagh.

Marriage to William Kavanagh

On 14 April 1913, Sarah married William Kavanagh, son of Henry, at Arklow Roman Catholic Church. The witnesses were James Kavanagh and Bessie Clancy.

Two years later, William's brother, James, married Sarah's first cousin, Elizabeth Dunne on 1 Jun 1915. 

Following their marriage in April 1913, Sarah and William moved between rural townlands and the town of Arklow as their young family grew:

• Henry: Born 1914 at Rock Big

• James: Born 1915 at Money Big

• Mary: Born 1917 at Abbey Street, Arklow

• Elizabeth: Born 1923 at Abbey Street, Arklow

1926 Census

On the night of 18 April 1926, Sarah and her family were recorded living in the townland of Ballinabanoge, Co. Wicklow. Head of household, William was a farm labourer assisting on neighbour's farm.  Henry, James and Mary were at school and Elizabeth was two years of age.

It was noted that Sarah and William had been married for 12 years and 11 months, and that she had given birth to 4 children, all 4 of whom were living.

By 1938, Sarah had returned to live at Rock Big, where she remained close to her aging parents and was present at both of their deaths in 1938 and 1943.