Mary Kavanagh

Mary Kavanagh was born on 5th July 1878 at Askintinny, Arklow, to John Kavanagh and Elizabeth Death. 

Her birth was registered on 4th September 1878 by her mother, Elizabeth.

Growing up in Askintinny during the late 19th century, Mary survived the severe smallpox outbreak that tragically took the lives of her elder siblings, Teresa and James, in May 1879.

The 'Shebeen' Court Case

In January 1896, Mary was called as a witness at the Arklow Petty Sessions during a high-profile prosecution against her father, John Kavanagh. On 18th January at around 11 pm, the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) - led by Head-Constable Scanlon, Sergeant Lane, and Constable Lucas - raided the family home at Askintinny on suspicion that an illegal drinking house (shebeen) was operating on the premises.

Upon forcing entry, officers caught Mary’s mother, Elizabeth Kavanagh, bottling porter in an adjoining room. A further search uncovered a small barrel of porter hidden under a woman's dress, along with three full bottles, two empty ones, and a peppermint bottle.

During the trial, the courtroom was ordered to be cleared, and a constable was posted outside to prevent the Kavanagh family from aligning their testimonies. Taking the stand alongside her brothers Denis and John (Jack), as well as Jack’s future wife Julia Loughlin, Mary provided a unified defence; the alcohol was not for illegal sale, but had been bought for a family "spree" and dance planned for the following Sunday night.

Mary testified that she, Jack, and Julia had pooled their money - costing 7 shillings and 6 pence in total - to buy the porter for the gathering. She defensively added that her mother "did not usually bottle the porter".

The magistrates rejected the family's testimony, with the Chairman stating that the evidence was contradictory and that they did not believe a word of what was sworn under oath. Mary's father was convicted and fined £2 plus costs (with the alternative of one month in Wexford Gaol), which was paid immediately in court.

1901 Census

By March 1901, 21-year-old Mary was living at the family home in Askintinny with her parents and working as a domestic servant.

Marriage to James Connors

On 26th May 1903, Mary married James Connors, a sailor from Arklow, at the Roman Catholic Chapel in Arklow. 

James was born on 23rd May 1875 at Boglands to Michael Connors and Marianne Hannan. 

Their wedding was witnessed by Patrick Deathe and Sarah Connors.

1911 Census

By the 1911 Census, Mary and her young family were living at Askintinny with her widowed mother, Eliza Kavanagh. Mary recorded that she had been married 8 years and had given birth to 4 children, 3 of whom were surviving: Michael, John, and Thomas.

1926 Census

In the 1926 Census, Mary was enumerated as Head of Household at Askintinny, with her husband James away at sea. Living with her was her 16-year-old son Thomas, who was working as a general labourer for Parnell Quarries in Arklow (though recorded as out of work for 9 months). Mary recorded 23 years of marriage with 3 surviving children.

While Mary recorded 4 children born, 3 living on her 1926 Census return, her true total was five children born alive, with two sons named James lost in infancy.

Mary and James later settled at 4 Riverview, Arklow. 

Mary passed away on 22nd October 1946 aged 68, following a five-day battle with pneumonia, compounded by 15 years of rheumatoid arthritis. Her husband, James, was present at her passing and registered her death. 

James survived her by nearly a decade, passing away on 14th April 1956 at Rockview Terrace, Arklow, aged 82, of acute coronary occlusion. M. Connors, son, registered the death in Arklow on 18 April 1956.