The Woods family of Dromore and GAA founder Michael Cusack
January 05, 2012A power point presentation talk was subsequently given in the Arts Centre Newry in 2009, as part of the Down County Board's 125 Anniversary Celebrations of the founding of the GAA.. A fully referenced version was also published in Seanchas Ard Mhacha, the Journal of the Armagh Diocesan Historical Society, Vol.23 No.1 in 2010. Any correspondence relating to this article should be forwarded to the author at [email protected] or 7 Newry Road, Poyntzpass, |Newry, Co. Down BT35 6TH
The Woods family of Dromore, Co. Down & Michael Cusack.
The first instance of the Woods name occurring in the Dromore Catholic records is on 9th September 1852 when James Woods married Mary Hewitt in the old St. Colman's Church, Dromore, Co. Down. The witnesses were Patrick Austin and Mary McDade.
Prior to and after that date there is no reference in the Dromore records to the birth, death or marriage of either the parents or siblings of James Woods and this raises questions relating to the family origins. James Woods named his first son Robert and the traditional naming pattern would indicate that Robert Woods was his father. The Tithe Applotment records of 1834 indicate that there was a Robert Woods leasing land in Dromore.
A search of Dromore Church of Ireland records reveals that a Robert Woods and his wife Mary Burley had nine children between the years 1817 and 1837 but there is no sign of a James. However James's age at the time of his death indicated that he would have been born about 1819 and the three year gap between the births of the first two children registered allows for the possibility of the birth of a third child - James. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that the sponsors for one of James' own children were Robert and Mary Woods. Additionally five of the Christian names used by Robert Woods and Mary Burley were also used by James and Mary Hewitt when naming their children. Those names were Margaret, Mary, Robert, William and John. Since it has not been possible to link him with any other family there is a strong possibility that James Woods was the son of Robert Woods and Mary Burley who lived in the townland of Ballymacormick, part of which is in the town of Dromore. James's wife Mary Hewitt, baptised in Dromore on 26 Jan. 1829 with sponsors Mary McNarry and Elizabeth Lavery, was the daughter of Joseph Hewitt and Margaret Hynds, both from Dromore.
A description of the town of Dromore included in the 1852 Belfast Directory reads as follows:
A Market town, and seat of a diocese in the County of Down, 14 miles distant from Belfast, seated on the river Lagan, and on the road from Dublin to Belfast. The name Druin mor, corrupted into Dromore, signifies the great back of a hill, and is significant of the town's position on the side of a rising ground. Its ecclesiastical see is said, to have been founded in the sixth century. The town consists of a square and a few streets neither long nor wide, radiating from it; neither is the square spacious. The town is clean and well kept. Its staple trade is linen cloth, of which considerable quantities are brought for sale on the market and fair days. Over the Market house, a neat building, erected on arches, is a large apartment, used for public meetings and occasional assemblies. The market is held on a Saturday.
In such a setting James Woods was a prosperous Grocer/Spirit Merchant, initially in Market Square and then from 1863 at 1, Meeting Street, where he leased a substantial house and business premises previously occupied by John Hewitt, who was probably a relative of his wife Mary.5a James additionally leased a house in Castle Street which he used as a store and land and houses in the townland of Lurganbane, which he sub-let.
During the twelve year period after their 1852 marriage seven children were born to James and Mary Woods;
Robert Hewitt baptised 19 June 1853. Sponsors Patrick Austin and Mary McDaid.7
Margaret Imelda, born 08 December 1854.8
Mary baptised 15 March 1857 sponsors John O'Neill Jun. and Mary McDaid.9
John baptised 12 February 1860, sponsors Thomas and Elizabeth McDaid.10
John Coleman baptised 11 June 1861, John Hayes and Margaret Hewitt.11
William baptised 25 February 1863, Margaret Hewitt and Pat. McIlduff.12
James Ignatius, baptised 03 July 1864, Robert and Mary Woods.
Their first son, named John, died shortly after birth.14 The tradition at the time was to name the next boy after the one who had died, hence two sons were given the name John. In 1865, at a time when most others struggled to make a living, James and Mary led a comfortable life with their six healthy children and thriving business in the busy town of Dromore. A period of tragedy changed life dramatically for the family. On 30 March 1866 at the age of 37, Mary Woods, wife of James, died from 'vomiting following the abortion of twins'. James, her husband, was present at her death.15 Around the same time, her young son James died16 and then on 10 Jan. 1869 James Woods, the widowed father died from 'Typhoid Fever'. He was aged 50 and his son Robert was present at his death.17 Five children were left orphaned and the family home and property was immediately leased by a David Herron who set up a woolen business on the premises.18 James had not made a will but the administration of his estate was 'granted to Rev. Fr. McCartan and John McDaid the guardians during the minority of the children and the only next of kin of the said deceased'.19 The shadow of death continued to remain close to the family and on 16 August 1872, William, aged 8, died from TB. Margaret, age 17, was present at his death at Lurganbane, Dromore.20 There are no records of the family leasing a house in Lurganbane so it is likely that the four younger children, Margaret, Mary, John Colman and William were being cared for by another unknown family.
A short time after his wife died in 1866 James Woods had erected a memorial in St. Colman's Cemetery, Dromore, where his wife and two young sons were buried and where he subsequently was interred himself. A white marble inset on the substantial headstone bears the following inscription;
Erected by James Woods of Dromore in memory of his beloved wife Mary, who died 30 March 1866 aged 36 years. Also their two sons James and John. Pray for the souls of the above named. Also the said James Woods who died 10th day of January 1869. May they rest in peace .Amen
Children of James and Mary Woods.
Robert Hewitt Woods, eldest child of James and Mary Woods, was baptised in Dromore, Co. Down, on 19 June 1852.20a The initial search for the whereabouts of Robert Hewitt following on the death of his parents turned out to be long and tedious since there was no indication of where he might be or what career he had followed. A lot of guesswork was involved until a breakthrough was made when a search of Dublin Law Directories indicated that he was practising as a Barrister in Dublin during the late 1880s. It was only then that it became possible to get an insight into the path he followed.
Robert probably received his early education in his home town of Dromore, but later he was a pupil of St. Malachy's Seminary in Belfast. 21 It is likely that he was still a student there when his father died in 1869. His first job was at the War Office in London where he spent a period of eight months during 1872 but due to the fact that the policy of the MOD is only to retain civilian records for a period of 100 years, no information survives to indicate what prompted him to go there. 22 He returned from London and went to Dublin in late 1872 where he obtained work as a Clerk at the Registry of Deeds Office, a position he held until 1881 when he resigned his post for a career change at the age of 27.23 He was admitted as a student to King's Inns, Dublin, Michaelmas Term 1881 and entered Queen's College, Galway, in the Faculty of Law, on 26 October of the same year. He studied until 1884 but did not graduate from there. He was then admitted to King's Inns, Dublin, as a Barrister-at-law during the Trinity Term 1884.
Robert's student memorial (M1881) states that 'he was born 30th May 1852, eldest son of James Woods (deceased) of Dromore, Co. Down, and Mary Hewitt; admitted as a student to King's Inns, Michaelmas Term 1881, to Middle Temple (London) Easter Term 1883, as barrister-in-law, Trinity Term 1884. He is a student of Queens College, Galway and of first year standing therein. He never followed any Profession, Trade or Business except that of Third class clerk [in] Registry of Deeds Office Dublin to which he was appointed 1873 having previously served for about eight months in the War Office, Pall Mall [London] and which he at presents holds'. [Memorial] dated 26 October 1881.25
His membership of the Middle Temple (London) was probably due to the fact that up to 1885 attendance, but not Call, was a necessary qualification for Call to the Irish Bar at Kings Inns.
His University records state that 'he entered Queens College Galway in the Faculty of Law on 21 October 1881, aged 27 years. His father was James (Gent), his religion Roman Catholic, and he had been educated at St. Malachy's Seminary, Belfast. His usual address was Riverside, Dundrum, Co. Dublin; no Galway address listed. He did not graduate from here'. His record of admission to the Middle Temple on 4th April 1883 describes him as being ' of the Royal University, Ireland, clerk, Registry of Deeds Office, Dublin, and member of King's Inns, Dublin, of 27 Upper Temple St, Dublin, (aged 29) eldest son of James Woods, of Dromore, Down, gentleman'.
Shortly after qualifying, Robert Hewitt married Mary C Kirwan, a wealthy solicitor's only daughter, in St. Joseph's Church, Terenure, on 25 June 1885. His sister Mary Woods and Michael T Quinn, of University College, Dublin, were witnesses at his wedding.27 Mary Woods's address was given as 4 Gardner Place, Dublin and this indicated that she was living with her sister Margaret who was married to Michael Cusack. Thereafter events followed quickly for Robert Hewitt. He and his wife had two children, John (1888) and Kathleen (1889).28 He then separated from his wife and both children moved to live with their mother. He continued to work as a Barrister and lived at 2 Brookville, Terenure Rd, Dublin 29 but disappeared from the Barrister List in 1891. A search of the Civil Death Records indicated that he had died suddenly and alone at 84 Upper George's Street, Dun Laoghaire on 27 Jan. 1891. He was aged 38 and had been suffering from a kidney disease for just two months.30 Robert is buried in Dean's Grange Cemetery, Dublin, with his daughter Kathleen, who died, aged 34, shortly after her marriage to Francis Cantrell, and his son Sean and daughter-in-law Mary.31 His separated wife Mary died in Dublin on 13 Oct. 1912, aged 52, and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.
Robert Hewitt's only son, John, born 20 May 1888, lived with his mother at Brighton Vale, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, from the separation of his parents until she died in 1912. He initially qualified and then worked as an Electrical Engineer but by 1911 he was studying law and after qualifying as a solicitor he went into Partnership in a law practice in 1914.33 Although he was recorded as Seaghan O Haudhaigh in the 1911 Census Returns he didn't change his name by deed poll until about 1920. He was greatly interested in all things Irish and was the person most responsible for the changing of the name of Kingstown to Dun Laoghaire. He was involved in the Black and Tan struggle, served time in prison and was Solicitor to Kevin Barry and many others who fought in the struggle. He was first Chairman of Aer Lingus and was also Chairman of the Solicitors Bar Association. John married Mary Dixon on 01 June 1913 and was the father of four children, Robert, Anthony, Blathnaid and Meadhbh. 34 He is survived by his daughters who are two of three known grandnieces of Michael & Margaret Cusack. They were the special guests of the Down County GAA Board at their 125 Anniversary Celebrations on 02 Oct. 2009. Earlier on that day both ladies jointly unveiled a special plaque at Ballela GAA Club in Co. Down, commemorating the fact that Michael Cusack was married to Margaret Woods, a native of the Parish in which the club is situated. The inscription on the plaque reads;
GAA
Celebrating 125 years of the GAA
Michael Cusack
Bunaitheoir an chumann luthchleas gael
was married to
Margaret Woods
at St. Colman's Church in the parish of Dromore
On 14 June 1876
This plaque was commissioned by
Coiste chontae an duin
and unveiled 2u deireadh fomhair 2009.
Sean O'Huadhaigh died 21 Jan 1959, age 72, while his wife Maria died 24 April 1956, aged 69. Sean's sister Kathleen married Francis Cantwell in 1913. Kathleen died 18 Dec.1921. There were no children from the marriage.
Margaret Imelda Woods was born in Dromore, Co. Down, on 08 Dec.1854 and lived there until at least 1872 when she was present at the death of her younger brother William.36 It is not known where she lived from then until the date of her marriage to Michael Cusack in St. Colman's Church, Dromore, on 14 June 1876. On the marriage certificate her occupation was given as seamstress so she may have worked in a local factory where, according to one writer, 'there was employment for local girls who were of a better class and could use their skill and intelligence to make good wages'.37 The fact that she was married in Dromore suggests that she was still probably living in the town with her younger siblings John and Mary. During the period 1872 to 1876 there is evidence to suggest that John attended St Malachy's Seminary, Belfast, so it is unlikely that she would have left her younger sister alone to work at a distance from their home. It is not known where or how Margaret met Michael Cusack. A supposition that she may have been a seamstress in St. Colman's College during the time that Michael Cusack taught there is unsupported by any evidence.
Margaret's husband Michael Cusack was born on 20 Sept.1847, the third of five children of Matthew Cusack and Brid Flannery. He had three brothers, John, Thomas and Patrick and one sister, Mary. He trained to be a teacher and was Principal of Lough Cutra National School, Galway between 1866 and 1872, earning a salary of £44 annually.38 In October 1871, for unknown reasons, he moved to St. Colman's College Newry, where he was Professor of Mathematics and English until mid 1874.39 He left Newry and then successively taught in Blackrock College, Kilkenny and Clongowes Wood until 1877. Around that period young men hoping for a career in the Bank, Civil Service, RIC etc. had to sit an entrance examination but schools did not provide the skills required to pass them. Michael Cusack saw an opening in the market and he began offering grinds/tutoring to prepare students for these examinations. In 1879 he established an Academy for this purpose, at Gardner Place. For several years his Academy was regarded as the best in Ireland and he was hugely successful with large numbers enrolling and a high success rate.
Meanwhile Cusack, an all round sportsman, was involved in rugby, cricket, rowing, handball and athletics. He was All-Ireland champion in the 16lb and 42lb throwing events and played rugby with a club he founded in his own Academy. During this period he was a prolific writer & columnist in Dublin newspapers and journals. The idea of forming the GAA was first conceived at Gardner place and the meeting of the seven men in Hayes's Hotel, Thurles, on 01 Nov.1884 merely approved an idea that had been his for some time. Cusack had a brilliant mind but was stubborn, volatile and arrogant and his personality probably accounted for his being voted out of Office as GAA Secretary just eighteen months after assuming the position in 1884. The years 1879 to 1886 had brought success and prosperity for his growing family, but his dismissal as GAA Secretary was the beginning of what was to be a downward path.
Just as she had done in the 1860s, Margaret Imelda Cusack experienced another period of tragedy. In 1886 her husband's Academy closed and he lost his position as GAA Secretary. Between 1885 and 1889 two children, Mary and Ide died in infancy.42 Then on 16 Sept. 1890, Margaret succumbed to TB at her residence 24 Goldsmith Street, Dublin. She was aged 35.43 One month later her daughter, Mary Evangeline, otherwise known as Aoife, aged 8, died on 18 October 1890 from the same illness44 and three months later her brother Robert Hewitt died.45 The Cusack family were split up and two girls, Brid and Clare, were sent to England, while two of the boys, John Colman and Francis, were sent to an Orphanage in Glasnevin. With his family torn apart Michael Cusack moved around from place to place in Dublin, earning a living by giving private tuition and writing for various Dublin newspapers. At the time of the 1901 Census he was living as a boarder at 33 Mountjoy Street, and he described himself as a Tutor and Journalist. His health began to fail and in January 1906 he suffered another major upset when his son Michael died suddenly at the age of 27.46 Before the year was out Michael Cusack long period of illness came to an end when he died from a heart attack and Bright's disease in the Whitworth Hospital, Dublin on 28 Nov. 1906.47 His funeral from the Pro-Cathedral was attended by huge numbers from all over Ireland. His sons John and Frank and nephew John Woods were the only family names recorded by the press. Michael Cusack is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, together with his wife Margaret Imelda, son Michael and daughters Aoife and Ide.48 The Cusack memorial in Glasnevin was erected by the GAA Central Council on 18th August 1940. Michael's son John was present when the memorial was unveiled.49 The memorial was restored in 2009 and as part of the 125th GAA Anniversary Celebrations a short ceremony of remembrance was held there on 18 November 2009. Christy Cooney, Uachtaran Cumann Luthchleas Gael, in the presence of Michael and Margaret Cusack's two grandnieces, Blathnaid O'Rathaile and Meadhbh Fitzgerald, spoke about the role of Michael in the foundation of the GAA and then placed a laurel wreath at the grave.
Bridget Cusack. Born at 37 Nelson St, Dublin, 14 Sept. 1879,51she apparently was sent to England following on the death of her mother. By the time of the 1901 Census she had returned to Dublin and was visiting at 7 St. Theresa's Road, Glasnevin, where her two bothers John and Frank and sister Clare were living. Her occupation was given as National School Teacher. Bridget entered the Convent of the Sisters of Mercy in Clifford on 24 Sept. 1903 and was known as Sr. Gabriel. She became Headmistress of St. Peter's Elementary School, Lord St, Doncaster in 1915, and remained there until 1933 when she moved to St Peters Secondary Modern School which had opened at Balby. She retired from teaching in 1939 and was elected Novice Mistress in Clifford. During her term of office she taught part-time in the Private School. An anecdote noted in her Convent archives, relates to a meeting between Bridget and Irish pilgrims in Lourdes who, when they discovered that she was a daughter of Michael Cusack, carried her shoulder high in the streets.52 The minutes of the 1950 Annual GAA Congress53 relate to a similar meeting with pilgrims in Rome;
'M.O'Ruairc proposed that the Council should thank the promotors (Antrim County Board) of the GAA pilgrimage - it was a triumph in organization and the officials deserve the highest praise… He recalled a touching incident on the step's of St. Peter's when a nun who was attracted by the National Flag and the national colours on their badges approached them. When they informed her that they were of the GAA she told them that she was the daughter of Michael Cusack'
In the 1950's Bridget's health gave increasing cause for concern, and after a fairly lengthy period of illness she died in the Convent at Clifford, Yorkshire on 16 June 1956, age 76.54 She is buried in the Nuns Plot at nearby St. Edward's Church Cemetery in Clifford, Yorkshire.
Margaret Clare Cusack, There is confusion about her date of birth. Her obituary notice and death certificate indicate that she was born about 1886, the youngest daughter of Michael Cusack.56, 57 Other sources suggest that she was Cusack's eldest child, born in 1877. It has not been possible to find a birth certificate and it seems likely that her birth was not registered. At the time of the 1901 Census she was recorded as living at 7 St. Theresa's Road, Glasnevin, with her brothers John and Frank and sister Bridget. Her age was given as 23 which matches an 1877 birth. The 1911 Census records her as living at 15 Mountjoy Rd, Rotunda with several boarders. She is listed as head of house and her age was given as 27 indicating a birth date of 1883. The interesting thing is that in both returns no occupation was given so it is likely that she was acting as housekeeper for those residing with her. Records show that she was known as Clare while living in Ireland and Margaret Clare while she was in Bradford. As far as her age is concerned she either did not know when she was born or did not want to admit that she was older than she had stated. It is likely that she went to live in Bradford shortly after the 1911 Census when her brother John married and Frank disappeared. Margaret Clare was probably not well educated and this would account for her being a machinist for a Raincoat Manufacturer in Bradford and not a Civil Servant as had previously been thought. She died from heart disease at her home at 6 Rose St, Manningham, Bradford, on 10 December 1955.58 Her obituary notice, which was inserted by 'her friends and neighbours', indicated that she was a retired spinster and was the daughter of Michael Cusack, of Dublin. She is buried in an unmarked grave in St. Edward's RC Church, Clifford, Yorkshire, the same Churchyard as her sister Bridget (Sr. Gabriel). Her desire to be close to her sister was the obvious reason for her remains being taken from Bradford to Clifford, a journey of over 20 miles.
John Aloysius Cusack. Born at 4 Gardiner Place, Dublin on 12 Dec.1880.60 He entered St. Vincent's Orphanage, Glasnevin, after his mother's death and remained there until about 1898. Initially he worked in the Post Office but he then studied law and by 1911 he had become a solicitor.61 He married Kathleen O'Connell in Dublin in 1910. John was the only child of Michael and Margaret Cusack to marry but he did not have any children. He was present at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the GAA held in Ennis in 1934. Kathleen Cusack, died on 30 Oct.1950 and her husband John on 09 Oct. 1956. He was aged 75 and was the third and last of the Cusack children to die within a period of ten months.
Francis Xavier Cusack. Born at 4 Gardiner Place, Dublin, on 13 Dec. 1883.63 He spent his early years in St. Vincent's Orphanage together with his brother John. He then worked in the Post Office.64 A story that he had walked out after having a dispute with his father and was never seen again is not correct. Newspaper reports indicate that he was present at his father's death in 1906 and he was still working in the Post Office and living as a boarder at 11 Goldsmiths Street at the time of the 1911 Census. Thereafter there are no records of him. British war medal records for 1914/18 list two Francis Cusacks and one F. Cusack but there is no way of getting further information on these men.65 Could the correct story be that Frank, as he was known, had a row with his brother John about joining the British Army and as a result walked out and was never seen again?
Michael Cusack Jun. Born at 37 Nelson St, Dublin, on 03 Aug.1878.66 Little is known about him other than the fact that he was a Clerk. Michael died in the Mater Hospital on 22 Jan 1906 from septic pneumonia.67 He was aged 27 and is buried in the family plot in Glasnevin.
Mary Evangeline (Aoife) Cusack. Born at 4 Gardiner Place, Dublin on 08 Apr 1882.68 She died of TB, aged 8, in Harold's Cross Hospice, Dublin on 18 October 1890 just a month after her mother.69 Aoife is buried in the family plot in Glasnevin.
Mary Ethel Cusack. Born at 4 Gardiner Place, Dublin on 24 Apr 1887.70 Mary Ethel's place of burial is unknown.
Ide Cusack died at a young age. Ide is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery with her parents.
John Colman Woods, brother of Margaret Imelda, was baptised in Dromore, Co. Down, on 11 June 1861. His sponsors were John Hayes and Margaret Hewitt.72 No records survive relating to his early education but he was a pupil at St.Malachy's College, Belfast, during the 1870s.73 It is likely that he moved to Dublin after the marriage of his sister Margaret Imelda and he may have been coached by Michael Cusack for his Preliminary Examination for entrance to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland which he passed on 20 October 1880.74 He then embarked on a thirteen year journey leading to his final qualification as a Medical Doctor. His study took him to places as far apart as Dublin, Preston, London, Edinburgh, Brooklyn, New York and Vienna. The period 1883 to 1889 was spent studying Courses of Prescribed Study at Ledwich College and various Hospitals in Dublin. From there he went to Brooklyn, N.York where he spent two years before obtaining he obtained his MD in 1890 and finally to Edinburgh where in 1893 he completed the five year course of study leading to the Licentiateship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh via the Triple Qualification of the three Scottish Medical Royal Colleges.75 After qualifying he practised for varying periods of time in America, Dublin, Preston, London, and Edinburgh, before moving to S. Africa where he lived at 30 Chapel St, Pietermaritzburg, Natal between 1903 and 1908.76 On 14 Nov1906 John Colman submitted an application to the NSW Medical authorities to be registered as an MD in that state. He arrived in Australia in 1908.
John Colman married Grace Yatala Laffer in Toowoomba, Queensland in1911. He was 43 years old at the time while Grace was a widow and the daughter of Albert Ogilvy and Rebecca Pilon.77 The couple's first children, twins Robert and John Patrick, were born in September 1911 but Robert died after two days.78 Lindsay Hewitt was then born 14 September 1916. At this time John Colman was working in the country town of Moree, NSW. He later moved to Weston, near Kurri Kurri, and then the Cessnock area of NSW and finally to the Chatswood area of Sydney. His marriage to Grace was not a conventional one for those times as Grace appears to have travelled a lot overseas with a 'lantern show' While away the boys were fostered out to a couple who ran a dairy.
John Colman continued to practise as a doctor until about two years before his death at the Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, Sydney on 11 Oct.1938, when he was aged 75. He had been suffering from heart problems for five years.80, 81, 82 Prior to his death he had been living at 340 Mowbray Rd, Chatswood, Sydney. He is buried alone in Macquarie Cemetery, Sydney, Australia and had been separated from his wife for some time.83 His wife Grace died in 1944.
Lindsay Hewitt Woods, one of John Colman's sons served in the Australian Army85 married Heather Keysor in 1940 and had one daughter Lindsay.86 Lindsay Hewitt (Jim) Woods died 25 Nov.1984 and is buried at Northern Suburbs Crematorium.87 His wife Heather died 25 August 1975.88 Lindsay, daughter and only child of Lindsay and Heather, had never heard of the GAA and was unaware that her grandfather's sister Margaret had married its founder, Michael Cusack.89 She is married to Garham and is living in Glenlyon near Daylesford. Victoria, Australia where she is Minister in Christ Church on Agitation Hill. She is also involved in an outpatient correctional clinic in local Loddon Prison. Her daughter Samantha, an Actress, is married and living in Castlemaine while her second daughter Michelle is also married and living in Launcestown, Tasmania. Lindsay along with Blathnaid O Rathaille and Meadhbh Fitzgerald of Dublin are grandnieces of Michael and Margaret Cusack and the closest known relatives.
John Colman's second son John Patrick (Jack) married widow Alma Emily Homes in 1947.90 Emily had a daughter Sandra by her first marriage but it is not known if there were any children of her marriage to John Patrick.
Mary Woods, only sister of Margaret Imelda, was baptised in Dromore Co, Down on 15 March 1857.91 She was unmarried when she was a witness at the marriage of her brother Robert Hewitt Woods in 1885. At that time she was living at 4 Gardner Place, the address of Michael & Margaret Cusack, perhaps living with and helping her sister look after a growing family.
Despite an intensive search no further record has been found of her in Ireland. A Mary Woods, aged 35, a maid, living in Dublin, Ireland, travelled as a transient passenger, on board the ship La Gascogne from LeHarve to N.York, arriving there on 06 Nov.1893. This description fits but cannot be confirmed.
William Woods, brother of Margaret Imelda, was baptized in Dromore, Co. Down, on 25 February 1863. His sponsors were Margaret Hewitt and Pat. McIlduff.94 William died from TB at Lurganbane, Dromore, on 16 August 1872. He had been ill for six months and was age 9, at the time of his death. Margaret Imelda Woods was present at her brother's death.
The history of the Woods/Cusack family is no less fascinating than the establishment and growth of the Gaelic Athletic Association itself. Who, in the quiet town of Dromore, Co. Down, could have forecast at its conception that it would become the inspirational force that it has become today? County Down fans will be delighted that Michael Cusack acknowledged his wife Margaret's part in his life and in the establishment of the GAA. His words written about her a few years before his death are an appropriate and poignant note on which to end:
'a Betsy Gray sort of girl.
She and I were in the closest partnership
for fourteen and a half years.
She largely helped to establish the Gaelic Athletic Association.' Tweet
