Contributed by Susan Southward.
Susan Southward’s family history is steeped in resilience, service, and a strong connection to Ireland. Her mother, Margaret (Rose) Eivers, was one of nine children, born in 1936 in Ballybay, Athlone, County Westmeath. She worked as a nurse at Salford Royal and later as a district nurse. She continued working here into her seventies, caring for retired priests and the wider community at Nazareth House in Manchester.
Her father, James (Jim) Cooney, born in 1942 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, was a man of many trades, including work in an Irish prison and an enamel factory. Their home in Salford was a place of music, gatherings, and a deep-rooted Irish identity.
One of the most remarkable figures in Susan’s family was her uncle, Frank Eivers. Born in Ballybay in 1932, he joined the Garda Síochána in 1953 and later volunteered for UN peacekeeping duty. He became the personal security guard to UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and was tragically killed in a plane crash in the Congo in 1961. At the time of his death, he had been married only a month. His bravery was later honoured with a posthumous United Nations Peace Medal, and a plaque outside the Church of the Risen Christ in Ballybay commemorates his sacrifice.
Susan’s family has a long history of migration. One of her aunts moved to New York and married Michael Shine, a high-ranking officer in the NYPD who led the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the city. Another aunt, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Dolan, now deceased as of June 2025, lived in Ballybay. The family memorial dedicated to Frank Eivers is on her garden wall.
Her father’s side, the Cooneys from Clonmel, also had strong connections across Ireland and England, with some working in coach building and the railways.
Music played a huge role in Susan’s home life. Her father loved to sing at home, which was a gathering place for local musician friends. Regular sessions featured well-known members of the Irish community, including accordion players like Mr. Jim Gallagher from Salford and Mr. Mick Breen. Tin whistles, spoons, and singing filled the house, creating a space where Irish culture thrived in the heart of Salford.
Susan’s childhood was split between Salford and summers in Ireland. She remembers roaming through her grandmother’s half-acre of land, walking country roads, rolling in the hay, and experiencing a freedom that city life could never provide. Her father had a tough upbringing under the Christian Brothers, and while he didn’t speak much about it, his connection to Ireland remained strong.
As an adult, Susan has taken an active role in preserving her family’s history. She and her sister Maria organised two major family reunions—one for their mother’s side, bringing together over 200 relatives from Ireland, England, and America, and another for the Cooney side, which saw 80 family members reconnect. Through these efforts, they pieced together an extensive family tree with over 1,000 names.
Her mother’s side of the family also carries a deeper ancestral story. Her grandmother was an O’Connor, a family/clan believed to be connected to the Kings of Connacht. Though genetic proof remains elusive, stories of lost lands and donations to the church paint a picture of a past intertwined with history.
Today, Susan, her sister, and other cousins remain committed to collecting and sharing her family’s story, ensuring that their struggles, achievements, and traditions continue to be remembered by future generations.