Harry Cunningham (activist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harry Cunningham
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Henry Conaghan
1891 |
| Died | 1938 |
| Occupation | Irish-American activist |
Harry Cunningham (1891–1938) was an important Irish-American activist in the early 1900s. He helped lead many Irish-American groups in New York. These groups worked to support Ireland's fight for independence. Harry was a close friend of John Devoy, a long-time leader of the Clan-na-Gael organization. Harry is most famous for saving the Fenian Ram submarine in 1927. This submarine was the world's first working submarine. It was a symbol of Irish-American cleverness.
Contents
Harry Cunningham's Early Life and Move to America
Harry Cunningham was born Henry Conaghan in 1891. He grew up in Montcharles, County Donegal, Ireland. His parents, John and Winifred Campbell Conaghan, were farmers. When he was young, he changed his name to Harry Cunningham. In 1909, he moved to the United States. He first lived in Manhattan, New York City, and later in the Bronx. He became a US citizen in 1914.
Harry's Work with Irish-American Groups
Clan-na-Gael: A Secret Irish Group
The Clan-na-Gael was a secret Irish republican group. It followed the Fenian Brotherhood from the 1800s. This group worked in the United States to help the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland. John Devoy led the Clan-na-Gael. They planned many ways to support Ireland's fight for freedom from far away. We don't know exactly when Harry Cunningham joined. But he quickly became good friends with Devoy. People said Harry always finished tasks Devoy gave him. He did this no matter how hard or risky they were.
Friends of Irish Freedom: Supporting Independence
Harry Cunningham was also on the National Council of the Friends of Irish Freedom (FOIF). He was also the national lawyer for this group. The FOIF started in 1916, just before the Easter Rising in Ireland. It was a large public group that spread information about Irish independence. It also gathered money and support from Irish-Americans. In 1919, Michael Collins created "Dáil bonds" to raise money for the Irish government. The FOIF helped raise over $5 million from Americans. John Devoy's Clan-na-Gael leaders were very important in the FOIF.
Harry's First Trip to Ireland
In August 1922, Michael Collins was killed during the Irish Civil War. This was a big shock to Irish-Americans. Harry Cunningham spoke for the FOIF about this sad event. He told the New York Tribune:
The real friends of Ireland are very sad. She lost a great leader in Michael Collins. Only crazy people could have done such a terrible thing. This act shocked the whole world. But the cause Collins fought for will continue.
During the Irish Civil War, groups led by John Devoy in the US supported the Irish Free State government. They were against the Anti-Treaty forces led by Eamon de Valera. After the war, Devoy was invited to visit Ireland. President William T. Cosgrave invited him. Harry Cunningham went with Devoy for the whole six-week trip. They met important government officials and other famous people. These included Foreign Minister Desmond Fitzgerald. They also met Mrs. Mary Collins Powell, Michael Collins's sister. She greeted them when they arrived in Cobh, Cork.
Saving the Fenian Ram Submarine
Harry Cunningham wanted to save important items from Irish-American history. The Fenian Ram was a special submarine. Irish immigrant inventor John P. Holland designed and built it. John Devoy and the Clan-na-Gael paid for it in 1879-80. The idea was to sink British ships if Ireland had an uprising. But the submarine never went into battle. It ended up as an exhibit at the Clason Point Military Academy in the Bronx, NY. On May 27, 1927, the Academy was moving. They sold the submarine's body to a junk dealer for $100.
Newspapers reported this sale, and many people were shocked. They couldn't believe this historic item would be destroyed. Holland's son, Joseph, said he would have bought it himself. He would have given it a proper burial at sea instead of letting it be scrapped. A newspaper from Holland's hometown, Paterson, New Jersey, also asked for the submarine's engine back. But Harry Cunningham acted first. On June 25, 1927, he bought the Fenian Ram from the junkyard for $650.
Suddenly, other people wanted to buy it. These included the American Irish Historical Society and the Smithsonian Institution. Even industrialist Henry Ford was interested. Ford had his own museum of inventions. He reportedly sent someone to Harry's home with a blank check. He hoped to buy the submarine quickly. But Harry was at the hospital. He was taking care of his 12-year-old daughter Catherine, who was very sick.
Harry Cunningham held the submarine for the Clan-na-Gael for just over two months. On September 9, 1927, he sold the Fenian Ram to Edward A. Browne. Browne was a car dealer from Paterson, New Jersey. We don't know the exact details of this sale. Browne then gave the submarine's body to the Paterson city parks. It became a memorial to John Holland, who did so much engineering work in that city. Today, the submarine is on display at the Paterson Museum in Paterson, New Jersey.
Harry's Second Trip to Ireland
By September 1928, John Devoy was 86 years old and very ill. Harry Cunningham took him to Atlantic City to rest. On September 29, Devoy died in his hotel room, with Harry present. Harry was in charge of Devoy's belongings. He prepared for a second trip to Ireland. This time, he would take Devoy's body to Dublin for burial.
Before leaving, Harry wrote to Irish President Cosgrave. He talked with the President's helper, Col. Joseph Reilly. They discussed buying the burial plot and other funeral plans. On June 5, 1929, Harry Cunningham led the American group. They left Hoboken, New Jersey, with John Devoy's body. They were going to Ireland. On June 16, Devoy was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. Many other important Irish revolutionary figures are buried there. Devoy received a state funeral with full honors. Harry Cunningham paid for the burial plot and the headstone at Glasnevin.
Later, on June 25, President Cosgrave hosted a lunch for Harry. It was at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. Several government ministers and members of the Irish parliament were also there.
Other Activities and Later Life
Harry Cunningham loved sports. He was once the President of the Irish-American Athletic Club. He also held leadership roles in other groups. These included the Thomas J. Clarke club and the American Irish Historical Society. He was also active in the Irish Republican Brotherhood Veterans Association. He was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Harry Cunningham worked as an ice delivery truck driver when he first came to New York. Later, he became a real estate appraiser for New York City. On April 2, 1913, he married Teresa McMahon (1886-1968). She was an immigrant from County Monaghan, Ireland. After their wedding, they visited Ireland for a month.
Harry and Teresa had three children: Catherine, John, and Alice. Catherine died when she was a teenager.
After a long illness, Harry Cunningham died on August 23, 1938. He passed away at the House of Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, New York. His funeral Mass was held at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer in Manhattan. Five priests and two deacons led the service.
