George V medal; 1914-15 Star; Victory medal for Great War of Civilization

Cornelius Kennerk was born at home in the Coombe on Friday 16 September 1898. His red hair made him stand out since the rest of the extended family was dark-haired. He may have inherited this distinctive trait from his mother’s side. The family had five children, one of whom died in infancy. Other children recorded on the 1911 census are Stephen Kennerk (aged 10), Margaret (aged 6) and Michael (aged 4). None of them could read which reflects the poor standard of education amongst Dublin’s working class. Mick’s wife could read but was unable to write, as evidenced by her ‘x’ on Con’s birth certificate. When she was pushed to it, she could attempt a signature. Con's parents had married just a year previously on Sunday, 17 January 1897. His mother was a blonde-haired servant girl from no. 35 Watling Street named Elizabeth Cleary. Despite a short sojourn on the North side of the city, the young couple moved to the south side where Elizabeth set up home with the domestic skills she had learned at her mother’s County Dublin fireside. She made excellent brown bread and was very house proud despite the paralysis in her hand. In 1900, the family moved to no. 4 Hackett’s Court and the following year to no.1 The Coombe. By 1911, they were lodging at no. 23 Hendrick Street, not far from Usher’s Quay.

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