• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Irish America

Irish America

Irish America

  • HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR CONTRIBUTORS
  • IN THIS ISSUE
  • HALL OF FAME
  • THE LISTS
    • BUSINESS 100
    • HALL OF FAME
    • HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCES 50
    • WALL STREET 50
  • LIBRARY
  • TRAVEL
  • EVENTS

News from Ireland: Ulster Unionists Lose Party Leader

By Irish America Staff
October / November 2000

October 1, 2000 by Leave a Comment

Pro-Agreement and anti-Agreement Unionists were united recently at the funeral of Sir Josias Cunningham, a leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, the largest Unionist party in Northern Ireland. Cunningham was killed on August 9 in a two-car collision in Belfast. He was 66.

Cunningham was elected president of the Ulster Unionist Council in 1991. The Council is the governing body of the Ulster Unionist Party. He played an important role in the creation of the new Northern Ireland Assembly by resolving the debate on whether to go into government with Sinn Féin. He reassured other party members about power-sharing by obtaining from Trimble a postdated letter of resignation which was to take effect if the I.R.A. took no steps toward decommissioning their weapons. His conviction contributed to the British government’s decision to suspend the Northern Ireland government.

Along with his considerable involvement in politics, Cunningham led his family’s brokerage firm Cunningham Coates until he retired to his farm last year. He was also a former chairman of the Belfast Stock Exchange. He is survived by his wife Ann, his sons Stephen and Jonathan, and his daughters Miranda and Penny. ♦

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Highlights

News
Articles and stories from Irish America.....
MORE

Hibernia
News from Ireland and happenings in Irish America.....
MORE

Those We Lost
Remembering some of the great Irish Americans who have passed.....
MORE

Slainte!
Discover Irish ancestry, predilections, and recipes.....
MORE

Photo Album
Irish America readers share the stories of their ancestors....
MORE

More Articles

  • Morrison Visas: Round Two

    Morrison Visas: Round Two

    Hard to believe that it's already a year since the days of Morrison Madness, when tens of thousands ...
  • British Government Faced With Legal Dilemma Over 1997 Murder of Sean Brown

    British Government Faced With Legal Dilemma Over 1997 Murder of Sean Brown

    This month is crunch time for the British government on one of the most prominent legal cases from t...
  • Roots: The O'Briens

    Roots: The O'Briens

    The O'Briens are one of the great Gaelic families of Ireland, and were the rulers of the ancient kin...
  • President Trump Proclaims Irish Heritage Month

    President Trump Proclaims Irish Heritage Month

    The President calls on Irish Americans to celebrate their "contributions to our Nation," adding,"Iri...

Footer

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Give a Gift
  • Newsletter

Additional

  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · IrishAmerica Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in