Cobh Titanic Commemorative Service Sunday 10th April 2011

Addergoole Titanic Society were among the Guest speakers at Titanic Commemoration Ceremony in Cobh on Sunday on the 99th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
Dr. Paul Nolan, ATS Chairman opened the ceremony and gave a talk on immigration from the west of Ireland in the early 20th century and how it affected families.

“A lot of those who immigrated became very successful in their chosen life. One such person was Catherine McGowan from Terryduff in the parish of Addergoole. Catherine, like so many before her had immigrated to America and had done well for herself, owning a boarding house in Chicago. In  1911 she returned to Ireland to bring her niece Anna McGowan back to Chicago with her. She stayed for a few months visiting her family and friends, she saw the hardship they were going through. Her success was apparent and it encouraged others to follow in her footsteps and seek out a better life in America” he said. “There was no money in Ireland in those days. Catherine McGowan and her Friends from Addergoole would travel on ‘The RMS Titanic’ this great new ship everyone was talking about. They made their journey to Castlebar station by sidecar and on foot, and from there to Cobh by train, staying overnight in Cobh. The cost for one night’s B&B for one night was 7shillings and 6pence, or 3 half-crowns as it was then. On the morning of 11^th April 1912 they made their way to Scots Quay and met up with the other 109 passengers waiting for the tenders, Ireland and America, to take them out to RMS Titanic moored off Roches Point. Titanic only spent two hours there. ”

The Addergoole Fourteen were introduced by Christina Burke, ATS Treasurer. Fourteen relatives and children proudly described each of Addergoole’s  travellers. It was a day to remember. The society brought with them their own traditional musicians and dancers and entertained the large outdoor audience with their own version of the "American Wake". It was a glorious sunny day at Cobh Quayside where 99 years ago the Addergoole 14 set off on their fateful maiden Titanic voyage. It sank at 02.20 on Monday 15th April with the loss of 1500 lives, including the 11 from Addergoole.

Michael Molloy (ATS PRO)

info@addergoole-titanic.com

ENDS