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Writer's pictureTitanictalksMillie

Titanic Connections: The Addergoole Fourteen

Updated: Dec 30, 2020

The Addergoole Fourteen:

Addergoole, now known as Larhadane is a small parish located in the heart of Western Ireland, known for its picturesque landscapes and rural settings. The small Parish was once home to fourteen men and women who would go on to call the RMS Titanic their temporary home. The shadow of the disaster is not long forgotten by the residents of Larhadane.


Catherine McGowan and Anna McGowan :

Catherine McGowan was 42 years old when she boarded Titanic as a third-class passenger alongside her niece Anna McGowan, aged 18, who was the youngest member of the Addergoole fourteen, McGowan and Kelly, like the rest of the fourteen, boarded Titanic at Queenstown, Ireland. Alongside 120 other passengers, most of which held a third-class ticket, which costed just over £7.

Trans-Atlantic crossings were no stranger to Catherine McGowan as in late-1910 McGowan and her niece had visited Ohio for a family arrangement and returned to Addergoole in early 1911.


On April 14th, 1912 Catherine and Anna had successfully made it to the boat deck and secured a spot in lifeboat number 13. This lifeboat was launched by First Officer William Murdoch and Sixth Officer James Moody. The boat was launched from the starboard, aft side at 1:15 am, April 15th. Liverpool -born Fireman Fredrick Barrett was put in charge of commanding the passengers in the lifeboat. McGowan shared the boat with fellow Addergoole resident Bridget Delia McDermott and second-class English Teacher, Lawrence Beasley.


But, during the loading Anna was separated from her Aunt and never saw her again. Catherine McGowan was lost in the sinking and her body was never recovered or identified. Anna did survive as she left the doomed Belfast liner at approximately 1:30 am, just an hour before Titanic’s final moments.


Anna McGowan did indeed return to America and established a home in Chicago where she worked as a secretary. Throughout the remainder of her life, McGowan scarcely mentioned the events of April 15th, 1912. McGowan’s daughter stated that her mother had maintained the mentality that the best way to move on with her life was to let the Titanic go. Few times did McGowan ever address the sinking of the Titanic. One of those times was in 1984, in an interview the Addergoole resident had stated how, when sinking, Titanic had just ‘busted in half.’


Catherine, John and Mary Bourke:

John Bourke was the husband of fellow Addergoole resident Catherine Bourke, a close friend of Catherine McGowan. The couple traveled as third-class passengers with John’s sister, Mary. At the time of the collision the party had been asleep in their cabins. Much like the McGowan family. Catherine, John and Mary had made it onto the decks of the Titanic.

Although, it is a common apprehension that the third-class had been locked down in the bowels of the ship. It has since been de-bunked that a fire escape, most likely located on E or F Deck had been left un-attended and served as an ample opportunity to escape the Titanic. It could be speculated that the Addergoole fourteen had used that route to get onto the boat deck. As the ladder did eventually come out at a first-class entrance.


Mary and Catherine had been offered a seat on a lifeboat, potentially number 13 as that was also Anna McGowan’s escape off the ship. But Mary and Catherine had refused to leave john. Subsequently, the Trio from Addergoole were lost in the sinking. Mary died aged 40 and couple Catherine lost their lives aged 32 (Catherine) and 42 (John). The couple had only been married three years.


As always feel free to ask any questions

Have a ‘Titanic’ New Year

- Millie



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