General
Titanic Journey Re-Enactment
By Brían Hoban
3, Apr 2012 - 15:35

On Easter Sunday April 8th Mayo Titanic Cultural Week will be officially launc hed by former President Mary Robinson. The official opening ceremony at St. Patrick's Church, Laherdane will be followed by a re-enactment of the journey taken by The Addergoole Fourteen in period costume by horse and sidecar from Laherdane to Castlebar Railway Station en route to Cobh to board the ill-fated Titanic.

A bi-lingual Commemorative Plaque will be unveiled at Castlebar Railway Station dedicated to emigration, the memory of the Addergoole Fourteen and William Luke Duffy (a Titanic crew member who was born in Castlebar and also drowned on Titanic.)

In total, fifteen Mayo people were on the RMS Titanic's maiden voyage. Fourteen were from the parish of Addergoole (Laherdane), and one crew member, originally from Main Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, but living in Southampton, England. This was William Luke Duffy, who also had an address in Dublin.

News of who had perished and survived was initially muddled. Tragically, a young soldier serving in the Connaught Rangers, John Young, shot himself on learning of the disaster. John believed his brother Francis had died in the sinking, but Francis was not on titanic's maiden voyage. It was another seafarer-of the same name and no relation to John who had perished.

ITINERARY
At 10a.m the opening of Mayo Titanic Cultural Week will be performed by former President Mary Robisnson at St. Patrick's Church, Laherdane.

At 11a.m the "Fourteen" will depart Laherdane via the Windy Gap, Newantrim Street, Linenhall Street, Main Street, Castle Street, Spencer Street, Station Road.

At 12.50 The Fourteen arrive at Johhnie Mc Hales for "deoch an doras" followed by a stop at the former Titanic Ticket Offices - "Walshes Ticket Office" (now Eclipse Hairdressers, Linenhall St.), and "Durcan's Ticket Office (now Leo Doherty's Mans Shop, Main St.) and then proceed to Castlebar Railway Station.

At 2.50p.m. The unveiling of commemorative plaque at Castlebar Railway Station, dedicated to emigration, the memory of the Addergoole fourteen and William Luke Duffy (a Titanic crew member who was born in Castlebar and also drowned on Titanic.)

Image courtesy Wynne Collection 1906