Catherine Bourke

Who was Mrs Catherine Bourke?

Mrs Catherine Bourke was a 32 (thirty-two) year-old Irish passenger who tragically perished in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born Catherine McHugh, she was a housewife from Tawnagh, Addergoole, Co Mayo, Ireland, who had embarked on a journey to start a new life in Chicago with her husband John Bourke and sister-in-law Mary.

Early Life and Family

A Childhood Marked by Loss

Catherine McHugh was born on November 1, 1879, in Tawnagh, Addergoole, Co Mayo, Ireland. She was the daughter of Patrick McHugh, a farmer born in 1842, and Mary Madden, born in 1845. Her parents had married on May 22, 1865, in Ballina, Co Mayo.

Catherine’s siblings included:

Margaret (born May 4, 1866)
Anthony (born August 27, 1868)
Mary (born September 10, 1870)
Cecily (born March 8, 1877)
Ellen (born November 3, 1881)
Thomas (born November 17, 1883)

Tragically, Catherine’s childhood was marked by the untimely deaths of both her parents:

Her mother passed away on January 19, 1886, after suffering from a debilitating illness for six months.
Her father died of cancer on September 25, 1886, just months after her mother’s death.

At the tender age of 16, Catherine found herself orphaned, a circumstance that would shape her future decisions.

Journey to America and Return to Ireland

A New Life Across the Atlantic

Following the loss of her parents, Catherine made the bold decision to emigrate to the United States. She settled in Chicago, Illinois, where she likely had family connections. This move demonstrated Catherine’s resilience and determination to forge a new path for herself.

A Whirlwind Romance

In 1910, Catherine returned to her native Ireland. It was during this visit that she reconnected with a childhood acquaintance, John Bourke, a farmer from Carrowskeheen, Addergoole. Their relationship blossomed quickly, leading to their marriage on March 5, 1911, in Lahardane Parrish Church.

Life in Ireland and Plans for Emigration

A Brief Domestic Life

After their marriage, Catherine and John settled into life in Carrowskeheen. The 1911 census records show them living at house 11 in Carrowskeheen, along with John’s sister Mary. This period, though brief, was likely a happy time for the newlyweds as they established their home together.

The Decision to Emigrate

Catherine’s friend, Catherine McGowan, had returned to Mayo in late 1911 with plans to go back to Chicago in the spring of 1912. This appears to have influenced the Bourkes’ decision to emigrate. Catherine, John, and Mary made plans to move to Chicago, where Catherine’s sister Ellen resided at 66 Ruby Street.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Embarking on a Dream

Catherine and John Bourke joined a group of over a dozen people from their locality who had decided to travel to America aboard the Titanic. They boarded the ship at Queenstown (now Cobh) on April 11, 1912. Their ticket details were as follows:

Ticket Number: 364849
Class: 3rd Class
Cost: £15, 10s

The Night of the Sinking

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, Catherine, John, and Mary were asleep when the Titanic struck an iceberg. They were awakened by a steward urging them to get up and dress. The trio made their way to the upper decks, where Catherine and Mary had the opportunity to board lifeboats.

In a heart-wrenching display of loyalty and love, both Catherine and Mary refused to leave John behind, defying the “women and children first” protocol. This decision ultimately led to all three perishing in the sinking.

Legacy and Remembrance

Catherine Bourke’s body, if recovered, was never identified. She and her husband John are memorialized on her family’s headstone in Addergoole, Knockmaria, County Mayo, Ireland (Section A, Plot 394).

Their story serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster and the deep bonds of love and family that transcended even the face of certain death. Catherine’s life, though cut tragically short, exemplifies the spirit of adventure and the strength of familial ties that characterized many Irish emigrants of her era.