Catherine Mcgowan

Who was Miss Catherine McGowan?

Miss Catherine McGowan, also known as Kate, was a 42 (forty-two) year-old Irish woman who tragically lost her life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born in 1869 in Massbrook, Lahardane, Co Mayo, Ireland, she was a third-class passenger on the ill-fated ship’s maiden voyage. Catherine was part of a group known as the “Addergoole Fourteen,” a collection of Irish passengers from the same parish who boarded the Titanic together.

Early Life and Family

Humble Beginnings in Rural Ireland

Catherine McGowan was born on October 16, 1869, to Anthony McGowan, a farmer, and Bridget Mayock. She grew up in a large family with several siblings:

Honor (born May 7, 1865)
John (born June 9, 1867)
Thomas (born September 28, 1871)
Margaret (born March 1, 1873)
Sarah (born December 20, 1875)

Family Hardships

Catherine’s life was marked by early loss and hardship:

Her mother, Bridget, passed away on May 11, 1898, at the age of 60 (sixty).
By the 1901 census, her father Anthony was living with his son John’s family in Massbrook, Addergoole.
Anthony McGowan spent his final days in a workhouse in Castlebar, Co Mayo, where he died on September 18, 1908, at the age of 77 (seventy-seven).

Journey to America and Life in Chicago

Why did Catherine leave Ireland?

Like many Irish people of her time, Catherine sought better opportunities abroad. She left Ireland around 1888, at approximately 19 (nineteen) years old, initially settling in Cleveland, Ohio.

Building a Life in Chicago

By the turn of the century, Catherine had established herself in Chicago, Illinois. There, she:

Ran a boarding house on North Paulina Street
Was listed in the 1910 census as a resident of Chicago

The Fateful Return to Ireland

What brought Catherine back to Ireland?

In late 1911, Catherine made a significant decision to return to Ireland. Her reasons were twofold:

To visit family and friends in Co Mayo
To accompany her niece Annie, who wished to move to America

The Addergoole Fourteen

Catherine’s return to Ireland set the stage for her involvement with a group that would become known as the Addergoole Fourteen. This group included:

John and Catherine McHugh Bourke
Mary Bourke
Nora Fleming
Mary Mangan
Bridget Donohue
Delia Mahon
Patrick and Mary Canavan
James Flynn
Annie Kelly
Bridget McDermott

The Titanic Journey

Boarding the Ship of Dreams

On April 11, 1912, Catherine boarded the Titanic at Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland. Her ticket details were as follows:

Ticket number: 9232
Cost: £7 15s (7 pounds, 15 shillings)
Class: Third Class

The Tragic Outcome

Sadly, Catherine McGowan did not survive the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. Her body, if recovered, was never identified. In a twist of fate, her niece Annie, whom she had intended to help settle in America, was among the survivors of the disaster.

Catherine McGowan’s Legacy

While Catherine’s life was cut short, her story lives on as part of the larger narrative of the Titanic disaster. She represents the hopes and dreams of many Irish immigrants seeking a better life in America, only to have those dreams tragically dashed. The tale of the Addergoole Fourteen, of which Catherine was a part, continues to be remembered in Ireland, particularly in Co Mayo, as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic tragedy.

Catherine McGowan’s journey, from running a boarding house in Chicago to her fateful decision to return to Ireland, illustrates the complex web of family ties and immigrant experiences that characterized early 20th-century Irish-American relations. Her story serves as a touching reminder of the individual lives behind the statistics of the Titanic disaster.