Hanora Hegarty

Who was Miss Hanora “Nora” Hegarty?

Miss Hanora “Nora” Hegarty was a young Irish woman born on February 15, 1892, in Killavallig, Whitechurch, Co Cork, Ireland. She was a third-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic, embarking on a journey that would tragically end her life at the tender age of 20 (twenty). Nora’s story is a poignant reminder of the many young lives lost in one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.

Early Life and Family

A Large Irish Family

Nora was born into a large, Roman Catholic family that spoke both Irish and English. Her parents were:

Father: Laurence Hegarty (born 1833), a farmer
Mother: Mary Riordan (born 1847)

Laurence and Mary were married on February 22, 1887, in Rathcormac Parish Church. Nora was one of eight children:

Catherine (born January 2, 1888)
William (born April 21, 1890)
Hanora “Nora” (born February 15, 1892)
Mary (born April 27, 1893)
Hannah (born July 24, 1894 - died February 20, 1905)
Margaret (born May 7, 1896)
Timothy (born January 23, 1899)
Bridget (born September 2, 1903)

Tragically, Nora’s sister Hannah passed away at the age of 10 from meningitis on February 20, 1905.

Home and Upbringing

The Hegarty family’s roots were deeply embedded in the Irish countryside. Census records provide a glimpse into their living situations:

1901 Census: The family resided at house 3 in Killavallig, Whitechurch
1911 Census: They had moved to house 5 in Killavallig

Interestingly, Nora was not listed with her family in the 1911 census. Instead, she was recorded as living with her aunts, Mary and Nora Hegarty, on Dublin Street in Cork City. This change in residence may have been related to work or education opportunities for the young woman.

The Fateful Journey

Why was Nora on the Titanic?

Nora’s journey on the Titanic was part of a larger story of Irish emigration to America. She was traveling with her cousin, Jeremiah Burke, whose mother was the sister of Nora’s father. Their destination was Charlestown, Boston, Massachusetts, where they planned to stay with Jeremiah’s elder married sister, Mary Burns.

A Higher Calling?

Intriguingly, there are reports that Nora, described as a pious young woman, was destined to join an order of Nuns in the Boston area. This aspiration adds a layer of poignancy to her tragic fate.

Titanic Ticket Details

Ticket Number: 365226
Class: Third Class
Cost: £6, 15s (6 pounds, 15 shillings)
Embarkation Point: Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland

The Tragedy Unfolds

What happened to Nora Hegarty on the Titanic?

Sadly, Nora Hegarty did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. She perished along with her cousin Jeremiah Burke when the ship went down on April 15, 1912. Their bodies, if recovered, were never identified, leaving their final resting place as the cold depths of the North Atlantic.

A Family’s Grief

The loss of Nora was deeply felt by her family and community. A poignant obituary appeared in the Cork Examiner on April 27, 1912:

HEGARTY - April 15th, lost on ss. Titanic disaster, Nora, the beloved daughter of Laurence and Mary Hegarty, Killavallig, Whitechurch, aged 19 years. Deeply regretted. R.I.P.

The Aftermath

Financial Matters

Nora’s estate, valued at a modest £5, was administered to her father Laurence on December 11, 1912. This small sum serves as a stark reminder of the limited means of many third-class passengers on the Titanic.

Impact on the Family

The loss of Nora had a profound impact on her family:

Her father, Laurence, passed away less than two years after her death, on January 21, 1914.
Her mother, Mary, died sometime in the 1920s or 1930s.
Her brothers William and Timothy remained in Whitechurch as farmers:
- William died on August 27, 1957
- Timothy passed away on July 10, 1960

Remembering Hanora Hegarty

Hanora “Nora” Hegarty’s life, though cut tragically short, serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster. Her story, intertwined with the broader narrative of Irish emigration and the pursuit of a better life, continues to resonate more than a century later. As we remember Nora, we honor not just her memory, but the memories of all those who perished that fateful night in April 1912.