Miss Mary Agatha Glynn

Who was Mary Agatha Glynn?

Miss Mary Agatha Glynn was an 18 (eighteen) year-old Irish third-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on August 4, 1893, in Slieveanore, Scarriff, Co Clare, Ireland, Mary was one of the fortunate survivors of the tragic maritime disaster that occurred on April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Background

What was Mary’s family like?

Mary Agatha Glynn came from a large Irish farming family. Her parents, Patrick “Pat” Glynn (b. 1856) and Ellen Guilfoyle (b. April 18, 1867), married on March 5, 1889, in Clonusker Roman Catholic Chapel. The couple had thirteen children, though only ten survived infancy:

Patrick (b. April 8, 1890)
John (b. July 7, 1891)
Mary Agatha (b. August 4, 1893)
James (b. June 22, 1895)
Kate (b. May 4, 1897)
Anne (b. July 10, 1899)
Bridget (b. November 7, 1901)
Thomas (b. July 17, 1903)
Michael (b. August 10, 1906)
William (b. August 29, 1908)

Tragically, three of Mary’s siblings died in infancy:

Ellen (July 13-20, 1898)
Margaret (December 15, 1904 - January 8, 1905)
Peter (August 7-27, 1909)

Where did Mary live before boarding the Titanic?

The Glynn family resided in Slieveanore, as evidenced by:

1901 census: House 4, Slieveanore
1911 census: House 32, Slieveanore

Interestingly, Mary was not present with her family during the 1911 census. Instead, she was listed as a domestic servant working in a hotel in Scarriff, Co Clare.

Titanic Journey

Why did Mary board the Titanic?

Mary boarded the Titanic at Queenstown on April 11, 1912, as a third-class passenger. Her destination was Washington, DC, where she planned to stay with her cousin, Mrs. D. Courtney, at 715 North Capitol Street.

What were the details of Mary’s ticket?

Detail	Information
Ticket Number	335677
Fare	£7 15s
Class	Third Class

Who did Mary travel with on the Titanic?

During her journey, Mary shared a cabin with three girls from Co Cavan:

Mary McGovern
Julia Smyth
Kate Connolly

She may have also been acquainted with Martin McMahon, the only other third-class passenger from Co Clare.

The Fateful Night

What happened to Mary during the sinking?

On the night of April 14, 1912, Mary and her cabin mates felt the ship strike something. When they inquired about the danger, passing crewmen initially dismissed their concerns. However, they were soon instructed to leave their cabin and gather in the communal third-class areas.

In terror, she and her friends knelt in prayer but a man she identified as Martin Gallagher, a Galway man, found them and led them into a second class area of the ship.

Mary and her three cabin mates were rescued in lifeboat 13. She later described a harrowing moment when their lifeboat, unable to release itself from the falls, was nearly crushed by lifeboat 15 lowering rapidly above them.

What did Mary recall about the orchestra?

Mary claimed to hear the orchestra play “Nearer My God to Thee” during the sinking, a detail that has become part of the Titanic legend.

Life After the Titanic

How did Mary’s life unfold after surviving the disaster?

Arrival in America: Mary reached the United States aboard the rescue ship Carpathia.
Initial recovery: She spent time in a hospital and received modest financial assistance from the American Red Cross.
Settlement: Mary continued her journey to Washington, DC, where she remained.

Did Mary start a family in America?

Yes, Mary soon met her future husband, Patrick Joseph O’Donoghue (b. November 2, 1887), a streetcar conductor from Co Kerry who had emigrated in 1907. They married on October 18, 1917, in Washington, DC, where they made their home. Patrick later managed a restaurant.

The couple had seven children:

Margaret Mary (1918-2007)
Ellen Mary (1920-1983)
Katherine Ann (1921-1988)
Patrick Joseph (1926-1959)
Nicholas John (1927-1988)
Francis James (1932-1973)
A son (stillborn on January 31, 1934)

Mary’s Later Years and Legacy

Mary Agatha Glynn O’Donoghue passed away on February 26, 1955, at the age of 61 (sixty-one), while visiting her daughter in St Petersburg, Florida. She was laid to rest in Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Washington, DC. Her husband Patrick followed her in death on October 10, 1956.

Mary’s survival story serves as a testament to the resilience of Titanic survivors, particularly those from third-class. Her experience offers a unique perspective on the tragic events of April 15, 1912, and the life-changing impact it had on those who lived to tell the tale.