Mr Patrick O’Connor

Who was Patrick O’Connor?

Patrick O’Connor was a 23 (twenty-three) year-old Irish farmer who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born on May 28, 1888, in Tooreenavuscaun, Boherboy, County Cork, Ireland, O’Connor was one of eleven children in a Roman Catholic family. He embarked on the Titanic’s ill-fated maiden voyage with dreams of a new life in America, joining the ranks of many Irish immigrants seeking opportunities across the Atlantic.

Early Life and Background

A Large Irish Family

Patrick O’Connor was born into a sizeable farming family in rural Cork:

Parents: James O’Connor (born c. 1845) and Arabella “Abbie” Fitzgerald (born c. 1848)
Siblings: 10 identified, including:
- Mary (b. December 26, 1870)
- Catherine (b. July 27, 1872)
- Cornelius (b. December 27, 1873)
- Johanna (b. June 18, 1876)
- William (b. February 18, 1878)
- Elizabeth (b. May 12, 1880)
- Ellen (b. September 11, 1881)
- John (b. September 28, 1883)
- Julia (b. March 21, 1886)

Life in Cork

Patrick’s early years were spent in Tooreenavuscaun, a small townland in the parish of Boherboy. The 1901 Irish census records show the young Patrick living with his family in house 5 of Tooreenavuscaun. By the time of the 1911 census, he had moved to house 9 in the same area and was described as a “farmer’s son,” indicating his involvement in the family’s agricultural work.

The Journey to Titanic

Why did Patrick O’Connor decide to emigrate?

Like many young Irish men of his time, Patrick O’Connor saw America as a land of opportunity. His decision to emigrate was likely influenced by his brothers:

Cornelius had already settled in New York around the turn of the century, married, and started a family.
William was also living in the United States.

These family connections in America probably encouraged Patrick to seek his fortune across the Atlantic.

Titanic Voyage Details

Class: Third Class
Ticket Number: 366713
Fare: £7 15s (7 pounds, 15 shillings)
Embarkation: Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland

Patrick boarded the Titanic at Queenstown on April 11, 1912, as a third-class passenger. He was traveling with a group from his local area in Cork, including:

The Fateful Night

What happened to Patrick O’Connor during the Titanic’s sinking?

The details of Patrick O’Connor’s final moments are unclear, but we can piece together some information from survivor accounts. Daniel Buckley, who shared a cabin with O’Connor and other Cork men, provided a chilling account of the night of April 14-15:

“I heard some terrible noise and I jumped out on the floor, and the first thing I knew my feet were getting wet; the water was just coming in slightly. I told the other fellows to get up, that there was something wrong and, that the water was coming in. They only laughed at me. One of them says: ‘Get back into bed. You are not in Ireland now.’”

Buckley managed to escape, but tragically, Patrick O’Connor and his cabin mates did not survive the disaster. O’Connor’s body, if recovered, was never identified.

Legacy and Family Aftermath

The loss of Patrick O’Connor at the young age of 23 (twenty-three) was undoubtedly a tragedy for his large family back in Ireland. While direct information about his family’s reaction is scarce, we can piece together some details about what happened to his relatives:

His brother Cornelius remained in the USA, passing away in New York on January 16, 1940.
William, another brother who had emigrated, died in Bannock, Idaho on January 24, 1953.
It’s believed that Patrick’s mother may have died in the late 1920s, though this is not confirmed.

The story of Patrick O’Connor serves as a poignant reminder of the many young lives cut short by the Titanic disaster. His journey, like that of many Irish immigrants, was driven by hope for a better future—a hope tragically unfulfilled. Today, Patrick O’Connor is remembered as one of the many victims of the Titanic, his story a testament to the dreams and aspirations of those who sought new beginnings across the Atlantic.

Patrick O'Connor