Kate "Katie" Gilnagh was a Third Class passenger of the Titanic. She survived the sinking.
Early life[]
Kate Gilnagh was a native of Rhyne, Cloonee, Co Longford, Ireland, born there on 29 October 1894. She had one older sister, two younger brothers and 6 younger sisters. Her father was Hugh Gilnagh, who was married to Johanna Duffy. The family was Roman Catholic and made a living of a farm.
On April 9, 1911, a year before Titanic would set sail, her older sister Mary migrated to the United States as a passenger of the SS Laurentic, and settled in Manhattan. She wrote her sister that she wanted her to come too.
Titanic[]
She joined the Titanic at Queenstown on April 11th, 1912 as a Third Class passenger (ticket number 35851 which cost £7, 14s, 8d). Whilst aboard she stayed in cabin 161 on E-Deck aft with three other Longford girls, Katie Mullin and the Murphy sisters, Margaret and Kate. She also became acquainted with fellow-Longford passengers James Farrell, Thomas McCormack and the Kiernan brothers, John and Philip among other Irish passengers, including possibly Eugene Daly from Co Westmeath. Kate was just 18 years old.
On the night of April 14, Katie and other steerage passengers had been enjoying a party in the communal Third Class areas. A rat scuttled across the floor, sending the party into excited disarray.
She and her cabin mates later went to bed and seemingly slept through the collision, when moments later, A man with whom they were acquainted aboard rapped their door, telling them to get up as something was amiss with the ship. The four girls dressed and headed out to the upper decks but found their way to the lifeboats impeded by crew members blocking their way and being determined to keep the steerage passengers in their place.
When they were trying to pass through one barrier, a crew member halted her but the intervention of James Farrell, who threatened the offending man with a punch if he didn't let the women through, perhaps helped save her life and she later referred to Farrell as her guardian angel. Katie eventually managed to get to a higher deck with the lifeboats tantalisingly close in sight, but she couldn't find her way any further. A man close by offered her a lift up on his shoulders, which she gratefully accepted, and she climbed over the railing to the Boat Deck.
Spying a boat close by, she made for it but a crew member again held her back, telling her it was full. Crying out that her sister was in the boat, the crew member relented and let her pass. In years later, Katie recounted that the magnitude of the disaster unfolding at the time escaped her and she naïvely thought that this was the regular way to make it to America.
The impact of the tragedy that she managed to survive, must have landed after she reached New York on the Carpathia on the 18th of April. Katie found her distraught sister Molly making arrangements for a Requiem Mass as she thought her sibling had perished.
Later life[]
Kate Gilnagh in later life
Unfortunately one year later a family member was lost. It was her younger sister Elizabeth. She was felled by tuberculosis on 3 September 1913.
Other family members would make the crossing later, sister Margaret and brother William joined Kate and Mary in America but William sadly perished in 1917. John Joseph Manning, a chauffeur, became Kate's husband that same year. Four children were born from this marriage, one girl, Catherine who was the third child, and 3 boys: her older brothers John, Thomas and Joseph Eugene was her younger brother.
During World War 2, her father passed away on 6 September 1939 and her mother had passed on 12 October 1941.
She lost her husband on 19 April 1955. After his death, she would take part in the Titanic Historical Society after being a member of the 'Titanic Enthusiasts of America' association. When Walter Lord was busy with his book 'A Night to Remember' in 1953, she contributed by giving her side of the story.
Kate Gilnagh passed away on March 1st, 1971, aged 76. She was in Long Island City. The burial took places days later: she was laid to rest in company of her hsuband in the Woodside Cemetery at Queens in New York.
Portrayals[]
A Night to Remember (1958)[]
Mary Monahan as Kate in A Night to Remember (1958)
| “ |
Thank you. That's very kind of you. |
” |
—Kate to Martin Gallagher | ||
In A Night to Remember, Kate was portrayed by actress Mary Monahan. It should be noted that the portrayal of Kate in this film is somewhat fictional, as here Kate is a composite character of several other Irish girls.
She first appeared when she, Patrick Murphy, Martin Gallagher, James Farrell and Mrs. Farrell prepares to head to Queenstown to board the Titanic, where they part ways with their family and church members. A pastor then told Kate that god always bless her.
On board the Titanic, at April 14 evening party in the Third Class General Room, Patrick Murphy led the passengers in singing the song "Off to Philadelphia". Murphy then asked the passengers to dance, where Kate danced with Martin Gallagher.
Kate, Martin Gallagher, James Farrell and Mrs. Farrell in the Third Class General Room
When the Titanic sank, Murphy and Gallagher warned Kate, James Farrell and Mrs. Farrell to get to the boat deck. They formed a small group, this time with the addition of Polish Girl (Patrick Murphy's love interest) and Polish Mother. They then went to a gate leading to the first class area, but they were not allowed to pass by two of the crew, saying that was not the way to the steerage boat deck area. They then returned to the General Room, while Murphy, Gallagher, Polish Girl and Polish Mother looked for another route up the upper deck. They found one staircase leading to the second class area, Gallagher then immediately picked up Kate, James Farrell and Mrs. Farrell.
When they all went to the second class area, they were stopped by a steward, but the steward was threatened by Gallagher so he immediately left. The group then met Chief Baker Charles Joughin who was drunk, when they asked for the way to the boat, Joughin answered in a vague manner, confusing the group.
The group in the First Class Dining Saloon
They then tried another way, where they ended up at the First Class Dining Saloon. Kate had admired first-class luxury, but the group rushed over when they realized the ship was tilting even further.
Passing the second class entrance, they made it to the boat deck, seeing lifeboat 16 being loaded. A woman nearly fell off the ship in hysteria, terrifying Kate. Fifth Officer Harold Lowe called the ladies to get on the boat, so Kate, Mrs. Farrell, Polish Girl and Polish Mother have to separate from the men.
Patrick Murphy and Martin Gallagher survived the sinking, but James Farrell were not. They then prayed with other passengers on board the RMS Carpathia.
S.O.S. Titanic (1979)[]
Shevaun Briars as Kate Gilnagh in S.O.S. Titanic
| “ |
Dinner? They call tea dinner? What swank. I never had dinner in my life. |
” |
—Kate Gilnagh | ||
In S.O.S. Titanic, Kate Gilnagh was portrayed by actress Shevaun Briars, where she is depicted as a very innocent young girl.
She first appeared during boarding in Queenstown, along with Kate Mullins, they quickly became acquainted with two fellow Irishmen, James Farrell and David Charters. She and Mullins then met their cabinmates, Bridget Bradley and Mary Agatha Glynn. While Mary Agatha commented that their cabin was small, Kate replied that their cabin was much massive than her room in her old house. Kate Mullins confirmed this, telling Mary Agatha that Kate Gilnagh was one of 10 kids.
She and Kate Mullins were then surprised to hear a loud sound, thought it was an explosion, but stewardess Violet Jessop told them it was an engine starting up, and it was heard because their cabin was quite near to the casing.
Not long after, they heard a trumpet sound, Bridget Bradley thought it was an abandon ship or run for your life warning. Bugler steward Percy Fletcher thinks they are going too far, saying that it is a indication for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Kate Gilnagh went on to say that she had never had dinner in her life.
The girls then met again with James Farrell and David Charters, this time plus they became acquainted with Martin Gallagher and Daniel Buckley.
Kate Gilnagh being seasick
The next day, Kate Gilnagh got seasick, so she had to rest in the cabin. James Farrell and David Charters paid a visit, where David was offered some fruit, which Kate Gilnagh refused while Farrell cheered her on.
On the night of April 14th, Kate and the girls go to the Third Class General Room, where the passengers party while singing "Isn't it Grand Boys?", Until the party goes awry with rats running around.
When the Titanic sank, the girls were picked up by the men and went to the General Room, where steward John Hart and stewardess Violet Jessop announced that they were taking a small group to the boat deck. James Farrell thought it would take too long, so decided to make a small group of his own and sneak onto the boat deck. This time the group was added by Olaus Abelseth, Karen Marie, Peter Søholt and Sigurd Moen.
From left to right: Kate Mullins, Kate Gilnagh, Mary Agatha Glynn and Bridget Bradley
The group experienced several obstacles, Olaus Abelseth had to break down a gate and they then got lost in the First Class Dining Saloon. Kate and the girls are fascinated with first-class luxury, but they are soon stopped by the Master at-Arms Thomas King, who thinks they are going to steal something. They denied the accusations, saying that they were just looking for a way to the lifeboat. James Farrell then begged King to at least let the girls through. King then relented, and let the girls pass.
Kate gives her shawl to Daniel Buckley
The girls then head for Collapsible D, where the loading is so chaotic that First Officer William Murdoch has to open fire into the air. On the lifeboat, the girls see Daniel Buckley hiding at the bottom of the boat. Kate Gilnagh then gave her shawl and told Daniel to keep back.
Kate was last seen in the Carpathia, with the girls, Daniel Buckley and Olaus Abelseth, while James Farrell, Martin Gallagher and David Charters died in the sinking.