Heroine of US traced to Cork

The family of a US heroine who is set to be commemorated for her extraordinary courage in sacrificing her life to save fellow workers in a factory inferno have traced her roots to West Cork.

The city of Binghamton in New York this month commemorates the 100th anniversary of the tragedy in which 31 people lost their lives and mark the heroism of factory forewoman, Nellie Connor, whose parents emigrated from the Dunmanway area during the Great Famine.

Panicked workers jumped from windows several storeys up as flames raged through the overall factory on a hot July afternoon in 1913 as Nellie attempted to guide others to safety.