Lusitania survivor expected at 90th anniversary event

Eoin English

A 90-year-old woman from Wales, who was plucked from the sea as a one-year-old along with her mother after the Cunard liner was struck by a German torpedo, may be in Courtmacsherry on Saturday for the events.

But it was confirmed yesterday that an elderly Scottish man, who heard the massive secondary explosion while walking on the Old Head of Kinsale on the afternoon of May 7, 1915, will attend.

Eddie Butler of Courceys Integrated Rural Development (IRD) said it would be great to have both in Cork for Saturday's events.

The Lusitania, enroute from New York to Liverpool, was sunk by a German U-boat off the Old Head of Kinsale.

A single torpedo penetrated its hull just below the waterline.

The initial explosion set off a violent secondary blast which shook shelves in homes in Kinsale.

The ship sank in 18 minutes, with a loss of 1,195 of the 1,959 people on board, including 123 Americans and 39 children under two.

The incident sparked outrage in America. Soon afterwards, the US entered World War I.

The 90th anniversary of the tragedy will be commemorated on Saturday when the Courtmacsherry lifeboat sails from Barry's Point just before noon. It will make the 17.9-kilometre voyage south to the wreck site.

On board will be representatives of the clergy, the Bandon War Memorial committee and Courceys IRD.

The lifeboat will anchor over the wreck site for a wreath-laying ceremony at 1.20pm the exact time the first torpedo struck in memory of those who perished.

More ceremonies involving the FCA, coastguard and RNLI, will follow at the memorial later.

"The incident marked the turning point of warfare in the 20th century with civilians being a target. There were a lot of children on board," Mr Butler said.

"It is very appropriate that the tragedy is commemorated. The victims should never be forgotten."