Remarkable life journey of Cork's May Barrett

Declan Keegan recalls the tale of his grandmother, May Barrett, and her pal Kitty O’Donnell, who survived the sinking of Lusitania

May ‘Nana’ Keegan, a tiny demure woman, was — my mother, Chriss, said — a very quiet, reserved, timid, private person. Although gaining local fame at the time of the sinking of the Lusitania, she would ever only talk about it in private with her trusted family and friends and she spurned all opportunities to share her story publicly. From various accounts, past and present, this is her story.

Mary Josephine ‘May’ Barrett was born on Tuesday, March 11, 1890, one of 10 children born to David and Mary (née Connell) Barrett. Her father was a labourer and the family lived in 10 Coleman’s Lane, Cork City.