Mayo Titanic Week Review
Our fourteen Titanic passengers bought their tickets in Castlebar at the White Star Line Ticket Offices; Walsh's and Durkan's! Mrs Walsh sold five tickets and Durkan's sold nine for Titanic's fateful voyage.
Some 12,500 people joined us in Lahardane for our Mayo Titanic Cultural week.
Easter Sunday 8th April: The Journey
Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and local resident, officially opened the Mayo Titanic Cultural Week to a large crowd.
Then the re-enactment took place of âThe Fourteen' by sidecar from Lahardane and their journey to Castlebar Railway Station, stopping for tickets at Walsh's and Durkan's halted Castlebar traffic. The commemorative plaque to the Addergoole Fourteen, Luke Duffy and all Mayo emigrants was then unveiled at Castlebar Station.
Easter Monday 9th April: Macra Monday
This was a highly successful. The morning was wet, yet over 30 young teams registered for the treasure hunt. Main Street Lahardane was completely taken up with the vinatage display, even Titanic ghost made an appearance! The Barn Dance in Murphy's was wedged, and the Titanic Table Quiz grounded many! Addergoole Macra thank you!
Tuesday 10th April: Leaving Day
This was the actual day that the Addergoole Fourteen left Ireland's shore. Held in Lahardane Community Centre, A.T.S. exhibited 80 historical items, Secondary School Art Student illustrations on the theme "The Addergoole Fourteen & Emigration", and National School Art Projects. Two hundred visitors viewed the exhibition followed by Dylan Nolan's "Irish Emigration Trends" lecture , and a showing of Gillian Marsh's documentary, "Waking the Titanic", before a crowd of some 350.
Wednesday 11th April: Addergoole's Titanic Wake
Sixty five children from the Parish's four national schools gave two performances to capacity audiences, some 250 people attending each performance. The young actors were magnificent. Time spent rehearsing paid off. The stage with school made props went back in time to a part forgotten age. The audience experienced extremes of emotion as Addergoole's Titanic story unfolded. Addergoole's Titanic story is now there to be remembered as vividly portrayed by our youngest residents.
Thursday 12th April: Irish Night
This was a special Irish night in Leonards of Lahardane: a feast of music, song, sean- nos dancing, set-dancing, Irish dancing and poetry. " Muirisc" provided the music, with local musicians, singers and dancers participating. Teresa Canavan launched "The Water is Black", Pat Howley sang "The Addergoole Fourteen". The night was music to the ears. The capacity audience was very receptive and cheered each item to the rafters.
Go raibh mile maith agaibh go leir!
Friday 13th April: Mayo Titanic Ball
The ball was packed, all dressed up too!The hotel has a magnificnet view, across the Lough Conn to Nephin. However on this important historical night, two days before RMS Titanic sank, no one there expected that Titanic II, in all its splendour would appear, out of nowhere, but the replica of largest ship in the world back in 1912, anchored off Pontoon Bridge as promised! Titanic II was bulit in Lahardane's dockyard!
Saturday 14th April: Annual Bell Ringing Ceremony
The focus of the day was the Annual Bell Ringing. It commenced with evening events in Lahardane, followed by the Annual Bell Ringing Ceremony at 02.20am on the morning of 15th in the grounds of St Patrick's Church, Lahardane.
Sunday 15th April: Memorial Day
Bishop John Fleming celebrated the Annual Titanic Mass and dedicated the Memorial Windows. Enda Kenny TD officially opened the Addergoole Titanic Memorial Park. Lastly the Mayo Titanic Time Capsule was buried.