In a deeply saddening incident in Limerick, two young girls, Catherine Goodwin, aged 15, and Mary McMahon, aged 10, lost their lives due to drowning in the Shannon River near Lansdowne. The circumstances surrounding the incident are shrouded in mystery. According to initial reports, the girls had gone to the Condensed Milk Factory to fetch milk in the evening. It is believed that they ventured to the nearby riverside and, seemingly removing their boots, waded into the water.
In close proximity to their location is an aqueduct connecting the river to the milk factory. When the tide is high, a powerful rush of water passes through the opening, creating a dangerous whirlpool when covered by the tide. It is suspected that the children, unaware of the peril they were in, were caught in the swift current, pulled into the aqueduct, and tragically drowned.
One perplexing aspect of this double fatality is that it occurred in a highly frequented promenade in Limerick, where people often gather to relax on the grass or sit on the benches overlooking the river. Despite the area’s popularity, no witnesses have come forward to provide information about the unfortunate incident. The two girls remained undiscovered in the subway for hours until a passerby noticed some clothing on the slope leading to the river. The person immediately alerted the Thomondgate police, prompting Sergeant Keating and several constables to organize a search party.
News of the incident quickly spread, drawing a crowd of several thousand people who watched anxiously as the search party conducted their efforts. Fortunately, the bodies of the two girls were located in the subway after a short search and brought to the riverbank. It was evident that they had passed away several hours prior. The scene during the recovery was heart-wrenching, particularly when the lifeless bodies were placed on a carriage for transportation to their devastated parents. The parents, unaware of the tragic event, received the heartbreaking news when their children’s bodies arrived at their respective residences.
The community extends its deepest sympathies to the grieving parents. The incident is undeniably tragic, and due to the lack of witnesses, various accounts have emerged regarding the sequence of events leading to the drowning. One account, which carries some semblance of truth, suggests that the younger girl became caught in the rush of water, and the older girl bravely attempted to save her, ultimately losing her own life in the process. However, the exact details and any heroic elements of the incident will likely remain a mystery.
The two children, Catherine Goodwin and Mary McMahon were cherished members of the community. Catherine resided on Rutland Street, while Mary was the daughter of Mrs Mary McMahon, a shopkeeper also residing on Rutland Street. The entire community mourns the loss of these young lives in this tragic accident.
Limerick Echo – Tuesday 26 July 1904
