Charlotte Grace O'Brien, 1845 – 1909

Charlotte Grace O'Brien, 1845 – 1909. Advocate of the Irish Immigrant; Social Reformer; Author. , Born 23rd November 1845 in Cahirmoyle House, Limerick, Charlotte was the daughter of William Smith O’Brien and his wife Lucy née Gabbett. William was an Irish Nationalist MP, a landlord, a leader of The Young Ireland Movement, exiled to then Van Diemen’s Land, now Tasmania, for his part in the failed Rising of 1848. He received a pardon in 1854, on condition he stayed out of Great Britain, which included Ireland. He was awarded a full pardon in 1856., On returning to Ireland, family tensions prevented him from remaining at the family home. He travelled around Europe until he became ill in Bangor, Wales. A devoted Charlotte travelled to Wales and nursed him until his death in 1864, after which she moved back to her home Cahirmoyle House, where she resided with her brother Edward, his wife Mary and their three children. Mary died in 1868 and Charlotte raised the children as her own. When Edward remarried in 1880, he moved to London with his family, leaving Charlotte to her own devices. She began to find her voice as a writer, published books and made contributions to many periodicals., In 1881, Charlotte, a 36-year-old single woman, extremely deaf because of a genetic hearing condition, visited relatives in Queenstown. She witnessed frightful conditions endured by steerage passengers aboard SS Germanic. All genders were huddled together, sleeping on hammocks, in a confined space with no toilet or wash facilities., Determined to do something about it, she leased 7 The Beach and opened an Emigrants Home 1st April 1882, initially for lone emigrant girls but later for whole families , at times, a shelter for more than a hundred emigrants awaiting embarkation., So affectionate was Charlotte, that she slept on a couch in the sitting room in order to accommodate more emigrants. She became a thorn in the side of gio owners, constantly regarding their faults, pressing for divided berths, toilet, wash facilities and the removal of horses from their accommodation. Having seen over three thousand people pass through her home in Queenstown, Charlotte concluded that more could be done for them on arrival at their destination., In autumn 1882, courtesy of Mr Thomas Ismay, founder of the White Star Line, Charlotte was given free passage to New York aboard SS Baltic. Staying in a tenement near Castle Garden, the point of entry for emigrants, she went there daily to keep an eye on girls who may fall victim to hustlers and pickpockets and wolves in sheep’s clothing. Charlotte, a Protestant, pleaded with Archbishop Ireland who approached Cardinal John McCloskey; the latter appointed a Chaplain to Castle Garden and opened a Mission for unaccompanied Irish emigrant girls. Father John O’Riordan was appointed first Chaplain to Castle Garden. Later that year, on 1 October 1883, the Mission of Our Lady of the Rosary for Irish Emigrant Girls was founded on State Street near to the landing port. It remained a sanctuary for many Irish girls until its closure in 1954, during which time it assisted over 100,000 women., At the close of 1883, Charlotte returned to Queenstown, physically and mentally exhausted, her hereditary hearing defect had worsened. Her efforts to hire a Matron to run the Home failed and circumstances forced her to close. Before leaving, she had a mobile Coffee Stall installed for the benefit of emigrants in need of refreshments., She moved back to her home in Árd-an-Óir, Foynes, County Limerick. An avid letter writer, Charlotte kept in touch with her extended family, spoiled her nieces and nephews and ten Irish Terriers. In 1887 she converted to Catholicism. She was a botanist who contributed to knowledge about local flora. Charlotte advocated the wearing of Irish manufactured clothing and footwear. She wore velvet capes and mantles and adorned Celtic designs., Charlotte died of suspected heart failure 3rd June 1909, aged 63. A memoir Charlotte Grace O’Brien Selections From Her Writings and Correspondence was published by her nephew Stephen Gwynn in November 1909. Gwynn was also an Irish Parliamentary Party MP., 1881 – 6th May Pall Mall Gazette published Horrors of the Immigrant Ship by C. G. O’Brien., Achieved: , . Toilets and wash facilities installed for steerage passengers. , . Board of Trade inspectors had become far more vigilant. , . Steerage passengers no longer had to share sleeping quarters with horses. , . Stewardesses for steerage were introduced on most emigrant ships. , . The Mission Our Lady of the Rosary had been established in New York which provided accommodation and connections to employment for Irish immigrant women., John Boyle O’Reilly Editor Boston Pilot: , “I admire and esteem her almost above anyone I have ever known.” , , Archbishop Thomas Croke: , “God will I am sure, give you a high place in Heaven for all the good you are striving to do.”, Steerage of Germanic – C. G. O’Brien 1882. , Tween dim-lit decks, hard hands, and weary eyes, , Hearts so toil-worn but scarce they dare arise, , To gaze upon themselves and own their youth. , This information board was produced by Author Anne McCloskey in partnership with Cobh Tidy Towns., Cobh Tidy Towns, helping to keep our local history alive., (Captions) , Charlotte Grace O’Brien in 1894. Photo courtesy of Anthony O’Brien. , Emigrants Home, 7 West Beach in 1882. In February 1899, the building was destroyed by fire. , Coffee Stall with wheels enabling its mobility, assuring no liability for rateable valuation. (Photo: Lawrence Collection) , White Star Line SS Germanic. , The Home for Irish Immigrant Girls in New York continued to assist Irish girls until finally closing in 1954.