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Titanic carnival ‘celebration’ condemned as ‘insensitive’ by descendant of White Star Line founder

By
DARA KELLY,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Monday, February 13, 2012, 8:09 AM
Updated Thursday, March 29, 2012, 2:43 PM

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Family await on shore to hear news of survivor after 1,503 people perished on board the Titanic
Family await on shore to hear news of survivor after 1,503 people perished on board the Titanic
Photo by Google Images


A Liverpool carnival to mark the centenary of the Titantic's sinking has been called "insensitive" by a relative of the shipping magnate who built the ship, according to the Daily Mail.

The £2 million, three-day "sea odyssey" is being organized by the council chiefs in Liverpool and is being paid for by the European and Arts Council.

The celebration will feature 30ft tall puppets parading through the city's streets and will likely attract thousands of spectators.

However, 56-year-old Clifford Ismay, a descendant of J Bruce Ismay, a founder of White Star Line, who built the ship, is saying that the Liverpool celebration is in "bad taste."

"There is a line you can cross in making something considered as a fitting tribute," said Ismay.

"With the plans for this "sea odyssey" that line has been crossed with incredibly bad taste.

"Spectacular and celebration are two words that should not be used in connection with the loss of RMS Titanic.

"The words remembrance and memorial would be more fitting. There are still a lot of people around who lost relatives aboard the Titanic.

"I don’t like the idea of commemorating the loss of lives and the sinking of Titanic with a parade. It really is very insensitive," he added.

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The puppets, which were devised by Jean-Luc Courcoult, will tell the story of a letter written by the daughter of a bedroom steward on the ship.

May McMurray wrote a letter to her father William saying, "It's very lonely without you, dear father."

The 43-year-old McMurray, of Kensington, Liverpool, never had a chance to read the letter, which was sent just two days before the Titanic struck an iceberg on April 15, 1912. He died trying to rescue passengers and his body was never recovered.

Courcoult, the artistic director for French puppeteers Royal de Luxe, was inspired after reading May's letter, which is on display at the Maritime Museum in Liverpool.

But Ismay, who runs the Titanic Museum in Maryport, Cumbria, said, "The theme of this puppet show is a poignant reminder, a personal story, which should be treated with care and respect.

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See more: Titanic , Irish history , Irish roots , Irish travel , News from Ireland
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5 Comments

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Murph46 | Feb 13, 2012, 02:38 PM EST
Didn't know about icebergs in Boston!Was crew in locker room when hit?

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Nicomax | Feb 13, 2012, 01:11 PM EST
It makes better sense to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park in Boston which opened just 3 days after the Titantic took on water. Plus if you consider how the Red Sox sunk just as fast last September there may be something in common.

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Nicomax | Feb 13, 2012, 12:17 PM EST
Ismay should perhaps not be too quick to criticize. His ancestor Bruce Ismay was the White Star owner who barrelled into a lifeboat while many women and children remained on the Titanic to die. US papers denounced him as the "Coward of the Titanic", while he was ostracized by London society.

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Murph46 | Feb 13, 2012, 10:40 AM EST
Couldn't have a parade in the US especially San Antonio,Hoboken,Dallas,Chicago and watch out for those drunken Mick's in NY city!

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sirpeter | Feb 13, 2012, 09:40 AM EST
1500 killed and they are going to have a celebration with a parade.I think the Brits are a bit mixed up in the head.

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