J. Bruce Ismay, the chairman of the White Star Line, who was responsible for the fatal decision to reduce the number of lifeboats on the Titanic, found refuge in Co Galway after the tragedy.

In 1913, Ismay moved to the historic Costello Lodge in Casla, County Galway, accompanied by his wife.

This move followed the sinking of the Titanic, which killed more than 1,500 people.

Ismay experienced significant ostracization in the UK and the US following the Titanic tragedy.

However, in Galway, he found some relief from the backlash and scrutiny he faced.

The Costello Lodge, where Ismay took refuge, once hid the chairman from the public.

Ismay’s pet project was the Titanic, which was designed to provide unparalleled luxury for ocean-going steamships.

The ship had just 16 lifeboats, the minimum required by the UK Board of Trade, providing insufficient space to save all those on board.

Ismay’s decision to reduce the lifeboat number from 46 to 16 made him one of the most hated men in America and Britain during the early 20th century.

In addition to the reduced number of lifeboats, Ismay was despised for saving himself while 1,500 others died when the Titanic sank.

He jumped into one of the lifeboats and claimed one of the precious spots for himself.

The media vilified Ismay, referring to him as “the Coward of the Titanic” or “J Brute Ismay.”

Despite being rescued from the sinking ship, Ismay faced public scrutiny and was rumored to have disguised himself as a woman to board a lifeboat.

One American politician demanded that Ismay be brought before Congress “to explain how he left hundreds of passengers to die, while he took not the last boat but the very first boat, that left the sinking ship.”

Ismay fully cooperated with the congressional inquiry, but nothing could stop the jeering on the streets in both the US and the UK.

London society ostracized him, and he resigned from all his company positions, hoping to disappear.

He remained the target of media scrutiny and was labeled as the biggest coward in history.

In Galway, however, Ismay and his wife found some comfort at Costello Lodge.

Locals viewed the couple as a source of employment, though some referred to Ismay in Irish as “Brú síos mé” (‘lower me down,’ i.e., into a lifeboat).

The locals regarded him as a kind, warm-hearted man, and he was known to inquire about the fisherman he fished with on Sundays if they had had time to go to Mass.

Casla Lodge, where Ismay sought refuge, was burned down by the IRA in 1922. However, it was rebuilt on an even grander scale. Ismay remained a resident of Connemara for 25 years before moving back to England after he was diagnosed with diabetes. He died in London in 1937 at the age of 74.

“I never want to see a ship again, and I loved them so. What an ending to my life,” Ismay is believed to have said near the end of his life.

Julia Ismay, his wife, remained in Casla after her husband’s death and erected a monument of limestone in his honor in the garden.

The inscription on the monument can still be read:

“He loved all wild and solitary places where we taste the pleasure of believing what we see is boundless as we wish our souls to be…”

Costello Lodge, where Ismay sought refuge, was built in 1898 and had originally been owned by a wealthy landowner, Martin J. Morris.

The lodge, a Georgian-style building, was known for its beautiful gardens, which were filled with roses, hydrangeas, and exotic trees.

Ismay lived in the lodge with his wife, Julia, and their children.

They employed several staff members, including cooks, housekeepers, and gardeners.

Ismay was known to enjoy fishing in the local rivers, and he also hunted on the nearby hills.

Despite the isolation and tranquility of the lodge, Ismay was still haunted by the tragedy of the Titanic.

He received hate mail and death threats, and his reputation was destroyed.

The press portrayed him as a villain, responsible for the deaths of 1,500 people.

In his later years, Ismay rarely spoke of the Titanic, and he avoided the topic in public.

He focused on his life in Galway, where he was well-respected by the locals.

He was known for his generosity and philanthropy, and he donated money to several local charities.

The IRA burned down Costello Lodge in 1922, during the Irish War of Independence.

The building was rebuilt in the 1920s and was used as a hotel until the 1960s.

Today, the lodge is a private residence and is not open to the public.

The legacy of the Titanic has continued to capture the public’s imagination, and Ismay’s role in the tragedy has been the subject of numerous books and films.

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Ismay’s story, and historians have attempted to reassess his legacy.

While Ismay made the fatal decision to reduce the number of lifeboats on the Titanic, it is worth noting that the responsibility for the tragedy extends beyond one person.

The ship’s crew and the White Star Line management also played a role in the disaster.

In the years since the Titanic sank, there have been numerous changes to maritime safety regulations.

Ships are now required to carry enough lifeboats for all passengers and crew members, and they must undergo rigorous safety inspections before they can sail.

Despite these improvements, accidents still happen at sea.

The sinking of the Titanic serves as a reminder of the dangers of ocean travel and the importance of ensuring the safety of all those who sail on the world’s oceans.