One of the remarkable stories of the last century was the sinking of the Titanic - not just the scale of the tragedy with the loss of over 1,500 men, women and children, but because, in many respects, it seemed the death of an era of grand-style travel, of a time when the pace of life (at least for some) appeared to be typified by the grace and luxury of a fine liner making stately progress across the oceans of the world. The ship had many special Irish links - she was built in Belfast for the White Star Line, and also probably had more Irish victims of the great tragedy than many other nationalities - the Titanic was the vessel that could bring them to a new life in the United States, but many had their death warrants sealed because they were travelling below decks and in steerage.