I’d been on this boat recently for the launch of The Henrietta Game album, but it’s come back up in conversation for very different reasons.
Howth Peninsula Heritage Society - Our next lecture is:
‘The Famine Ship Jeanie Johnston’, by John O’Neill - Tuesday June 28th at 8 p.m. in the Howth Angling Centre, West Pier, Howth. All are welcome, non-members 4 euros.
Is that the boat I was on I thought? I’ve met a variance in spellings since last Friday. I went back to Dermot - he’s the Hon. Secretary of the Society. To be sure, to be sure. I got this reply:
I’ve confirmed now that the correct name of the ship is the Jeanie Johnston.
If you can’t make it Howth, you can in case you didn’t know do a tour of the replica ship that sits along Dublin’s Custom House. Quay. Why, some might ask is this ship so important….. ? The Jeannie Johnston…
….made her maiden emigrant voyage from Blennerville, Co. Kerry to Quebec on April 24, 1848, with 193 emigrants on board, as the effects of the Famine ravaged Ireland. Between 1848 and 1855, the Jeanie Johnston made 16 voyages to North America, sailing to Quebec, Baltimore, and New York. On average, the length of the transatlantic journey was 47 days. The most passengers she ever carried was 254, from Tralee to Quebec on April 17, 1852. To put this number in perspective, the replica ship(which was reduced in size by 30%) is only licensed to carry 40 people.
Despite the number of passengers, and the long voyage, no crew or passenger lives were ever lost on board the Jeanie Johnston.
More information www.jeaniejohnston.ie
This posting I originally intended only to be a quick mention for the above lecture. I’m sure there are some great blog posts, books and so on written about this ship. As I don’t intend to begin a mass copy and paste exercise, if you do know of any you might pop ‘em in as a comment. Or let me know your thoughts on the tour if you have done it.
