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Jeanie Johnston

The 6^th. icon in the Irish pavilion Virtual museum has a contemporary aspect. It deals with the construction of the replica Famine ship the Jeanie Johnston. In the context of the Irish theme of Ordinary People it brings to a fitting conclusion the celebration of another of our traditional skills namely that of boat-building. This is part of our Maritime Heritage and was particularly highly developed in the Northern part of Ireland in East Belfast.

This project owes a great deal to a local person, Mr. John Griffin who is responsible for several imaginative Museum projects in Tralee in the past few years. On Sunday February 16^th. despite numerous setbacks, the Dream finally became a Reality. The ship left the port of Fenit in County Kerry and set sail on the first stage of its maiden Transatlantic crossing, - destination Tenerife. . It arrived there safely and made preparations for the next stage of the journey to the United States. It is in itself a Living Museum. It is a three-masted Barque with 18 sails. It is a sail training ship and is also giving people an experience of life on the Famine Ships and the hardships endured in that era. It is a replica of a fleet of Famine ships that set sail from our shores. It is now bringing living history to every port she visits.

From about 1848 until 1855 it transported approximately 2,500 passengers without the loss of a crew member or passenger -unlike so many of the coffin ships of the time. It has Links with every family that sent members out during the Famine. In Neothemi , it has a direct link with the Theme of Reconciliation featured in the U.K.website. It is a powerful symbol of a New Ireland. During the construction of the ship young people from both Unionist and Nationalist traditions in Belfast were working side by side with young people from Dublin and Kerry at the shipyard site in Blennerville in Tralee. A unique project.

After a very successful visit to Canada and the US the Jeanie Johnston is now on Her return voyage back to Ireland and it is hoped that She will be based in the Tralee Shipping canal, ( the Basin ), until her next voyage. " The Basin " which links the town of Tralee to Tralee Bay via Blenerville, was at one time a thriving Port with Sailing Masted Schooners off loading goods from many parts of the world. Would it not be fitting then in celebrating this historical fact to have the Jeannie based in the Town of her Birth, as a memory to the towns traders and developers.