Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship

Places to See | Co. Dublin, Ireland

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A guided tour of the Jeanie Johnston, one of Ireland’s Top Attractions, will give visitors the opportunity to learn about the experiences of Irish emigrants as they made a daunting transatlantic passage full of hope yet desperate to escape the hardship in Ireland during the Famine years.

Daily tours begin at the ship which is located on Custom House Quay just downriver from the International Financial Services Centre and across the road from Jury’s Inn Hotel.

After the tour, many visitors also visit to the Famine Memorial Statues, which are located close by this place to see in Dublin.

Once on board, visitors are transported back in time 150 years or more to join the poverty stricken Irish emigrants as they boarded the sturdy ship for the difficult transatlantic voyage and uncertain future in the ‘New World’.

In descending to the dimly-lit quarters below deck, the grim realities that faced the passengers soon become evident.

Here, in extremely cramped conditions, up to 250 frightened people were abruptly thrown together. Almost all were probably completely unfamiliar with conditions likely to be faced on a sea passage, and the only common bond they were likely to have had was their burning desire to escape the ravages of famine.

Accommodation consisted of bare bunks, where people were pressed tightly together, with four adults sharing a six foot-square space.

The life-sized figures that are present in the museum below deck are all based on actual passengers who sailed on the ship. From the 15 year old girl (Margaret Conway) travelling only with her 12 year old brother, to the father of 11 (James Stack) whose livelihood was ruined by the famine….all the misery, anguish and confusion of the emigrant Irish are vividly brought to mind.

Back up on deck, visitors have an opportunity to marvel at the skill, ingenuity and craftwork involved in re-creating this genuine replica of a wooden tall ship, one of the last of its type to sail the Atlantic in the 19th Century.

Address: Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship &  Famine Museum, Custom House Quay, Dublin 1, Ireland

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