The Dunbrody famine ship

Today’s wall-to-wall rain is reminiscent of last week in Ireland. We had one day of non-stop torrential rain, so found our way to visit the Dunbrody, a replica of one of the so-called “famine ships” that took Irish emigrants to America. In the nineteenth century, the potato harvest failed in Ireland (it got blight, thought to have been imported with infected guano from South America, which was used to fertilise the land).

By the time these poverty-stricken people had paid their landlords, there was no food left for themselves and their families, so many emigrated to the brave new world. They went in ships like this:

One of these ships would carry more than 250 passengers. The majority travelled in steerage class.

Both upper and lower “bunks” (above) housed complete families. The lower area housed a mother and her five children! Conditions were appalling, with very little food, unbelievable lack of hygiene and no space to exercise. They were only allowed on deck for an hour a day, and during that time had to cook a meal over a coal brazier, do any washing, and empty the slops bucket. Needless to say, many died.

JFK’s great-grandfather came from New Ross, where the Dunbrody is berthed, and emigrated to America on a ship just like the Dunbrody. Perhaps it’s not surprising that he produced such a famous descendant. Anyone who could survive a voyage like that must have produced very hardy stock indeed.