The Jeanie Johnston, a triple masted barque, sank in mid-Atlantic, 1858. The ship was the most famous of the 19th century emigrant ships. She was built in Quebec, Canada, in 1847 and owned by the Donovan family of Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland. She sailed the North America route transporting timber and food stuffs to Ireland, and returning with passengers. When she put to sea, her full compliment was 200 passengers and 17 crewmen. During and after the Great Hunger ( An Gortha Mor ) in Ireland, 1845-1850, The Jeanie Johnston transported several thousand emigrants from Tralee, Co. Kerry, to various ports in America and Canada. Unlike the disease-ridden "coffin ships" of the period, the Jeanie never lost a soul to disease or to the sea.
On one of her voyages in 1858, the Jeanie Johnston sank in the Atlantic. Holding true to form, a rescue ship saved all the passenger and crew members of the Jeanie Johnston, thus maintaining a perfect record.
Now, 151 years after she was lost, this remarkable ship is being rebuilt for the Millennium Year. This powerful symbol of peace and reconciliation is demonstrated by young people from a cross section of the Irish communities. Unionist and Nationalist communities in the North of Ireland, have joined with young people from the Republic of Ireland, working under the supervision of experienced shipwrights, to rebuild the Jeanie Johnston. The project will culminate on April 2, 2000 with the launching of the new Jeanie Johnston, from Tralee, Co. Kerry.
During the summer of 1999 young people of Irish heritage from the United States and Canada, joined the shipbuilding team in Tralee to help complete the ship.
As preciously alluded to, the Jeanie Johnston will make her historic trans-Atlantic voyage to North America, in April 2000. Young people from Ireland, North and South, will help crew the vessel. The ship is scheduled to visit more than 20 cities in North America and Canada, including the cities of the Great Lakes from May - November 2000. It will be the single biggest Irish event ever in North America.