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A Ride on the Dunbrody


Peter Braun

3,920 views

During the late 1840s Ireland was struck by potato blight causing the potato famine. The Irish were devastated as their main crop was being wiped out and hunger spread all over. Thus emigration to America, Canada, Australia amoung others gave the Irish a chance to start over. To get to these countries the Irish boarded ships bound for the promise land.

 

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The Dunbrody, sailing from New Ross, was one of these ships. Originally built as a cargo ship in Quebec, she started taking passengers in 1845 the 1st year of the potato famine. The ship would carry between 160 and 300 plus passengers to new lands. For a sum of £3 or £4 for steerage passengers and £5 to £8 for cabin passengers the ship took the passengers on a voyage that could last between 6 to 8 weeks on the ocean. Bunks were 6ft. by 6ft and slept 4-8 people, many of whom were sick. Thus a top bunk was preferred so spillage and disease did not drip on you all day and night. Many died on these voyages or were isolated on islands before the ship docked in the new county. As death came so did life. Pregnant women were allowed on because a person who received a ticket took it a left immediately.

 

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Each ticket told important information; who was traveling and ages, the date of travel, and provisions provided. Since cooking was not allowed below in the wooden boat, one person from the group was elected to go above and cook the meal for the day. During storms passengers has to eat bread they baked before boarding that was hard as a rock. Each bunk got a bucket for waste and one bucket of water to clean themselves. Steerage passengers were allowed on deck for only 30 minutes a day, unless there was a storm. Then passengers were kept below till it blew away. 

 

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I survived by the way!

 

The tour was a humbling experience. To see the way people suffered just to get a chance for a new life was eye opening. Today we jump on a plane and hours later we can be half way around the world, but back then travel took time and time was precious. A healthy person after weeks in damp, dirty, diseased conditions could be taken ill and never recover. The chance for a better life was enough chance for thousands of Irish to board the ship to a distant land. 

 

New Ross is also the ancestral home of President John F. Kennedy. JFK had visited New Ross many times, but 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of his visit as President of the United States of America. To honor this mark a memorial and statue were erected near the Dunbrody ship and the 'Emigrants' Flame' was lit. 

 

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