Historic Jeanie Johnston Sails Into Boston Harbor

BOSTON -- The Jeanie Johnston, a replica of a 19th century Irish famine ship, sailed into Boston Harbor on Thursday, beginning a week stay in the Bay State.

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Newscenter 5's Kelley Tuthill reported that, despite the rain, the ship and crew received a spectacular welcome as they pulled into Rowes Wharf on Thursday morning.

The three-masted replica of one of Ireland's famine ships left Tralee, Ireland, in February for its maiden ocean voyage.

Some on board paid to stay a few nights and learn more about the trip their ancestors took.

"It's been fantastic. I learned about the ship, ropes, sea sleep. Like a dream," passenger Bill Oldham said.

However, the project became a bit of a nightmare in Ireland because construction took so long and cost about $17 million. But there are few complaints about the 160-foot ship now.

"Her rig and hull are exactly as it was, but we could not build a replica and be allowed to go to sea. We have engines, radar navigation, a galley. They had very primitive conditions. Ours are a lot better than theirs," boatswain Tom Harding said.

The crew includes a group of young trainees from Ireland's Wider Horizons Program that brings Catholics and Protestants together. They can only imagine what this trip was like 150 years ago.

"It's so hot down there coming across Atlantic and I had to sleep on deck. Apparently they (ancestors) weren't allowed on deck. Heat down there must have been awful, and the lack of food," said trainee Azaria Shortt.

A museum below deck shows the conditions endured by 2500 people fleeing the potato famine on 16 voyages in the mid 1800s.

"This was known as a lucky ship because no one ever died on the voyage across the Atlantic," Irish Consul General Isolde Moylan said. "We don't look at Jeanie Johnston as a symbol of despair, we honor the memory of those who died, but see it as a symbol of hope and triumph over adversity and progress."

Tours of the ship begin Friday at Rowes Wharf and will continue through Aug. 3.