Jeanie sails through US adventure
Hundreds of cheering people lined the pier in Fenit, Co Kerry, to welcome home the 16m Jeanie Johnston, which completed a trip from Newfoundland in just under two weeks, a week ahead of schedule.
Flying flags from each of the 21 ports it visited in the US and Canada, the three-masted barque was guided into Fenit by harbour pilot Bob Goodwin and escorted by a flotilla of local boats in windy, sunny conditions, shortly before noon.
Master of the Jeanie, Tom McCarthy, stepped ashore with some of his 32-strong crew to loud cheers. He said the replica famine ship had faced testing conditions during its 12,000-mile voyage, including 70mph gales.
"We experienced some of the biggest seas I've ever seen. The seas were mountainous at times, with a swell of about 40 feet," the former Irish naval officer said.
A delighted Master McCarthy said he had been concerned about his crew at times but stressed safety was a huge issue on board. Twelve of the crew were professionals, while the remaining 20 enthusiasts are believed to have paid around 10,000 each for the trip.
The Jeanie left Fenit for America last February, sailing via Tenerife, and has since received a warm welcome in 14 American and seven Canadian ports.
Up to 100,000 boarded the ship, said Denis Reen, chief executive of the Jeanie Johnston company. The venture covered its costs of €1m.
It's wonderful to see the ship back in Fenit in one piece, having achieved everything that was planned for it," Mr Reen said.
"The transatlantic voyage has given an imprimatur to a ship that was tested to the ultimate and came through with flying colours," he added.
A €600,000 rescue package, put together by the Kerry Group, Kerry County Council/Tralee Town and Shannon Development, enabled the voyage to take place. Kerry Group managing director, Hugh Friel, is to continue as chairman of the Jeanie Johnston company.
He said a new structure would have to be put in place to ensure the ship's future.
The appointment of a new chief executive to replace Mr Reen a Tralee dental surgeon whose one-year contract is over would be critical to the plan.
"The future will require an all-Ireland dimension and the North/South aspect has already proved very successful. The future will be built around a whole series of programmes over an eight-month period of the year," Mr Friel said.
"The ship can be used extensively for sail training, for ambassadorial visits to ports, for tourism promotion and it most certainly can go back to the US again. It's unlikely to undertake a North Atlantic trip in winter conditions, but it could go southwards. Cash flow will have to be managed very tightly and a top class marketing job must be done," Mr Friel said.
Discussions are taking place with some interested parties and definite decisions are expected inside the next three months. The Jeanie will leave Fenit on November 23 for the Dublin Docklands Christmas Festival and will remain there until early in the new year.
Meanwhile, amongst the crowds in Fenit, yesterday, was Tralee engineer John Griffin, originator of the Jeanie Johnston project. "I see its future as a national resource. It's also payback time for the investment that has gone into the vessel. You can't put a value on something like this ship as a promotional tool for Ireland," said Mr Griffin, manager of Tralee Visitor Attractions.
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