The Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship

At Custom House Quay in Dublin, the Jeanie Johnston is a replica ship turned museum about Irish emigration during the Great Famine. A guided tour takes you from the deck into the cramped space below, where life-size figures and the guide’s stories help explain the risks and hardships of the Atlantic crossing. The original ship made 16 voyages between Ireland and North America. Set aside about an hour, and consider pairing the visit with EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum, across the street.

A replica with a famine story

The Jeanie Johnston at Custom House Quay is a replica of a 19th-century ship associated with Irish emigration during the Great Famine. The original sailed between Ireland and North America, carrying people seeking a new life across the Atlantic. The replica now tells the story of that journey as a museum.

The Great Famine brought starvation and hardship to Ireland, and millions of people left the country. On the guided tour, the ship provides a close-up setting for learning about the choices emigrants faced and the dangers of travelling overseas.

On deck and below

The tour leads around the vessel and down into its lower levels. Life-size figures represent passengers, giving a sense of the people who travelled and the confined conditions aboard. Guides explain the history and the human experiences behind the crossing.

The descent involves steep stairs, so take that into account if stairs are difficult for you. The visit is guided, and allowing roughly an hour gives you time to follow the story through the ship. EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum, is across the street and can be visited alongside the Jeanie Johnston.