Jeanie Johnston Chronicle - 1.5.00 -replica emigrant ship, Ireland's biggest Millennium Year project

Built at Blennerville	Fitted at Fenit Pier	Jeanie's Sea Trials

The Jeanie Johnston Chronicle

Jeanie has the figurehead on her prow fitted.

She is still on the barge at Blennerville,Co. Kerry,
1st May, 2000

Jeanie's figurehead has been completed and is now fitted to her prow, along with the bow spread used to stabilise the rigging. The figurehead's sculptor, Andrew St. Leger from Dublin, brought the carving which is made from made of local oak, to the shipyard for its final details and painting. It has been on show for the past two weeks in the Visitor Centre during which time the delicate work of detailing the figure's features and her golden hair has been carried out. The figurehead is painted in green and gold, the Kerry colours.

A figurehead has traditionally been carved and fixed to the prow of every sailing ship. It has always been thought to ward off bad luck and bring good fortune to those on board. In the case of the original Jeanie Johnston, it certainly worked as she was the only ship of her kind never to lose a passenger on the trans-Atlantic crossing.

The provisional date for sailing is now the second week of June,
with a 30-day crossing to landfall in Washington DC.

Jeanie with her bow spread and figurehead

Jeanie has now been fitted with her figurehead and bowspread. The figurehead is painted in the Kerry colours, green and gold.

Another view of the Jeanie's figurehead. The name of Jeanie Johnston is thought to have come from one of the poems of Robert Burns, "Bonnie Jeanie"

scale model of the Jeanie inside the Visitor Centre

Inside the Visitor Centre, a miniature scale version of the Jeanie Johnston is being painstakingly constructed. On the wall you can see a poster of the commemorative stamp which was sold out within a week of being released by An Post, the Irish Post Office.

Another view of the model. This is how Jeanie will look when she sails from Fenit on her maiden voyage, with all her masts and rigging in place. The sails will not be unfurled until she is at sea.

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