Jeanie Johnston Chronicle

Jeanie Johnston arrived home
to Fenit, Co. Kerry, Ireland
on Thursday 6th November, 2003		 Jeanie Johnston arriving home toCo. Kerry, November 2003

On a bright and blustery November morning, the Jeanie Johnston returned home to Fenit, Co. Kerry after nine months away. Those nine months have seen the ship cross the Atlantic twice, in difficult conditions, tour 23 ports along the Eastern seaboard of the US and Canada, welcome 100,000 visitors onto her decks, and become Ireland's prominent and popular Ambassador, honouring the Irish emigrants of the famine years and sharing peace and goodwill wherever she has visited.
To Jeanie and her crew - hearty congratulations and may you sail again soon!

Jeanie sighted in Tralee Bay
First sighting of Jeanie sailing into Tralee Bay 		Jeanie nears Fenit pier
Sailing towards her berth at Fenit pier accompanied by local boats and Fenit Lifeboat
Paddy, Paul and Sharon, crew from the Ireland to US voyage
Paddy, Paul and Sharon, crewmembers on the Ireland to Tenerife voyage, re-united to welcome Jeanie return home to Fenit. 		Jeanie shows the flags presented at many of her port visits

As Jeanie approaches the dock, the flags presented at many port visits can be seen flying from her masts.

Jeanie was sighted in Tralee Bay shortly after 10am on Thursday 6th November and she tied up just before midday in the same berth from which she set sail for the US last February.

The Captain and crew looked tired, but happy to be home - weather conditions have been challenging in the Atlantic during the voyage home. Extremely high seas and force 10 gales tested Jeanie to the limit in the past few days, but the ship took the worst the weather could send and proved once again how strong and well constructed she is. An enthusiastic crowd waved and cheered as Jeanie inched her way alongside Fenit pier, wives and children of the crew straining to see their loved ones once more.

The ship approaches Fenit pier
The ship approaches her berth 		The Captain and Peter O'Regan undertaking the docking procedure
Captain McCarthy and Peter O'Regan
undertaking the docking procedure.
Lowering the ganplank at Fenit
Lowering the gangplank		 Sue Taylor, cook on the Fenit to US voyage, promoting her CD in aid of the Irish Lifeboats
Sue Taylor, cook on the first voyage, promoting the CD
of her Jeanie ballad, sold in aid of the Lifeboats.
Terry O'Brien, our Tralee Town Council Mayor, with John Griffin, originator of the JJ project
Terry O'Brien, our Tralee Town Council Mayor, with John Griffin, originator of the JJ project 		Brendan Sweeney, local oyster harvester, working on Fenit pier
Brendan Sweeney, local oyster harvester, working on Fenit pier
Jeanie will be open to visitors in Fenit on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th November, and also Saturday 22nd, she will then sail to Dublin on Sunday 23rd November for Christmas and the New Year.

The ship will be moored at Customs House Quay in Dublin, and will be open to visitors on Saturday and Sunday 28/29th November, then every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Friday 5th December to Sunday 11th January, excepting Fri 26th December, St. Stephen's Day.

After that we will have to wait and see who the new owners of the Jeanie Johnston will be and what their plans are, but Hugh Friel of Kerry Group has made assurances that Jeanie will stay in Irish ownership. Everyone hopes that the ship will make more voyages as a sail training vessel and make another US tour of those cities missed this year.


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