The Jeanie Johnston was the most famous of all the Irish emigrant ships. It was a well-run ship and unlike other ‘coffin ships’ of its time, the Jeanie Johnston never lost a passenger to either the sea or disease.

The Jeanie Johnston was built in Quebec in Canada in 1847. It was purchased by Nicholas Donovan, a merchant from Tralee in CountyKerry, as a cargo cum passenger ship. He used the vessel to import timber and foodstuffs to Ireland and transported passengers on the return journey to U S and Canada.

The Jeanie Johnston made at least 16 voyages from Tralee to Baltimore, N Y and Quebec between 1848 and 1855, carrying 200 passengers & a crew of 17 on each voyage lasting approx. 47 days.