The Jeanie Johnston: An Irish Famine Story

The Jeanie Johnston: An Irish Famine Story

The Jeanie Johnston: An Irish Famine Story
4.5
Speciality MuseumsHistory Museums
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
The Jeanie Johnston tells the story of the thousands of Irish people who fled the Famine and embarked on a treacherous voyage in the hope of a better life in North America. Step on board and you will be transported back in time to join them on their gruelling journey. The tour takes approximately 50 minutes and is led by one of our knowledgeable guides. The tour begins with a walk around the upper deck, where you will see the majestic masts, admire the craftsmanship and learn about the ship’s history. Next you'll learn the real life stories of passengers while visiting below deck.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Top ways to experience The Jeanie Johnston: An Irish Famine Story
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: South City Centre
How to get there
  • George's Dock • 3 min walk
  • Mayor Square-NCI • 3 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • irl
    Dublin, Ireland99 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent tour from Catriona
    I would highly recommend this tour. Our guide Catriona was excellent, She told the story of the ship with such passion. Thank you for including my daughters at many points during the hour. We learned so much about our troubled past.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 17 September 2023
  • ontheroadmaryg
    London, Canada172 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fascinating glimpse into history
    This beautifully maintained ship is such a fascinating glimpse into Irish history. As a descendent of Irish family that crossed the ocean during the famine…it brought history to life. The guide did a wonderful job of telling the story and identifying the unique story of this ship. We purchased this as a combo with EPIC museum. A great morning at the docks
    Visited October 2022
    Travelled with family
    Written 18 September 2023
  • Donna B
    Crystal Lake, Illinois22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Don’t miss it!
    This was amazing. Owen was our guide. To be on board a replica of an immigration ship & listen to real life stories was an experience we’ll never forget! Also reasonably priced and close to other Dublin attractive.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 September 2023
  • Sandra C
    Warminster, United Kingdom6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent
    Very well delivered commentary from our guide Steve. His commentary was filled with many facts and features indicative of the times. Told stories with companion and honesty. I was really keen to visit this attraction, I learned a lot and was very impressed with value and information a must see
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 September 2023
  • A.Reid
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent
    Really interesting tour of a superb replica ship. The guide (forget his name,sorry!) was knowledgeable, friendly and good fun. A sad period in Irish history which most British people are ignorant of.
    Visited October 2022
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 September 2023
  • Phil P
    Liverpool, United Kingdom3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This was amazing
    An inspiring, interesting and educational tour of this replica famine ship from our well informed guide Clair(hope i spelt that right). Lots of background, well told stories of people who crewed and passengers. What could have been a depressing story made remarkably heart warming by a brilliant guide.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 22 September 2023
  • Denise J
    Ottawa, Canada32 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Engaging and Informative
    An excellent tour of a very somber site. Although only 45 minutes long, Claire’s tour of the Jeannie Johnston was informative and engaging. Claire provided the historical context to explain why so many were so desperate to escape Ireland that they would travel on these ‘coffin ships’ and why the Jeannie Johnston was the only ship not to have even one death during a crossing. Claire was an excellent and engaging speaker who had us hanging on her every word. Thank you Claire!
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 23 September 2023
  • Robin S
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jeanie Johnston an important piece of the Irish emigrant story
    A visit to the ship Jeanie Johnston provided the perfect intro to understanding the Irish Emigration experience. Our guide pulled us into the world of those fleeing starvation in Ireland and provided solid background to why and how this experience unfolded in very different ways for people. This stop is a must while in Dublin. The 50 minute tour made our subsequent visit to EPIC much more meaningful.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 28 September 2023
  • elizabethv628
    Saint Albans, Maine16 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A highlight of our time in Dublin
    Our tour of the Jeanie Johnston was a highlight of our time in Dublin, so far. Our tour guide, Gerry, was fantastic - a great storyteller, knowledgeable and entertaining. We learned a lot about "the great hunger" and felt enormous empathy for the people who lived through it.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 28 September 2023
  • roy v
    Traralgon, Australia5,937 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    What a journey that must have been
    We only saw the ship from the outside. Our guide told us the history off the ship and how she made numerous trips to Canada carrying people who were fleeing the potato famine in Ireland . What a terrible experience that must have been , hard to believe something like that happening in this day and age , a different world back then
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 28 September 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles2,253 reviews
Excellent
1,642
Very good
474
Average
95
Poor
30
Terrible
12

Gangsta S
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022 • Family
I've been here twice now. Absolutely amazing experience, loved both our guides Gearoid and Jerry who each have their own styles and are so knowledgeable. Recommend it to the whole family and especially those who fail to understand what the British empire doomed the Irish to go through
Written 16 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Gangsta S, Thank you for visiting the Jeanie Johnston again. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your second visit with us and that our guides were able to bring the experience to life for you! Thank you so much for taking the time to review us, we really appreciate your kind words and recommendation. Kind Regards, Lindsay, The Jeanie Johnston Team
Written 21 February 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Betty W
Missoula, MT361 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
Five of us visited the Jeanie Johnston and found it to be a good combination of interesting and entertaining. We enjoyed our time on the ship due to the guide's excellent presentation, and feel we have a much better understanding of how our ancestors made it to America. I highly recommend this tour. It was very easy to make reservations and find the location.
Written 1 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Betty, Thank you for visiting the Jeanie Johnston. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit. Thank you so much for taking the time to review us, we really appreciate your feedback and recommendation. Kind Regards, Becca, The Jeanie Johnston Team
Written 7 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Fran S
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
Gerry did a wonderful job telling the story of this beautiful tall ship and the history behind it. He was very interactive, especially with the kids present. The folks there were very conscientious about COVID and everyone was masked and socially distanced, especially when below-deck. We found the exhibit below deck fascinating, especially in conjunction with Gerry's depiction of what these passengers went through. We are sailboat lovers and it was a real treat to be on such an incredible vessel, even if a re-creation of the original.
Written 12 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi fransI2525YR, Thank you for visiting the Jeanie Johnston. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit. Thank you so much for taking the time to review us, we really appreciate your feedback and recommendation. Kind Regards, Becca, The Jeanie Johnston Team
Written 18 August 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Martin F
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Solo
Excellent informative tour given by passionate guides. The guides are very friendly and knowledgeable. They do their best to bring the history to life and get the customers to really get an appreciation of life at the time and on board the ship. The guide also interacted with the young children on the tour, which was great to see. I would very highly recommend the tour. I have visited the Jeanie Johnston twice over the summer and I fully enjoyed it both times.
Written 13 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Martin, Thank you for visiting the Jeanie Johnston. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit. Thank you so much for taking the time to review us, we really appreciate your feedback and recommendation. Kind Regards, Becca, The Jeanie Johnston Team
Written 21 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tigertribal
Craigavon, UK1,043 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021
We were hosted by our guide Gerry who was very knowledgeable & passionate about the Jeanie Johnson. He engaged with all members on the tour & was humorous when appropriate.

Easy online booking.

€12 admission

Covid-19 restrictions applied ie hand sanitizers, social distancing, face coverings worn by staff & public when under deck.
Written 16 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Tigertribal, Thank you for visiting the Jeanie Johnston. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit. Thank you so much for taking the time to review us, we really appreciate your feedback and recommendation. Kind Regards, Becca, The Jeanie Johnston Team
Written 28 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Emer O
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
Brought my two teenagers and they, and I, found the Jeanie Johnston tour really interesting. Gearoid did a fantastic job - sharing so much information while pitching it just right for all the visitors, young and old. Well worth a visit!

Emer
Written 26 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Emer, Thank you for visiting the Jeanie Johnston. We are delighted to hear that you and your kids enjoyed your visit with us and that Geariod was able to bring the experience to life for you! Thank you so much for taking the time to review us, we really appreciate your kind words and recommendation. Kind Regards, Lindsay, The Jeanie Johnston Team
Written 28 February 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Pedro Oliveira
12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022 • Couples
We were lucky to have a very friendly local, Gerry, as our guide during the visit. He was very interactive with the audience, even paying attention to highlight some details that might relate to their nationality while being captivating and an amazing historyteller.

The boat itself is one of a kind, and the below-deck makes everything even more real and make us put everything even more in perspective.

It is a must go in order to understand more of the Irish history and to relate even more with this warm people.
Written 2 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Lechampz, Thank you for visiting the Jeanie Johnston. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit on board and that the history and reality of life on a famine ship came to life through your guide Gerry. Thank you so much for taking the time to review us, we appreciate your kind words and sincere recommendation. Kind Regards, Lindsay, The Jeanie Johnston Team
Written 4 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

wadein
Meath2 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Family
The Guide made this day so interesting. She engaged with everyone and made the Jeanie Johnston story come alive. A memorable event with a lot to take home fully realizing the sad times endured by so many. Covid made the experience difficult and I'm sure in time the experience will be even more enjoyable. Thanks to all.
Written 1 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi wadein, Thank you for visiting the Jeanie Johnston. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit. Thank you so much for taking the time to review us, we really appreciate your feedback and recommendation. Kind Regards, Becca, The Jeanie Johnston Team
Written 7 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Richard K
Malvern Wells, UK7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
This takes the form of a guided tour round the Jeanie Johnston sailing ship - a working replica of the real one (which sank) which was one of the ships used to transport irish famine migrants to Canada and the US under appalling conditions in the 1850's. Our guide was Jerry who managed to make the one hour tour tour amusing with light hearted anecdotes in spite of not skimping on the grim reality of this appalling story of the abuse of the irish famine victims by the British (I came in for some light hearted joshing on account of being the only British in the group). Jerry achieved the almost impossible feat of turning what could so easily have been a grim experience into an entertaining and fact filled and above all thought provoking visit. The visit is made slightly easier on the conscience in the knowledge that not one person died on the 16 trips the Jeanie Johnston made.
Written 22 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Richard K, Thank you for visiting the Jeanie Johnston. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit on board and that you were able to learn about the realities of life on a famine ship from your guide Jerry. And fair play to you for taking the joshing so well! Thank you so much for taking the time to review us, we appreciate your kind words and sincere recommendation. Kind Regards, Lindsay, The Jeanie Johnston Team
Written 22 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Martin E
13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
Added this tour onto our visit to EPIC and it was fantastic. Our guide Gerold (sic?) gave us a comprehensive guide as to the why and what the options were for many Irish at the time of the famine, how the JJ fitted into this, and the wider impact for all of Ireland. The tour and presentation inside gave us a shocking view of the options and personal costs involved in the emigration. Our guide presented us with some challenging questions that really placed us in the time and situation of the families emigrating, and each question he answered revealed a whole new aspect of the history. I would almost recommend doing this tour before EPIC as it very much frames the journey for many from Ireland, and then EPIC tells the wider stories after this. The story of what finally happened to the ship is just as gripping. Top tour so far!
Written 22 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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THE JEANIE JOHNSTON: AN IRISH FAMINE STORY (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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