On Monday 12th September the Rapparees/Starlights Social Initiative Mens Group set off on yet another outing as they headed southward towards New Ross for an historic and cultural afternoon taking in the Dunbrody experience followed by a relaxing River Cruise on the Galley.

The Dunbrody Famine Ship at €5 a head is a most worthwhile and enjoyable encounter and it has to be said executed and portrayed to the highest standards. Your ticket to board is a copy of an actual passenger ticket – mine belonged to Catherine Jordan who sailed in 1849 to New York – a very nice touch don’t you think. Our tour guide Peter was audible, distinct and knowledgeable giving us detailed background information about the ship, its Welsh Captain and its many voyages and when we went below decks we were introduced to Mrs. Ann White from Aughrim who sailed in 1847 to New York with her husband and 5 children and who proceeded to tell us what it was actually like to be a steerage passenger aboard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Through interaction with her listeners and wonderful acting Mrs. White brought everything to life and made it all seem very real to the men as we sat there in the bowels of this callous coffin ship and heard how steerage passengers were only allowed half an hour per day on deck to cook what little food they had and to empty the contents of their overflowing, foul smelling buckets – which mind you could only be emptied when the wind was right – if it wasn’t they had to be taken back below deck to wait for the wind to change. Horrific! Whole families like Mrs. Whites with her husband and 5 children had to share one bunk for the entire voyage which could take up to 50 days and then disembark in a foreign land knowing no one. A daunting prospect but preferable to the alternative – watching your children die of hunger in Ireland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Dunbrody experience is history revisited and our men found it thought provoking, sometimes sad and sometimes shocking but at all times informative and interesting and definitely worth €5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we were disembarking Fine Gael Presidential Candidate Gay Mitchell was boarding and the men were once again delighted to meet a celebrity on their travels!
 
Our next boat trip was a lot more luxurious and relaxing as we boarded the Galley for a cruise on the river with Afternoon Tea. At 3pm we sailed down the river from New Ross in the direction of Waterford and then back up the river to the point where the sisters – the Nore and the Barrow  - meet.
 
Thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing – was the verdict from the group and once again terrific value for money as we were served Afternoon Tea with delicious homemade brown bread and mouthwatering scones with gooseberry jam – as much as you want to eat – all for €12 a head.
 
A lovely leisurely cruise with snippets of information about passing landmarks intermittently dispersed by our very pleasant Captain as we sipped and supped and laughed and talked and found our sea legs on our maiden voyage!
A hugely entertaining afternoon on our doorstep!
 
Our next outing will be in a couple of weeks time – a visit to two bastions of Irish Society – The Dail and the Guinness Brewery.
 
Maria Nolan