Jeanie Opens To The Public For A
Limited Time Only!
14th July 2001:
The very first members of the public to board the Jeanie Johnston ship during the Open Weekend in Fenit from 14 - 15 July 2001 had travelled over 3,000 miles from Massachusetts and New York (Full story...)
12th July 2001:
The Board of the Jeanie Johnston Project have issued an open invitation to the general public to visit the ship this weekend in Fenit and enjoy a free tour of the almost-completed vessel.
The ship will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, 14th and 15th July 2001 from 10:00am to 5:00pm only on both days. Staff from the project, crew members as well as the ship's captain, Mike Forwood, will conduct guided tours for visitors. The decision came about as a result of no work being scheduled to be undertaken this weekend, leaving the ship available for this once-off opportunity for the public to see the inside of the vessel free of charge. The ship will be opened as a tourist attraction when all of the work has been completed, according to Project PRO, Ann Martin.
Because of the intense interest in the Jeanie Johnston, it is expected that there will be huge numbers anxious to undertake the guided tours at the weekend. In view of this, intending visitors are advised to note the following:
- Come early to avoid disappointment
- Admission is free
- Access to the ship will be limited
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Sensible footwear should be worn
Remember, if you need any further information on the Project, contact (066) 7129999.
Millennium Voyage Abandoned
For The Second Time
26th June 2001:
The Board of the Jeanie Johnston Project decided at a Meeting held in Tralee this afternoon that the replica famine ship would not sail to America, as originally planned. The decision followed a report from maritime technical experts, who examined the state of preparedness of the vessel, that technical systems, crew training and other fit-outs could not be completed in time to allow the ship to safely make an Atlantic crossing this year.
The Board has now requested a meeting with Mr. Frank Fahey, Minister for the Marine, who has expressed his disappointment at the decision to cancel the voyage. The Minister has called for a constructive review of the whole project, the cost of which increased from an initial £3million to over £10million. He has urged the Board to ensure the completion of the vessel and has indicated that he will respond positively to their request for a meeting. He said that it was a national heritage project which should be completed, but the problems which had occurred could not be ignored and the difficulties would have to be resolved.
Meanwhile, the news has been greeted with shock not only in Kerry but throughout the country and abroad as well. The devastating news has saddened the many thousands of supporters locally as well as the many who had been visiting the ship while she was moored in Fenit for the past year in preparation for her historic maiden voyage. Those whose worked fervently on the ship for the last fifteen months so as to bring it up to the Department's stringent standards were also extremely disappointed. The village of Fenit and the town of Tralee were both quieter than usual this afternoon as the community considered the implications of the Department of the Marine's report on the future of this momentuous project.
In the States the decision to once again postpone the transatlantic crossing is expected to be greeted with dismay as plans for the visit by the ship to many famous ports are thrown into disarray. The huge significance of the Jeanie Johnston's arrival in North America and Canada was expected to create not only an increased renewal of interest in all things Irish but also a valuable source of income to help pay for the ambitious project.
As the Jeanie Johnston rests silently tonight in Fenit harbour awaiting her final fate, we can only think of the enormous amount of time, effort, energy; the planning, the money and the hopes and dreams of all of those involved in the project and pray that this latest in a series of glitches is only that - a temporary set-back and that the great ship will eventually cross the Atlantic, as originally planned. For now, however, her anchor is firmly down.
If you would like to comment on this latest news, Click here to sign the TraleeTown.com Guestbook or here to read the Guestbook.
|
