#JeanieJetfoil – Jeanie Johnston, the replica 19th barque famine and emigrant museum ship reopened yesterday for guided tours at her dedicated Custom House Quay berth at Dublin City Moorings, writes Jehan Ashmore.
A month ago today the Dublin Docklands Development Authority owned barque departed her berth for a night-time tow that led eventually to entering a dry-dock downriver for essential maintenance. Now that the spruced-up replica of the original built in Canada in 1847 has returned, visitors can hear the story of how Irish emigrants fled the famine to seek a better life in the New World.
Along this same stretch of Liffey quayside is where in complete contrast the B+I Line (est. 1836 and state owned since 1965) launched a pioneering and bold 'Jet-Foil' operated fast-ferry service to Liverpool in 1980.
The Boeing built 257 passenger-only Jet-Foil craft Cu Na Mara (click PHOTO) connected the city-to-city crossing in only 3 hours. The Jet-Foil made daily daylight sailings in both directions.
Cu Na Mara meaning 'Hound of the Sea' set a record on the 126 nautical mile route with a time of 2 hours 50 minutes. The service only lasted for two years though it is understood the craft still operates in Japanese waters.
Unlike the Jeanie Johnston (including the replica) which crossed the Atlantic Ocean, the Cu Na Mara was transferred from the Boeing facility in Seattle on the U.S. west (Pacific) coast and loaded onto containership Antonia Johnston for a delivery voyage to Dublin Port.
As previously reported, a B+I Line reunion next Saturday 15 November for crew and shore personnel is to be held in the Clifton Court Hotel, Eden Quay, Dublin. For information contact Noel Byrne 086 3130697, by email: [email protected] or Morris Ward on 087 7409249
