The Recreation
The recreation of the Jeanie Johnston (1847 - 1858), the first ever reconstruction of an emigrant famine vessel, has already started; researchers have produced blueprints and specifications. The actual shipbuilding will begin soon. Teams of young people from many lands will work under the guidance of architects and master shipbuilders to complete the job in time for a launch in 1999.
The Launch
In the year 2000, under bright media spotlight, the new Jeanie Johnston will be launched on her historic maiden voyage to north American. She will follow int he wake of her original namesake, calling t the great emigrant destinations of Quebec, St. John, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. and marking en-route the 150th anniversary of the high tide of famine exodus from Ireland.
Funding
The great project will cost an estimated 10 million. Some of that money will come from the Irish Government and the European Union; more will come from private donations in Ireland; the rest will come from friends of Ireland in the USA and Canada -- from the physical and spiritual descendants of those who sailed the Jeanie Johnston.
