Primary 4 - 7 School Trip to Dublin

On Friday 3^rd June, Primary 4- 7 pupils travelled to Dublin to go on board the Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship and had a guided tour of Dublin as part of the Viking Splash experience.

On our way to Dublin, we travelled through the Port Tunnel.  Pupils were amazed at how  long the tunnel stretched and even more impressed when they reached the other side and saw that they were very close to the centre of the city.

First stop was the Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship.  We were led by tour guide, Emer, who explained that the ship was an exact replica of the Jeanie Johnston which had sailed several times across the Atlantic taking poor and unfortunate Irish migrants away from the misery  of the Great Irish Famine  in the 1840s.

Children got to see at first hand the conditions the migrants endured.  There were 34 of us down in the hold but Emer assured us that 200 more would have been crammed in!  We  got to learn of the tragic stories of some of the migrants. One that really struck a chord concerned  two children who had had their passage paid by  American masters who had ‘bought’ their labour for the next nine years.  They were 11 and 13!

We were able to see the food lists and learned that up to 10 children could fit into a six foot bunk – imagine that for 6 weeks on rough seas!

One of our P7s commented, ‘ this is really amazing but so shocking.  To think it’s still happening today with the migrants in the Mediterranean.’

Following a quick lunch, we made our way to Bull Alley, beside St Patrick’s Cathedral, to join our   Viking Splash tour.  Fun and humour  were the order of the day for this event.   We were taken through the historic streets of Dublin, where the key Viking features were pointed out.  A highlight of the trip was when the amphibious vehicle was   driven around the canal basin. 

It was a fantastic day for all and we are particularly proud that the coach driver and the Jeanie Johnston guide complimented the children on their exemplary manners and behaviour.