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Museum · Wexford, Wexford
Dunbrody Famine Ship
A replica of the Dunbrody, the 1845 emigrant ship, berthed at the New Ross quay, with a guided on-board tour and actors portraying the voyage.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Dunbrody Famine Ship
The original Dunbrody was a three-masted ship built in 1845 in Quebec, Canada, for the Graves family of New Ross. It carried timber from North America to Ireland and, on the return voyage, emigrants fleeing the Great Famine. On some voyages it carried over 300 passengers and was noted for suffering fewer deaths than many of the so-called coffin ships of the period.
The replica was built in New Ross using traditional techniques and opened in 2001 on the quay of the River Barrow, about 33 km from Wexford. The visit begins at the visitor centre, with an exhibition on Irish emigration and a wall listing the names of emigrants who left for the United States.
On board, the guided tour walks the deck and the hold, where third-class passengers lived during the weeks-long crossing in cramped bunks. Actors portray passengers and crew from the era and tell true stories of those who made the voyage.
The visitor centre also has a room about the Kennedy family, who left Dunganstown, near New Ross, in 1848. The family's house, the Kennedy Homestead, is about 7 km away and can be visited.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 hour for the guided tour.
Best time
At any time of year, including in rain. Tours run at fixed times with limited group sizes; book in summer.
How to get there
It is on the New Ross quay, on the banks of the River Barrow, about 33 km west of Wexford and 25 km northeast of Waterford. Buses from Wexford and Waterford stop in New Ross.
Tip
Take the guided on-board tour to see the third-class hold. Combine it with the Kennedy Homestead, 7 km away, if you have a car, or with Hook Head en route to the peninsula.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Dunbrody Famine Ship
Is the Dunbrody the original ship?
No. It is a replica of the 1845 ship, built in New Ross and opened in 2001.
What can you see on board?
The deck and the hold where emigrants lived during the crossing, with actors portraying passengers from the period.
Is it far from Wexford?
About 33 km away, in New Ross, roughly a 35-minute drive.