On Saturday 17th May, St Maelruain’s Mothers' Union members and friends were joined by Clondalkin Members for our annual ‘day out’.
This year we travelled to the historic town of New Ross to visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship which is an exact replica of the original ship built in 1845.
On the way we stopped for refreshments at the Dolmen Hotel Carlow and most of us had time for a leisurely stroll in their gardens which sweep down to the river Barrow.
The Dunbrody carried thousands of Irish people from the Great Famine in Ireland to America.
Costumed actors on board brought to life the characters of real Irish people who made the epic journey crammed together in dreadful conditions for the voyage which lasted 50 days!! How times have changed.- now we can cross the Atlantic in 5hrs!
Some of us availed of the opportunity to freely access their vast database of emigrants who sailed from Ireland via Britain in the 19th century. and found ancestors who had left Ireland during the famine years for America.
Some retail therapy in New Ross followed…if you have the feet of a leprechaun…..no better place to find a selection of footwear than New Ross!
On the return journey, we again stopped at the Dolmen in Carlow where we were served a fabulous dinner, the place babbled with our chat and laughter!
Thank you to Valerie and Gail for organising the trip …not to mention Slieve Bloom Coaches for their excellent entertaining guide and driver…. - Miriam Gibney Hon. Sec.
