Two years overdue and more than four times over budget, the Jeanie Johnston replica Famine ship finally arrived in Dublin yesterday with renewed hopes of sailing away from its troubles.
The 150-ft ship and "floating museum" sailed up the Liffey yesterday morning to be received by Dublin Lord Mayor, Mr Dermot Lacey, and the chief executive of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, Mr Peter Coyne, at North Wall quay.
A replica of a 19th-century vessel used to bring people fleeing the Famine to the United States, the ship will stay docked in Dublin and will be open to the public until the middle of January.
It will then sail to Belfast and from there to the United States in February.
The actual cost of the project has run to €13.6 million, about four times the original estimate
Work on the Jeanie Johnston began in 1998 and it was due for completion in 2000, but the project was dogged by delays and spiralling costs.
The vessel was declared seaworthy in June and in November, creditors voted to save it from liquidation by accepting 60 per cent of what they were owed.
Local authority creditors have accepted shares in the project.
Mr Dennis Reen, chief executive officer of Jeanie Johnston (Ireland) Ltd said yesterday that he was "very relieved" to see the ship finally on its way.
The ship is open to the public daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets cost €5.
