The Jeanie Johnston arrived in Philadelphia at 10.30 am (local time) on
Thursday June 12. The ship was greeted by fireboats, the Irish String Band,
Pennsylvania State Representative Marie Lederer and several hundred well wishers.
The cloud and mist which had covered the city from early morning lifted as the
ship made her way under the Walt Whitman suspension bridge. Helicopters with
TV cameras mounted followed the progress of the ship, escorted by fireboats and
a flotilla of supporters, up the Delaware River to Penns Landing. |
Jeanie berthed at Penn's Landing June 12th
Photo by Paul Dolan of FAS, Tralee.
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It was a proud day for Eamon Daly of AOH Division 39 who had been a supporter
of the project from the outset. Eamon together with Bob Gessler and Seamus
Boyle are co-chairmen of the Philadelphia Host Committee. Seamus, who worked on
the ship in Tralee, boarded the vessel earlier in the morning at Wilmington,
DE for the final leg of the voyge from Baltimore. Bob Gessler and his wife
Kathy were on hand at Penns Landing to greet the ship and her crew on arrival.
Jeanie arrives in dense fog. Photo by WPVI
Watch the video clip of the ship's arrival,
by Michelle McCormack |
The ship's arrival attracted considerable media interest. All the major TV
networks and newspapers covered the event. One time Chicago Rose of Tralee
Michelle McCormack, now a Philadelphia based newscaster, broadcast live from the
ship for Channel 6.
State Representative Marie Lederer presented the flag of Pennsylvania to
Capt. Tom McCarthy. Mike O'Shea from Lutherville, MD and Carol Bickel from
Baltimore renewed acquainntances with project secretary Brendan Dinneen and John
Griffin, originator of the Jeanie Johnston, who had travelled from Tralee to view
the ship's arrival. Members of the New Jersey and Bristol Host Committees,
where the ship will visit later in June, joined other onlookers. FAS Cameraman
Paul Dolan and his wife Mary were on hand to record the historic occasion. |
On Thursday evening Tourism Ireland and US Airways hosted a reception for the
crew and local tourism operators at Penns Landing. Mr. Eoin Kennedy of
Touirsm Ireland North America, said that, as a Kerryman, he was particularly proud
to welcome the Jeanie Johnston to Philadelphia.
The ship opens to the public in museum mode at 10.30 am on Friday morning and
a series of concerts, functions and other special events are planned during
its 10 day stay.
Check the visit details here - times of opening, location map, entertainment scheduled,
admission charges etc. |
First Mate Rowan MacSweeney lays out the gangplank of the Jeanie Johnston on
her arrival in Penns Landing Philadelphia.
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Seamus Boyle, Co-Chair, Philadelphia Host Committee, presents a citation of
welcome from Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania to Capt Tom McCarthy. |
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