Dunbrody Famine Ship and Dungarvan

V BLOG Toto Travels
15 May, Sunday

A windy, cloudy day for our trip to the Dunbrody Famine Ship in New Ross. 
Kay fixed a great breakfast for us. We are not fans of the Full Irish Breakfast, so Kay did not have to cook for us on Sunday morning. Denis remarked, "I can be a good breakfast helper this morning, no cooking!" There were about 8 kinds of cereals available, fruit, brown multi-grain bread, scones, yogurt, and toast. The best were the jams - two made by Kay - gooseberry and ginger rhubarb. Another morning with scones and jam! 
Denis told us how to get to New Ross - right along N24 through Clonmel, Carrick-on -Suir bypassing the north side of Waterford, getting on N25 to go to New Ross.
After attending mass on Saturday night, Denis and Kay were off for a family day with their 3 children and 5 grandchildren - Kay was very excited! 
After the change of plans for Karen, there was some work for her to do re-planning their trip. Denis had set us up on their laptop, but the Internet was glitchy and for some reason we could neither one check email. So after we were on our way, we decided to find a place in Clonmel with Internet access. We knew on a Sunday morning, that might be tricky. 
Stopping at a hotel, we asked about a cuppa and Internet access. The man said, "Oh, sure we don't have Internet, you'll have to go to McDonald's."
  *Seriously?*
"It'll be easier to walk than drive, just right out the door, down 2 blocks....." he followed us out the door to point us in the right direction. 
And we were directed to the Golden Arches in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland - eegad. There we ordered drinks asked about Internet and were given a card with a passcode for 30 minutes of internet usage.
Karen got car hire squared away and began to plan for motoring around the country instead of spending most of their time in Dublin.
Then we were off for New Ross through beautiful countryside.
Unfortunately the visitor center in New Ross was closed for remodeling, so only the ship itself was open for tour. However that tour aboard the Dunbrody replica was a somber experience.  A cargo ship converted for passengers due to the mass exodus caused by the potato famine and economic disaster in Ireland, the steerage area was terrible. To consider a few hundred people in a small area below deck for up to 60 days is too awful to imagine. Bunks were 6' x 6' and were measured to hold 4 adults plus any children that could manage to fit.  The lower bunk often had product from the upper bunk spill down. Ugh! To stop and reflect on such a journey and the choice that these starving people made to pay to take such passage to the USA - wow. My great grandparents, Martin Lucas and Margaret Beard came on some such ship from Ireland (probably at different times) to the United States. My grandmother told me that they were both orphans and did not know each other until they both came to the United States. I don't know how they ended up in Hallowell, Kansas. 

Not much was open on Sunday, so we decided to try Waterford for lunch. Good decision. We found The Granville Hotel on the main street by the harbor that had a carvery on Sunday. It is a bit like a buffet, but you choose your meat and then any salad (now that is another big difference - the concept of "salad" in Ireland can be way different) or any vegetables and bread are included. It was very good and interesting to watch the variety of people. There were casual families all the way to formally dressed folks.
After lunch we drove around a little and happened by the Waterford Crystal factory and showroom and - OH DEAR- decided to skip it. There were tour buses and it was late afternoon by this time. Our Mothers neither one approved, I am sure. 
Taking a slightly scenic route home - there don't appear to be ANY routes that are NOT scenic - we drove to the lovely harbor village of Dungarvan, then through the Comeragh Mountains. We missed a turn and nearly had a way too up-close-and-personal experience with a lorry.  But we made it back to Road 687 and Farrenwick safe and sound.  We managed the lock on the door to Farrenwick and were safe inside.
Kay and Denis arrived home shortly after we arrived at Farrenwick and told us they lived in Dungarvan for a few years, we all agreed it is LOVELY.