Famine ship sets sail
The week's news at a glance.
Dublin
A ship built to commemorate the Irish emigration to America has finally left port, three years late and at three times the estimated cost. The SS Jeanie Johnston is a replica of a boat that ferried people from Kerry to the U.S. and Canada between 1848 and 1855, during the potato famine. At least 1 million people died when a blight destroyed Ireland’s staple crop of potatoes, and 2 million emigrated, mostly to the U.S. Irish groups in North America wanted to honor their ancestors by sponsoring a commemorative voyage, but the project was plagued by delays, financial mismanagement, and graft, and ended up costing $17 million. The original ship packed in more than 200 passengers on each trip, but the replica is carrying just 39—in considerably more comfort.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Fannie Flagg’s 6 favorite books that sparked her imagination
Feature The author recommends works by Johanna Spyri, John Steinbeck, and more
-
Google: A monopoly past its prime?
Feature Google’s antitrust case ends with a slap on the wrist as courts struggle to keep up with the tech industry’s rapid changes
-
Patrick Hemingway: The Hemingway son who tended to his father’s legacy
Feature He was comfortable in the shadow of his famous father, Ernest Hemingway