American Wakes, Coffin Ships and Canada

Coffin Ships are one of the most enduring images from the Great Famine. This was the name given to the boats that carried Irish Famine emigrants to North America in 1847.

This sinister name – coffin ship – comes from the appalling death rates onboard these ships. This show opens with the hopes and fears of famine emigrants in Black ’47. Then I move on to the harrowing voyages and what awaited the emirgants when they landed in Canada, This fell far short of their expectations – this journey will take us onto the dreaded quarantine station of Gross Isle in the St Laurence river. Tune in to find out more.