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Blennerville, Kerry, Ireland - The Jeanie Johnston Commemorative Quilt was designed and made by the Jeanie Johnston Quilting Circle, a group of women involved in quilting in the Tralee area for a number of years. They are Mary Codd, Eily Kennedy, Kitty Palmer and Wendy Sharpe.

The Quilt commemorates the emigrant barque Jeanie Johnston that made sixteen Trans-Atlantic trips and never lost a crewmember or passenger. The idea for such a quilt was suggested by John Griffin Chief Executive of the Jeanie Johnston ship building project, but it was not until late in 1997 that we decided to have a go and begin work on it. We initially worked in our homes but as the quilt took shape and more space was needed, we moved to a room in the Ashe Memorial Hall.

The design incorporates the Jeanie Johnston in Blennerville with a group of emigrants on the quay waiting to board it. Close by are the Blennerville Windmill and Workhouse, and dotted on the hills in the background are the abandoned homes of famine victims. The Quilts lower border has famine scenes of women digging in search of potatoes and of a mother holding her dying child; a picture of the Fever Shed in Grosse Ile is a reminder of the sufferings of the famine emigrants. There are also crests of some of the seaports associated with the ship; Quebec, New York, Boston, Belfast, Dublin and Tralee.

Click here for more information about this quilt.