My first true “wow” or “aha” moment while studying abroad in Ireland came on my second full day there. That was the moment it really hit me that I was in a completely different country, immersed in a new culture. The first day had been exciting, of course, but there was still a sense of disorientation as we all adjusted to our new surroundings.

That morning, we took a boat tour I’ll never forget. We boarded a replica of the “Jeanie Johnston,” a ship that originally made sixteen voyages from Ireland to North America between 1847 and 1855, carrying over 2,500 emigrants, without a single death on board. This tour would become one of the most memorable and thought-provoking parts of my experience abroad.

The Jeanie Johnston was part of a dark chapter in Irish history — the Irish Potato Famine. Caused by a potato blight that wiped out the staple crop of the poor, the famine led to the deaths of approximately one million people from starvation and disease. Another million were forced to flee the country. British land policies and a lack of meaningful response from the British government only worsened the suffering.

Jeanie Johnston Replica

I was captivated by the story the guide told us. As we stood silently listening, I found myself drawn in by the reality of the conditions. Seeing the cramped interior of the ship brought it all to life. The nicknamed “coffin ships,” like the original Jeanie Johnston, were infamous for their horrific conditions — tight, poorly ventilated spaces where heat, foul air, and insufficient food made life unbearable for passengers desperate to escape.

That moment changed something in me. It sparked a deep curiosity and a new appreciation for Irish history and its people. I realized I was learning something I likely never would have encountered so meaningfully if I hadn’t come to Ireland. The famine became more than just a historical fact, it became something through which I could better understand the impacts of social inequality and government neglect.

Inside of ship showcasing the horrid conditions