Jeanie Johnston Docks at Penn's Landing Thursday Morning at 10 am For Twelve-Day Visit

Replica of Irish Famine Ship Visits Philadelphia in Symbolic Voyage to Commemorate Irish-American Heritage


PHILADELPHIA, June 12, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- MEDIA ADVISORY


 WHEN:   Arrives: June 12, 2003-10am
         Departs: June 23, 2003

 WHERE:  The Great Plaza at Penn's Landing
         Chestnut Street and Columbus Boulevard.
         Philadelphia, PA 

 WHAT:   The Jeanie Johnston, a three-masted replica of one of 
         Ireland's most famed famine ships, will arrive in 
         Philadelphia at Penn's Landing on June 12 and will be 
         open to the public for tours from Friday, June 13 to 
         Sunday, June 22. Below deck the ship has a floating 
         museum that brings history to life. While in Philadelphia, 
         visitors will be able to tour the museum to get a sense of
         what it was like to sail on a famine ship such as the Jeanie 
         Johnston.  In addition, planned activities include live music
         featuring the area's hottest Irish Bands, Mummers and Irish 
         string bands, Irish dancers, storytellers, bagpipe players
         and harp players. There also will be information on the Great
         Hunger and Irish History.

         The ship originally set sail for North America from Ireland 
         on February 16, 2003 and has been making its way up the 
         North American coast since mid-April.  In making the journey 
         to North America, the crew of the Jeanie Johnston has 
         recreated the trip over two million Irish emigrants braved to
         reach a new homeland during the era of the Great Famine that 
         swept through Ireland in the mid-19th century. The ship is a 
         fifteen (15) million dollar replica of the original Jeanie 
         Johnston that carried over 2,500 Irish emigrants to the 
         United States and Canada from 1848 to 1855. In her 16 heroic 
         voyages across the Atlantic there was never a loss of life on
         board. 

                                VISITOR INFORMATION

         What: Tours on board the Jeanie Johnston Irish Famine Ship

         When: Open to the public for tours Friday, June 13 to Sunday,
         June 22.
         10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

         Where: The Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, Columbus Boulevard 
         and Chestnut Street.

         Ticket Prices: $7 for adults; $5 for seniors, children under 
         12 and students; $20 family packages will also be available. 
         Note: Free tours to the public: 10:00 -11:00 am and 3:00 - 
         4:00 p.m. every day.

 Jeannie Johnston Entertainment Schedule

 All Entertainment takes place dockside adjacent to the vessel. 

 June 12 -- 10 am      Ship arrives and docks at the Great Plaza at 
                       Penn's Landing
                       Philadelphia Emerald Society Pipe Band Irish -
                       American String Band

 June 13 -- 12 - 4 pm  Cletus Mc Bride
             4 - 6 pm  Oliver Mc Elhone

 June 14 -- 11-4 pm    Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Delaware Valley 
                       Branch
                       Timoney Irish Dancers
                       Shanagolden Set Dancers
                       Gibson School of Irish Dance
                       Traditional Irish Music by Kevin and Jimmy 
                       McGillian

 June 16 -- 11 am      Coyle School of Irish Dance
            12 - 4 pm  Cletus Mc Bride
             4 - 6 pm  Declan Mc Laughlin

 June 17 -- 11 am      Coyle School of Irish Dance
            12 - 4 pm  Luke Jardel
             4 - 6 pm  Andy Tolen and Friends

 June 18 -- 11 am      Coyle School of Irish Dance
            12- 4 pm   Cletus Mc Bride
             4- 6 pm   The Bogside Rogues

 June 19 -- 11 am      Coyle School of Irish Dance
            12 - 4 pm  Luke Jardel
             4 - 6 pm  Jeannie Johnston Jam Session
                           Open to all Musicians

 June 20-- 11 am       Coyle School of Irish Dance
           12 - 4 pm   Cletus Mc Bride
            4 - 6 pm   Dicey Riley Band

 June 21 and 22  1-9pm      Irish American Festival
                            Great Plaza
                            Chestnut Street and Columbus Blvd.

More Information: Visit www.jeaniejohnston.ie or call the Philadelphia Committee of the Jeanie Johnston toll free at 1-877-IRL-SHIP

The Penn's Landing Corporation logo is available at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=349



            

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