Overview
The Dunbrody is a full-scale, working replica of a three-masted barque that carried emigrants out of New Ross during the Great Famine, moored on the quayside of the County Wexford town where the original was owned. What you pay for is the guided tour: costumed performers take you from a recreated 1846 ticket office down into steerage and through the captain’s cabin, in character, for about an hour. If you only do one thing here, do the full tour rather than wandering the decks alone — the whole experience is built around the guide’s telling. A €1.6m enhanced immersive version opened on 30 August 2024.
The ship and its story
The original Dunbrody was launched in Quebec in 1845 for the Graves family of New Ross. Initially built for cargo, it quickly transitioned to carrying emigrants during the height of An Gorta Mór. The vessel became known for its relatively humane treatment of passengers under masters like Captain John Baldwin, though the journey remained perilous, with steerage conditions cramped and disease a constant threat.
In 1996, the JFK Trust initiated a five-year project to recreate the ship exactly as it would have appeared in the 1840s. The construction itself became a community event, drawing over 100,000 visitors to the dry dock. More than 150 local volunteers shaped the hull from Irish oak frames, while structural timbers were sourced from Africa and the Americas, mirroring the global trade routes the original ship navigated. Today the replica is a designated Heritage Island Premier Attraction and has consistently earned TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards.
What to experience onboard
The visit begins not on the ship, but in a recreated 1846 ticket office. Here, costumed interpreters set the scene, explaining the desperate circumstances that drove families to sell everything and purchase passage across the Atlantic. From there, you board for the guided “Departure” and “Voyage” tours, which form the core of the experience.
The tours and decks
- Steerage & Lower Decks: A lift ensures wheelchair users and those with buggies can access the lower levels. Narrow bunks, makeshift facilities, and dim lighting recreate the six-week Atlantic crossing. Interpreters narrate daily life at sea, from rationing food to coping with storms and illness.
- Captain’s Cabin & Crew Quarters: Contrasting sharply with steerage, these spaces show the relative comfort of the officers and the practical working environment of the sailors who navigated the treacherous waters.
Exhibitions and memorials
- Savannah Landing Point: This exhibition area marks the end of the journey, detailing the arrival in Georgia and the challenges emigrants faced upon landing in the United States.
- Irish America Hall of Fame: Housed within the visitor centre, this interactive exhibition traces the diaspora’s impact on American culture, politics, and industry. Displays honour figures including President John F. Kennedy, Walt Disney, Maureen O’Hara, Henry Ford, Thomas Francis Meagher, and Michael Flatley.
- The Emigrant Flame & Kennedy Memorial: Standing beside the ship is a permanent tribute to the millions who left Ireland seeking survival. The flame was lit on 22 June 2013, exactly 50 years after President Kennedy’s historic visit, fulfilling his promise to return. A bronze statue and memorial wall nearby bear his tribute, while the flame itself was ceremonially lit from his grave at Arlington National Cemetery.
Dining, shopping and events
After exploring the ship, the on-site facilities cater to families and heritage visitors alike. The Captain’s Table Restaurant, located on the first floor of the visitor centre, serves breakfast, lunch, and light meals with riverside views. The menu features locally sourced seafood, vegetarian options, and a dedicated children’s menu. The gift shop is well-stocked with heritage books, documentaries, and locally crafted souvenirs.
During the festive season, the site hosts the Santa Wonderland Experience on selected dates from late November through December. The programme includes seasonal storytelling, craft activities, and appearances by Santa, making it a popular winter outing for families in the South-East.
Planning your visit
Opening hours and admission
The attraction opens daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, closed only on Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day. The last tour goes at 5:00 pm in peak season and 4:00 pm off-peak, so leave time. Adult tickets are €14, with seniors at €13 and students or children at €9. Family tickets range from €32 to €48 depending on the number of children, and under-fours go free. Tours run roughly every hour.
Booking and discounts
While walk-up tickets are accepted, summer weekends and school holidays see high demand. Booking online through the official site guarantees your preferred tour time and secures a 10% discount. School groups benefit from dedicated rates, teacher resource packs, and student activity sheets tailored to primary and second-level curricula.
Accessibility and pets
The entire site is wheelchair and buggy accessible. A lift provides access to the lower decks, accessible toilets are available, and an induction loop system supports visitors with hearing aids. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the visitor centre. Well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome on board, making it a genuinely dog-friendly attraction.
Getting there and nearby stops
The ship is moored on The Quay in New Ross, next to the town centre. A car is the practical way here: New Ross lost its passenger railway in 1964 and the line is long derelict, so the nearest stations are Waterford (Plunkett), about 21 km away, and Wexford, about 37 km. Bus services run from Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny. Coach parking is on-site; the town’s pay-and-display car parks are a short walk (Maher’s, 500m off, is €2.50 for the day and free on Sundays).
If you’re making a day of it, the John F. Kennedy Arboretum is 12 km away — 623 acres of woodland walks, a wide tree collection and a tearoom. Closer still, the Kennedy Homestead at Dunganstown, the family’s ancestral farm, is about ten minutes’ drive, and Hook Head Lighthouse is roughly half an hour south.
Arrive at least 30 minutes before your tour slot — the ticket office and the interpreters’ set-up are part of the experience, not a queue to skip.