Took a trip to the Visitors Centre at the Blennerville Windmill to see if I could find a passenger list for those emigrating to Canada from the port circa 1847. Unfortunately the passenger list is not available, only a list of ships is available. The receptionist noted that partial passenger lists are available at the back of a book entitled 'Blennerville'. While I found a John Hennessey the age did not concur. I then visited the county library, the librarian advised checking online sites for information from the Canadian side. These records were not available for the dates in question.
Kate Kennelly in the County Offices made a query on my behalf to Helen O'Carroll the Kerry County Musuem Curator. Helen was extremely helpful. She has explained the pattern of crossings to both the US and Canada, as well as provide a listing of all ships which left the port. She noted that only 20% of the passenger lists from the famine period have survived on this side of the atlantic. None have survived in Quebec due to a fire. Unfortunately John Hennesseys record does not exist on her lists. Helen has also noted activities at the Cork Port and the alternative action of taking a steamer to Liverpool prior to boarding a ship for the US.
Helen provided an essay she has written on the Jeanie Johnson ship (pictured above) and the life of passengers on board during the crossing. She also discussed the costs of the voyage (Canada was cheaper that the US) and noted the practice of workhouses to faciliate emigration abroad.
