The Migrant Flame, New Ross, Co. Wexford

These words are etched onto a marble slab beside the flame. 

As Slow Our Ship

As slow our ship her foamy track
  Against the wind was cleaving,
Her trembling pennant still look'd back
  To that dear isle 'twas leaving.
So loath we part from all we love,
  From all the links that bind us;
So turn our hearts as on we rove,
  To those we've left behind us

Thomas Moore

The flame itself sits alongside the visitor centre for the full size replica of the Dubrody, one of many famine ships that sailed for Savannah, Georgia and Quebec, Canada, following the Irish potato famine years of the late 1840s. Those who could not afford their own passage were often sponsored by their landlords: like the Scottish highlanders, they were tenant farmers, and the land was more profitable for grazing. The Dunbrody was a good ship with an excellent captain who cared about health and hygiene, and isolated passengers who were sick. Very few people died in his ship, even though they slept seven to a bunk in steerage, and there was often body wastes and fluids slopping around on the floor. We were taken on board the ship (fortunately the rats and the vomit-stained cotton vales were fake) and the story of the voyage was told by a young man called Adhan, and several costumed re-enactors. It was a good experience, though I didn't have time to read all the information, as there was another tour group booked in behind us. I didn't like all the knick-knacks on sale in the gift shop., I wanted something more sombre, but I guess if people want to buy them ..

No one mentioned once that the English were the rulers of Ireland at the time. I found that interesting. My history lessons came to me via an Irish nun in a Scottish convent, and she gave the English both barrels over the famine. I've done some googling, and Stroud's own MP,  Lord John Russell, a Whig, comes off badly in any post-colonial discussion of the situation.   I'll put in a link.

After our tour of the Dunbrody, I went walkabout. Had intended to do a historical walking tour of the town (there were three trails to choose from) but my map was getting soggy in the rain, so I had a coffee in a florist's shop(!) And wandered the streets aimlessly 

We then drive on to Enniscorthy, to a beautiful riverside hotel, far above the usual standard of our accommodation. A wedding party was in progress: it was Colm and Julie's, according to the board. The guests looked beautiful. We looked old and scruffy. 

After dumping my bag, I went up to the town to find the cathedral designed by Pugin, architect of the UK houses of Parliament. I located it, but sadly it was closed for renovations. Sat in a park and wrote postcards, and posted the. In a green letterbox. Post offices don't sell postcards, so I'd been advised to go to Delaney's newsagent or Eason's bookseller/stationers. I went to both. I was particularly excited about Eason's because I'd known in Dublin, and even bought an autograph book there as a child. Such was my nemory-laneing that I was disappointed to find that the store in question bore 
no resemblance to my 1974 fantasy version! Faulty gears on the time machine...

Enniscorthy seems to be struggling right now. I saw a lot of closed shops, and heard more about closed restaurants. Bought a few things in charity shops and the Euro store. Wandered back to the hotel via another church. Contemplated a riverside walk, but decided to lie down instead. Dinner was excellent, and afterwards I retired once more, but the wedding disco went on until the small hours. I wished the young people all the best, because if you can't sing and dance on a Friday night, when can you ? Weddings are Reasons to be Cheerful