The photographs show Harvest Home at Lissadell Art Competition prize winner Ms Medbh Gillard with her winning entry, The Æolus, detail, and standing beside her painting (this second photograph was taken by Val Robus). Remarkable in concept, exciting in design and execution, this beautiful painting celebrates the passengers on the ship Æolus which left Sligo on one of its many voyages to Canada in 1847, the third year of the Great Famine. Each passenger name is painted across the background image of the ocean tossed ship. The Æolus was owned by Henry Gore Booth, and commissioned by Sir Robert Gore Booth to carry passengers to Canada. Whilst the Committee of Passengers sent a polite thanks to Sir Robert on disembarkation, the authorities in New Brunswick were less enthusiastic. What New Brunswick did not appreciate, however, was that in the third year of the Famine people were absolutely desperate to leave. Æolus: background Letter to Sir Robert from a committee of passengers Honoured Sir, St. Johns N B. June 5th 1847. We beg leave to inform your honour that we have arrived on the 31st of many Inst. after five weeks passage all in good health with the Ecceptions of a few which was removed to hospital we intered twenty-six on our passage who was weak and destitute before we left home on the Evening of the 25th of April we had a dreadful storm the Sea washing fore and aft we had to close the hatches and nail them down and all passengers on board Eccepted a watery Grave our Captain paid very good attention during the voyage and particularry during the Storm which Continued for four days the passengers are thankful to their Captain for the distributation of provissions giving all the same Justice, the widows orphans and sick were kindly treated our Captains advice to his passengers had a good effect there was not a single riot or a stroke struck during the voyage. The passengers are thankful to Henry Gore Booth Esq. for the good Store of provissions and good quality put on board the Ship Æolus of Greenock. A list of Committee of the Ship Æolus: Mathias Ferguson head Maneger: Edw. Jhonston. Robt. Grey. Patrick Gillou. Hugh Crystal. Patt Hart. Denis Gilloon. Charles Jones. John McLovney. Thomas Gillin. Patt McLoughlin. Andy Gilloon. Adam Johnston. James Munns. Bryan Feeney. Patt Feeney. Patt Boyle. Michl Smith. Thomas Reelly. Wm Ferguson. Wm Johnston. Owen John. Patt Havaghty. John Gillian. Extracts of reports Govt. Emigration Agent at St. Johns, New Brunswick About one-third of those who have arrived have re-emigrated to the United States. A large number of those who remain have become a public charge, from their inability to work, and utter destitution. Among those at present chargeable are many of the emigrants by the Æolus, from Sligo. The passengers by this vessel, 500 in number, state that they were exported by their landlord, Sir Robert Gore Booth, who paid their passage-money in order to disencumber his estate. Several of these people will, in all probability become a permanent charge on the public funds; and this shovelling of helpless paupers, without any provision for them here, if continued, will inflict very serious injury on a this colony. This case of the passengers by the Æolus is mentioned, as it will necessarily come under consideration hereafter, and should, without delay, be noticed and condemned. Signed M.H. Perlay, The Hon. John S. Saunders, Provl. Secretary. DEVON COMMISSION What the authorities in Canada did not appreciate, however, was that after three years of famine and disease, people were absolutely desperate to leave. Sir Robert told the Devon Commission that: “The desire to emigrate last year [1847] was so great that I had to refuse very many…….I made application to.. Government to give me a grant of waste land in Canada and I would send out an agent with my emigrants who would locate there and keep them at my expense until they could shift for themselves. ... I never got an answer to my application”.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 09:58:10 +0000
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