Coffin ship

A coffin ship was the name given to the ships that carried Irish immigrants escaping the effects of the potato famine. These ships, crowded and disease ridden, with poor access to food and water, resulted in the deaths of many people as they crossed the Atlantic.

Related Topics:
Ship - Irish - Immigrant - Potato famine - Atlantic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While coffin ships were the cheapest way to cross the Atlantic, often more than half of the passengers died during the voyage.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was said that sharks could be seen following the ships in packs because so many bodies were thrown overboard.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Irish band Primordial recorded a song about this titled "The Coffin Ships" on The Gathering Wilderness - the lyrics taken from the grave stones in Skibbereen, Cork.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~