It became known as The Great Hunger. During the seven years of what was also known as the Irish Potato Famine, over a million people died of starvation and another million left the country. There was a blight on the potatoes that had been the staple of the Irish diet. Nothing grew in the ground, and without any kind of plants for animals to feed on there was no meat either. At one point, if you could walk, the government would pay you to leave the country to ease the strain on the meager food supply.
Even with your passage paid for, you still had to bring your own food with you. The ships' owners were required to provide flour for biscuits for a week more than the planned crossing of the Atlantic and medicines for the sick, but no more.
Young adults, male and female, the able-bodied, often fled leaving their elderly relatives without any means of financial or physical support. Men, lads, women, girls boarded ships in Belfast, Dublin, and Liverpool by the thousands. Whole families packed their few possessions, mostly a couple changes of clothing, and went off in search of a place where they could survive. The ships' crews sailed the ships and cooked their own meals. The passengers prepared their own meals and did their own laundry.
America was the most popular destination. Many went to Canada because it meant a shorter voyage and, hence, cost less. Some went to Australia and New Zealand -- those who could afford the higher passage. The rumor was that the streets in America were paved with gold. No one really believed it, but it made a good story. What people listened to was the tales of free land. You could go and pick out a plot of land and farm it and it became yours. The people from America always said they wanted farmers and labourers, people who would be willing to do hard work. Even the rich were having a hard time, and the ships were filled with fancily dressed labourers. No one asked for proof of what kind of work you did. If you said you were a farmer, then you were a farmer.
Life on the ships wasn't easy. There was a lot of housekeeping to do, but there was a lot of free time, too. There were many single women on the ships as well as single men, and shipboard romances abounded. The rule was that only married couples could be below decks together, but the wardens could easily be persuaded to look the other way. A wink or a smile from a lovely lass usually was sufficient.
My brother and I boarded the St. George at Liverpool. The sky was overcast, and the cold wind blew in off the North Sea. It had taken us the better part of a year to get together enough money for our passage and enough food for a two-month voyage. Yes, it was a miserable day, but Pat and I were elated nonetheless. We were sad to be leaving our family, but we now had a chance to help our Ma and Pa. We would get work in the New World and send back money to them to buy food and shelter. Our thoughts at that moment were centered on getting aboard the great ship and getting our things put away. There must have been a hundred or more other young men on our deck, all with the same plan of working in America and sending money to Ireland. We stowed our bags as quickly as we could and hurried back up to the main deck.
Three hundred people crowded the railing trying desperately to catch one last sight of their loved ones before the ship sailed. One look at the mob and I knew I'd never get to the railing. I decided to try anyway and stared elbowing my way through while still remaining as polite as possible. At long last only one person stood between me and the rail, a bonny lass with long red hair and a waist as narrow as a bee's. As badly as I wanted to try to catch one last glimpse of my parents, I couldn't bring myself to ask her to even share her spot with me. I let out a loud sigh and started to turn back when she turned around. "You may have my place," she said. I couldn't believe my ears or my eyes. She was beautiful beyond belief. She had high cheek bones, a rosy complexion, deep blue eyes, and high proud breasts. I stood in a trance as she stepped back. When she saw that I wasn't moving she said, "Be quick or you'll lose the spot. You do want to see your family, don't you?"
I nodded my head and darted into the vacant space. Crowds on the quay waved frantically to their departing loved ones. Passengers from all levels of the great ship clung to the railing in desperate hope of catching one last glimpse of their parents, children, dear friends. Patrick and I had been at the rail without seeing anyone. Dejected, I gave up the spot and pushed my way out of the mob. As we drew away realizing that none of our people could make the journey to see us off, two bonny lasses took our spots. "Did you see them?" she asked."
"No," I said. "How about you? Did you see your people?"
"I didn't have anyone to see. There's only my sister, Bridget, and me left. The hunger got all the rest of the Mooneys. We have no reason to stay."
"Pat and me -- Pat's me brother -- we are the next to the last of the Byrnes. There's only our parents left. We're going to America to get jobs so we can send them money to live on in their old age, if they live long enough, that is. By the way, I'm Michael, Michael Byrne."
"Catherine Mooney." She held out her hand to me. Her grip was firm, not limp like most women's. "What will you be doing when you get to America?"
"I'll find a job somewhere. There ain't much I can't do. What I don't know I can learn. What about you?"
"Find a husband and have children I suppose."
"Pretty as you are, you shouldn't need more than a week to find a rich man."
She blushed as a proper lass should. "Thank you. He doesn't have to be rich. I'll settle for kindness. We're going west after we get to New York. There's lots of lonely farmers who would marry us."
"Pat and me, we're farmers. At least we were until the blight. Tell me, is your sister as pretty as you?"
"Mr. Byrne, you're making me blush."
"Please, I'm Michael. Just Michael."
"You may call me Kate. So, tell me, is your brother as handsome as you?"
"How about I go fetch him and you can decide for yourself?"
"Then I'll find Bridget and meet you back here in half an hour."
The gangway was withdrawn from the ship. Following a shrill blast from the steam whistle, the vessel vibrated as the propellers began to turn.
The Mooney sisters were one as pretty as the other, and they thought Pat and I were hard to choose between. We four spent as much time as possible together on the deck. By the end of the first week of the voyage, we were fast friends. Pat and Kate began pairing off leaving Bridget and me alone much of the time.
