"This simple sort of soul also knows that Limerick, Galway and Sligo were ports that could transport thousands of people to America and Canada."

Let us go a bit further with this one, this time applying a bit of historical accuracy to the argument.

Hate to disillusion you but the principal point of departure for Irish emigrants leaving for the New World was NOT Limerick, Sligo and Galway - it was LIVERPOOL.

The primary destination was NOT the USA but CANADA and the reason for that was quite simple it was cheaper (Often completely free of charge) as opposed to a passage direct to the USA where you had to pay your fare but also prove yourself to be in good health and have at least £10 in cash, wares, or means of trade to get aboard a ship bound for a US Port. Any ship arriving off a US port with sickness aboard was held off the coast until the contagion had abated. Doubt any of this then please consult Cecil Woodham-Smith's Book "The Great Hunger" - she goes into this in great detail. The principal point of entry into the USA for Irish Emigrants was not New York, Boston or Baltimore but Chicago, those emigrants having traveled to Canada, gone up the St,Lawrence and across the Great Lakes.

So please Raggytash stop wittering on about ports on the west coast of Ireland - In fairly recent times I have been involved with the operations involving potential exploration for oil & gas off the West Coast of Ireland - our bases have always been on Eastern harbours because those on the West Coast do not have quays that can support the loads required - they were even worse and less developed in 1845.