Queenstown Swimming baths

Emigrants had to be well enough to travel and great care was taken to prevent the spread of contagious diseases on board. Emigrants were subject to a number of health checks before leaving Ireland. Queenstown Swimming baths were used as a delousing station and steam sterilisation plant for emigrants when there were outbreaks of particular conditions.

The message on the reverse of this postcard, posted in 1905, reads, ‘Dear May, Not dead yet, still alive, only hungry. Spot’. It was posted from Queenstown on 1st February 1905 to Miss M. Lower, Newhaven, Sussex, England.