Wondering : When, Why and How ?

The Irish Matriarch came to Baltimore after the Irish Famine was over. I am hoping that my research will be able to nail down the year she came, as there are contradictions. Her dad was listed as a farmer in the 1860 census, and lived in the Gardenville area of Northeast Baltimore. Perhaps the strain of the Great Hunger convinced them to go to America before the same happened again. Their mode of travel was by ship, of course, but what sort? I have always read about the "coffin ships", those boats that carried the half-starved and miserable to the New World, with many not surviving the voyage. My internet surfing led me to a site that told another part of that story. I read about the Jeanie Johnston, a Canadian made ship that never had a death at sea while transporting immigrants to Baltimore. It made 16 voyages from the West Ireland town of Tralee to the New World, and came to Baltimore several times. The journey took 1 1/2 months, and could cost as much as 6 month's wages. I am wondering whether my ancestors traveled from Tralee, which is not very far from County Galway. Feel free to visit the web site, http://www.mdoe.org/irish_immig.html . A replica of the ship was made, and visited Baltimore in 2003. Where was I? Probably up to no good.