The migration of Irish settlers to Atlantic Canada is a story of persistence, enterprise, and transformation—one that spans from the windswept shores of Ireland’s southern ports to the dense forests and thriving harbours of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
The victors write the history, or in this case, omit the less flattering parts. NFLD was not empty when European settlers arrived. Choice of words are important. The Beothuk, the Indigenous inhabitants, didn’t give their land away, it was taken. Then by disease, murder, starvation and all the other tactics employed by invaders, the last Beothuk died in 1829. The Irish contributed to this. So it’s terrible, documented and never forgotten when the English invaded and colonized Ireland, but not when the Irish were happy to do the same.
You're absolutely correct and thank you for highlighting. My intention was to provide an introductory piece to the Irish in Canada, starting with the east coast and later dedicate a whole post to European and Irish impacts on the indigenous population.
If you read back through my catalogue you'll find that I do not hold the Irish people up as separate, and therefore not complicit in European atrocities or the ways they negatively impacted the people and places they interacted with.
Fair and tx for your reply. Considering that readers drop in and out of content sources so may not of been informed by earlier or up coming writings, it could help if you made a short reference to this.
You make a really good point David, thank you. I'll definitely take it on board and include notes like this in future. I'll try to find a good place to slot it into this current narrative also. Many thanks again, otherwise I hope you've been enjoying!
I am enjoying it tx. Like many my own family history is bound up in this. Famine, a cruel church, civil war, internment, banishment to Canada, racism in Protestant Ontario etc.
So interesting! And you've helped me gain perspective on the Irish-born man I'm researching at the moment who fled St. John after accidentally killing a patient. He passed himself off as a doctor, but was in fact a quack. Completely fascinating.! Irish-born, brought up in New York state and may have been drawn to St. John thanks to its Irish population...thinking aloud here. Thank you for a wonderful article and the unexpected bonus!
Great article thanks Ruairi.
Thanks David, glad you enjoyed!
Great articles. Well researched, and well paced. Thanks.
Thank you so much Sharon! I hope you're keeping well.
The victors write the history, or in this case, omit the less flattering parts. NFLD was not empty when European settlers arrived. Choice of words are important. The Beothuk, the Indigenous inhabitants, didn’t give their land away, it was taken. Then by disease, murder, starvation and all the other tactics employed by invaders, the last Beothuk died in 1829. The Irish contributed to this. So it’s terrible, documented and never forgotten when the English invaded and colonized Ireland, but not when the Irish were happy to do the same.
You're absolutely correct and thank you for highlighting. My intention was to provide an introductory piece to the Irish in Canada, starting with the east coast and later dedicate a whole post to European and Irish impacts on the indigenous population.
If you read back through my catalogue you'll find that I do not hold the Irish people up as separate, and therefore not complicit in European atrocities or the ways they negatively impacted the people and places they interacted with.
Fair and tx for your reply. Considering that readers drop in and out of content sources so may not of been informed by earlier or up coming writings, it could help if you made a short reference to this.
You make a really good point David, thank you. I'll definitely take it on board and include notes like this in future. I'll try to find a good place to slot it into this current narrative also. Many thanks again, otherwise I hope you've been enjoying!
I am enjoying it tx. Like many my own family history is bound up in this. Famine, a cruel church, civil war, internment, banishment to Canada, racism in Protestant Ontario etc.
Another great read, I’m from Waterford nice to read about Waterford’s connection to Canada.
So interesting! And you've helped me gain perspective on the Irish-born man I'm researching at the moment who fled St. John after accidentally killing a patient. He passed himself off as a doctor, but was in fact a quack. Completely fascinating.! Irish-born, brought up in New York state and may have been drawn to St. John thanks to its Irish population...thinking aloud here. Thank you for a wonderful article and the unexpected bonus!