Canadian 'experiment' descendants set for North Cork return
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Up to 500 descendants of the organised emigration of impoverished North Cork families in the 1800s will travel to Ireland from Canada later this year to mark the 200th anniversary of the event.
The visit is being organised by regional development company Ballyhoura GLC to commemorate the 1825 "Peter Robinson Experiment".
Mr Robinson, a Canadian colonial administrator, was tasked by his superiors with bringing peasant families from North Cork to settle in Ontario.
The families sailed from Cobh in nine ships and, after arriving in Canada, the majority settled in the Canadian wilderness and helped create the town of Peterborough — which was named in Robinson’s honour. More than 2,000 made the journey.
His aim was to help alleviate the severe poverty of the Irish families who travelled, while also promoting the settlement of Canada.
Most of those who made the journey were part of family groups, and nobody over the age of 45 was eligible. Each emigrant was given 70 acres on arrival for which they had to pay the Canadian government rent of 2p/ac twice a year.
Research carried out on both sides of the Atlantic suggests there are roughly 100,000 descendants of the 2,000 who emigrated.
Ships records show families left from Doneraile, Mitchelstown, Charleville, and number of villages along the Blackwater Valley.
Amanda Slattery, a Ballyhoura GLC development manager, who is in charge of the anniversary project, said they're in touch with 1,200 descendants through a Facebook page set up to commemorate the bicentenary of the event.
“It may be forgotten here, but it's not by their descendants in Canada and the US. About 90% of them live in those two countries, but we have also received contact from ones now living in Belgium, Scotland, and Italy,” she said.
The interest in the commemoration has been so great that a tour operator has been appointed in Canada to arrange the trip, and she is collaborating with the Ballyhoura group for the event which will take place from September 15-21.
“A big group has already been booked into the Charleville Park Hotel. Others will be staying at Deerbert House Hotel, in Killmallock, and Springfort Hall in Doneraile. There will also be groups staying at Adare Manor and the Cashel Palace,” Ms Slattery said.
Four event hubs will be set up for the visitors at Doneraile, Charleville, Mitchelstown, and Kilmallock, and there will be daily tours for them to points of interest associated with their ancestors.
Ms Slattery said the visit will be “a huge financial boost to the local economy”, and it is hoped it will reap further financial dividends in the years to come as plans are in place to enhance the region’s tourism with the Canadian connections.
A special information evening for people who wish to get involved in the event will be held at Old Creamery building in Kildorrery on January 15 from 7pm-9pm.