Irish immigration is often depicted as a sorrowful saga, where famine victims were compelled to leave their homeland. However, the reality paints a different picture. It is a story of hope and determination that led to the formation of Canada’s strong Irish community.

The majority of Irish immigrants chose to leave voluntarily and either funded their own ocean voyages or received assistance from family and friends. These individuals were far from helpless victims; they meticulously planned their departures and were well-informed about the economic opportunities available in Canada.

In the 1800s, the Irish constituted the largest immigrant group arriving in Canada, particularly in Ontario, New Brunswick, and Quebec, where their numbers exceeded the combined total of Scottish and English immigrants.

The wave of Irish immigration began after the Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815, plunging the United Kingdom into a severe economic depression. Early Irish immigrants primarily came from the north (Ulster) and were mainly Protestants, but later arrivals originated from the south and west and were predominantly Catholics.

Each Canadian province has its unique story of Irish immigration. Factors such as the fishing trade with Britain, timber trade, and farming opportunities attracted the Irish to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, and Quebec. As sailing ships were replaced by steamships and Canada established a transcontinental railway, the Irish also ventured west to the Prairie Provinces and British Columbia. Even before the railways were built, Irish settlers in eastern and mid-Canada had already started moving west.

The Irish were instrumental in clearing forests and farming in New Brunswick, resulting in a large influx of settlers to the region’s river valleys. The timber trade propelled New Brunswick’s economic growth, constructing towns like Saint John, Chatham, St. Andrews, and Fredericton, providing employment opportunities, and encouraging capital investment in the province.

Despite their initial major settlements being in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick ultimately attracted most of the Irish immigrants. By 1851, an astonishing 71% of New Brunswick’s population was Irish-born. Irish Protestants settled predominantly in the southwest St. John River Valley, while Irish Catholics primarily settled in the northeast Miramichi River area. Later, as the timber trade expanded northward and eastward, more Irish Protestants and Catholics moved to the Chaleur Bay and Richibucto regions, creating agricultural and fishing communities.

Today, around 38% of New Brunswick’s population can trace their ancestry back to Irish origins.

The Irish Families Memorial, featuring a 3-meter Celtic Cross and four engraved standing stones bearing the names of 400 Irish settlers, is a tribute to the Irish families who settled in New Brunswick nearly two centuries ago. Situated in Riverfront Park, Moncton, the memorial represents the four Irish provinces of Ulster, Leinster, Munster, and Connaught and is recognized as a Local Historic Place for its cultural significance to Southeastern New Brunswick.

This post has already been read 1616 times!