The Famine Irish in New Brunswick

The Famine Irish in New Brunswick (36:53) tells the little known story of the 16,000 emigrants who fled from famine-stricken Ireland in 1847 to the British North American colony (now Canadian province) of New Brunswick. Two thousand of them perished at quarantine stations such as Partridge Island (Saint John), Middle Island (Miramichi), and Hospital Island (Saint Andrews). The film pays tribute to them and the self-sacrifice of their caregivers, such as Dr James Patrick Collins who lost his life on Partridge Island, and Dr John Vondy who died caring for Irish emigrants on Middle Island. It offers a rare glimpse of Partridge Island where six hundred Irish migrants lie buried on a site that has long been closed to the public.
The Famine Irish in New Brunswick is part of the Great Famine Voices 2023 season which is hosted by the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park and Irish Heritage Trust with funding from the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme.
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[@canadafreedom]

Enjoyed this walk down memory lane. It is a shame that the Government of New Brunswick does not take better care of Partridge Island out of respect for those that came before us.

[@jessugrue7925]

Excellent, thank you for keeping this part of our Irish Canadian history alive.

[@xentrix89]

If no one came over on those boats I wouldn't be here today.

[@DarrenCarrie]

God bless Ireland 🇮🇪 🥦🥬☔️🧶🕊✝️🇮🇪

[@SR-hc3bq]

@22:25 I stumbled across this video because I have been working on my family's genealogy. John Boyle is my 3x great grandfather. Thank you so much for this video and for Dennis Boyle's oral history which helped verify the information I have already collected.

[@zipperzoey2041]

As the Irish ambassador says this is not a well know story in Ireland where I'm from. The teaching of Irish history in Ireland covers the Great Famine period in detail but concentrates on what happened on the island. We were thought next to nothing about what became of the people who left Ireland and now 175 years later we’re keen to find out what happened, and it's only though these excellent videos and the work of Mark McGowan and the local historians that we in Ireland can fill in the missing details. The video was very touching. Thanks to the contributors for sharing their story and best wishes to all our Irish/Canadian cousins across the pond. ☘☘☘

[@jgg59]

Thank you this is another interesting look at the Irish famine/genocide and displacement of the Irish. The generosity of people in Canada it’s nice to hear about

[@learysliquorcabinet8677]

Really enjoyed learning this part of Irish history. Thank you.

[@bobandy3811]

Well done

[@amymiller2723]

My great great grandfather was Thomas Kervin of Sunny Brae (Moncton) if I go back further I see ancestors from Sligo.

[@lorettoleary7735]

Thank you so much for telling this story. As sad as it is, it is fortunate that documents and records survive to illustrate and back it up. Lots of sadness, but John Boyle, and Dr. John Vondy and I'm sure many others illustrate the importance of human kindness. Thank you again.

[@margaret-rosemurphy2454]

Enjoyed this film, however I was appalled to discover the lack of historical input from those interviewed with the exception of Dennis Boyle, who was fortunate enough to have had his genealogy done by Peter Murphy of Saint John. I was also appalled to discover that there was no reference to the historical work of Peter Murphy, who wrote the first account of the Irish in Saint John, or had the discovery of the Asylum
records and wrote a book on them which won him the Governor General's Gold metal.. Without his research there would have been no content for Prof. Mark McGowan to talk about.

[@vincenthigginbotham8729]

The Geni Johnston or replica is docked up in New Ross county Wexford and used as a tourist attraction

[@TheDanieldineen]

Here's a song I was asked to write by the then head of the Irish Canadian cultural association of Saint John and New Brunswick, my namesake, Danny Dineen! It's called 'the ballad of James Collins'! I hope you like it!

[@TheDanieldineen]

th-cam.com/video/SlZsIgoVqt0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=mPWh9mqddCI5Wt8G

[@BuddyBuddy21]

Post the link pal.

[@TheDanieldineen]

@@BuddyBuddy21 Apologies, the old link got deleted I think! th-cam.com/video/SlZsIgoVqt0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=PiyRpI-_gZFK6uFq

[@TheDanieldineen]

Thanks to Dave for the video!

[@Jan-fx2ny]

The first slaves to America