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Week-long event planned to remember Peter Robinson settlers

All C103 News & Sport

Wednesday, 27 November 2024 15:26

By News Team

The Heffernan family (courtesy Mary English-Cooper)

A Theatrical Interpretation of the settler journey will feature

A special event to remember those who emigrated from the Ballyhoura region in the 1820's and travelled to Canada will take place next year.

They left as part of the Peter Robinson Assisted Emigration Programme and for the past decade Ballyhoura Development has collaborated with communities across north Cork, east Limerick and Canada to trace and track the hundreds of local families who left the area.

The Peter Robinson Assisted Emigration scheme, was one of the largest assisted emigration schemes of its time and marked a significant chapter in both Irish and Canadian history. 

Amanda Slattery, Development Manager, Ballyhoura Development, says, "Rediscovering the story of the Peter Robinson settlers has been a profound journey of connection and learning. This project has brought people together, not just to remember the past, but to strengthen the ties between communities in Ireland and Canada today. 2025 is a significant event welcoming hundreds of descendants back to the Ballyhoura Region and connecting with their ancestors’ communities of origin".

September 2025 will mark 200 years since the settler’s departure from Cobh.

Breda Keane Shortt of the Queenstown Experience states “we are thrilled to collaborate with Ballyhoura Development on this initiative and further demonstrate the emigration story of Ireland and Canada and its significance to Cobh”.

In commemoration of this momentous occasion, Ballyhoura Development CLG, in collaboration with the Peter Robinson Settlers’ descendants, has devised a weeklong event highlighting interactive Community Visits, a Theatrical Interpretation of the settler journey, a Remembrance Ceremony at the point of departure, Cobh, a Live Concert and  Conference focusing on history, genealogy and legacy culminating in a Commemorative Event at Griston Bog, Ballylanders. This bespoke itinerary provides a historical opportunity for the descendants to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors, reconnect with their roots and develop lasting connections with people and place.

Mary Smith, Vice Chair of Nine Ships 1825 in Peterborough Canada says; “Working with Ballyhoura Development has given us a real sense of connection to the Ballyhoura region and many descendants are looking forward to visiting in 2025. The bicentennial of the Peter Robinson Emigration is a pivotal moment for our community, marking the arrival of the Irish settlers who profoundly shaped the landscape and identity of Nogojiwanong-Peterborough and surrounding areas. This commemoration is not just a remembrance of a historical event, but a recognition of resilience, heritage, and the enduring impact of these early settlers on our modern society. This offers the opportunity to honour the legacy of these emigrants, recognizing their contributions to the cultural and social fabric of our community.”

Marie Healy, Projects Officer for Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands at Fáilte Ireland said “Ballyhoura Country is a key destination in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands with so much to offer both domestic and international visitors. It’s important that we continue to create unique and compelling reasons for visitors to choose a destination and this event does just that. Peter Robinson Settlers Homecoming 2025 encourages the spread of tourism across the region by highlighting areas outside of traditional tourism hotspots where international visitors can truly connect with their ancestry.”