05-05-2025
Cobh to mark 200th anniversary of settler scheme that saw 2,000 leave for Canada
A commemoration is to be held in Cobh to remember a little-known event that saw 2,000 people emigrate from North Cork to Canada.
A 200th anniversary commemoration event will focus on 11 ships which set sail from Cobh with more than 2,000 'peasants', mainly from North Cork but some from South Limerick, who were chosen to settle in the Ontario wilderness.
Known as the 'Peter Robinson Settler Emigration Scheme', named after the British colonial administrator in Canada, it is estimated there are now more than 100,000 descendants of these first settlers living in Ontario.
The aim of the scheme was to help alleviate the severe poverty of the Irish families who travelled, while also promoting settlements in Canada.
Most of those who made the journey were part of family groups, and nobody over the age of 45 was eligible.
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Each emigrant was given 70 acres on arrival for which they would pay the Canadian government rent of 2p per acre twice a year.
Around 500 descendants of the settlers are to make a special pilgrimage to Ireland later this year to find their roots in places such as Doneraile, Mitchelstown, and several villages along the Blackwater Valley. That trip is being organised with the help of the Ballyhoura Development group.
On May 9, Ballyhoura Development in collaboration with Cobh Heritage Centre will host a ceremony in memory of the settler families.
It will start with a wreath laying at Cobh pier at 2.30pm which will be attended by some of the settlers' descendants, representatives from the Canadian Embassy, and Irish Ambassador to Canada John Concannon.
After that a special exhibition will be unveiled at the Queenstown Heritage Centre detailing the Robinson scheme.
It is the first of a number of key events to be held this year, with the larger Ireland-Canada Homecoming to run from September 15 to 21, welcoming descendants of the Robinson settlers back to the region to reconnect with the communities of origin. Amanda Slattery of Ballyhoura Development said:
'We're delighted to collaborate with Cobh to honour the 200th anniversary of this emigration.
It plays a vital part in the story, the last departure point for hundreds of families and we look forward to welcoming the public to commemorate with us.
Meanwhile, the 110th anniversary of the Lusitania sinking by a German U-boat will be held in Cobh on May 11.
Organised by Cobh Tourism, it will commence at 2.30pm a solemn parade of Defence Forces veterans, Royal Naval Association representatives and other maritime and historical groups who will assemble at the Lusitania Peace Memorial in Casement Square.
Following prayers, musical honours by the Commodore Male Voice Choir and the laying of wreaths it'll conclude with the Last Post.
Proceedings then move to the town's Old Church Cemetery where 170 of the victims were buried mainly in three mass graves.
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