Exploring our Irish heritage— the Middle Island Project Page 15 2 Shamrock Leaf June 2013 Inside This Issue: Letters to the Editor………..... …...4 Secrets of an abandoned village…..5 ICCA Chapter News….6, 13, 32, 42 A little bit of Ireland in Paris.….. ...8 Death of an elderly Irish pauper…..9 Watch out where you dig ……….10 Rt. Rev. William Dollard………..11 ‘Nuns” caught drinking illegally...14 Exploring our Irish Heritage ..…..15 Irish Festival 2013……………….18 Advertising Rates for the Shamrock Leaf ($CAN): Jeremiah O’Leary—a tragic end...20 Business card size……………………………..$25 News from PEI …………….. …..21 1/4 page………………………………………..$45 McCloskey’s General Store……..22 1/2 page………………………………………..$60 Front Page Banner……………………………..$100 An Irish stamp album ……….......24 Full page……………………………………….$100 Does Anyone Know?..........….….26 Full Page Back Cover………………………….$200 Irish immigrant communities……28 Advertising requests should be given to an ICCA member in your area The way we said it……………….29 or sent to :[email protected] An immigrant’s story……………34 Our Irish beginnings …………….37 Down on Moody’s Point ………..39 From the Bookshelf……………..40 Set dancing in the Maritimes…....44 Logic Puzzle……………………..46 Bits and Pieces....................……..47 The Shamrock Leaf is a publication of the Irish Canadian Cultural Association of New Brunswick (ICCANB). All materials contained herein are copyrighted to either the ICCANB or the individual contributors/authors and, as such, may not be copied or otherwise used for any other purpose without written permission from the copyright holder. The Shamrock Leaf is published twice a year—June and December. Designed by ICCANB; Printed by Acadie Presse, Caraquet, NB. Deadlines for submission are April 15th and October 15th respectively. Anyone wishing to submit to an issue should first contact the Editor at: [email protected] or by regular mail to: Editor, ICCANB, 261 Cape Breton Rd., Irishtown, NB E1H 1W7 Canada June 2013 Shamrock Leaf 3 overdue recognition from first step towards inclusion tory of New Brunswick the province of NB. and recognition. found on the government’s Representing 42% of In the meantime, the new own website: http:// New Brunswickers, we feel Cultural Policy of New www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/ strongly that our govern- Brunswick is being slowly en/gateways/about_nb/ ment’s inclusion of the rewritten. history.html. We are province’s Celtic people However, In order to given two lines in para- under the banner of ‘other keep our issue of official graph five – and both sen- Anglophone cultures’ is a recognition in the fore- tences are incorrect. result of simple ignorance front, we are now sending Celtic New Brunswickers of our history and culture – our brief and recommenda- have long been quiet – it is and sadly, wrong. Indeed, tions on the Celtic peoples’ part of our cultural identity with names like McLaugh- place in New Brunswick’s to ‘not upset the apple Welcome to the spring lan, Nowlan, McGraw and Cultural Identity to all cart’. In this province issue! Caissie, many of us are MLA’s in New Brunswick we’ve always been cultur- Rather than go on about ‘francophone’ as well. so that they too will be in- ally proud but vocally si- what’s inside, I’d like to Representatives of the formed of our request. lent. The time has come to use this space to bring you Celtic Affairs Committee Is it necessary? Are we be ‘loud and proud’ before up-to-date on a very impor- met with the Minister of upsetting the apple cart? we are forgotten all to- tant issue. Tourism, Heritage and Cul- ‘Yes’ to the first question gether. In the December issue we ture, Trevor Holder, and and ‘perhaps’ to the sec- Linda Evans revealed that the Irish and others in November regard- ond. Regardless, it is the Scottish Associations had ing the province’s new right thing to do. Anyone Downtown Irishtown formed a Celtic Affairs Cultural Policy. The meet- who may think otherwise Email: Committee to seek long- ing was positive and the should read the brief his- [email protected] The President’s Message proud. through this latest Sham- My term as Provincial This is also the year the rock Leaf that our editors President concludes this government of the Republic have created, and consider fall, and with my last op- of Ireland has chosen to the stories and events as portunity to hold court in celebrate homecoming, part of a much wider cycle these pages I offer the fol- calling this year “The Gath- of life. lowing to everyone: Farrell ering Ireland 2013.” My thanks to our McCarthy wrote in the Maybe they heard about Board of Directors and our Winter of 2008: “We had our anniversary and de- Chapters for making my our first Board meeting on cided to take advantage of term a fun-filled and event- April 30th, 1983, in the art it. Regardless, when you ful one, and I am very hum- gallery in Fredericton.” He think of the estimated 80 bled to have followed in the was writing in reference to million people with Irish footsteps of the many car- our 25th anniversary as the editors for another excellent blood around the world, we ing and diligent leaders of ICCANB. This year we issue. do belong to a rather large our Association who have celebrate our 30th year, not community; perhaps we done so much to keep the a small feat by any organi- - Bruce Driscoll could better call it a family. Irish spirit alive and well in zation and one of which ICCANB President Think about both of this Province. Also, in both current members and [email protected] these events as you read closing, I want to thank our the founders should be 4 Shamrock Leaf June 2013 Letters to the Editor Calling all Kouchibouquac Kellys! Brosnan Gathering in County Kerry Dear Editor: Dear Editor: I am planning a reunion of Kelly’s and relatives that Could you please make your readers aware of the fol- originated from Kouchibouguac, NB, where we had our begin- lowing, in the event some may be in Ireland during our family ning in 1820. gathering? Lawrence G. Kelly came to Canada from Ireland and Brosnans from all over the world are set to converge on settled in the Kouchibouguac area at this time, acquired land Castleisland and its surrounding villages from grants and started his family. I have done a family tree of Law- July 25th to 28th 2013 for the Kerry Brosnan Family Reunion, rence and his relatives numbering over 800 so far! We will have as part of the East Kerry Roots Festival 2013. An invitation a ‘meet and greet’ beginning in the afternoon of 12 July 2012, is being extended to all Brosnan clan members locally, nation- with a BBQ on 13 July, followed by visits to the Kouchi- ally and internationally to join bouguac national park, fishing and boat rides for those who this ancient clan and celebrate their proud heritage. This four- desire, and many more activities. There will be a sharing of day gathering gives Brosnans from around the world, and any- family information relating to family trees. All those wishing to one with Brosnan ancestry, the chance to rediscover their roots. attend can contact me at Phone; 506-876-3748 or email at The proceedings will culminate in the inauguration of a new [email protected] Brosnan clan chieftain. - Joseph E Kelly (by email) You do not have to be a Brosnan to join in the festivi- ties. The variety of festival events planned for The Nelson Doyle Dancers deserve praise East Kerry Roots Festival 2013 weekend, are designed to suit anybody with an interest in genealogy, culture or heritage. For Dear Editor: some this will be an opportunity to visit the place of their birth, Recently, Moncton held its 13th annual IrishFest to cele- for others, the birth place of their ancestors. For all, it will be brate our Irish heritage and share with the community. This an occasion to relive and create fond memories over a joyous years’ Celtic Revue was memorable, with a variety of perform- weekend. ers accentuating the Irish tradition of songs, dance, storytelling, For further information on the Kerry Brosnan Clan Gathering and the playing of instruments. For the first year it also in- check: cluded the Nelson-Doyle Irish Dancers. www.eastkerryroots.com I was so impressed that I felt compelled to write about Geraldine Brick (via email) their performance. I was spellbound by their excellent chore- ography, and unique, authentic costumes. The dancers gave What happened to the survivors of the Carrick’s? the audience a smooth flow of performances, each done with precise execution and uniformity. Always right on cue! Their Dear Editor: dancers were of varying ages, but all so passionate in their Thank you for John McKeon's article, "Sligo's Famine craft. These dancers projected such a powerful presence! Irish Diaspora & Gathering 2013" (Dec. 2012 edition.) Dance is unique, and this troupe captured the true essence of I also enjoyed the Feature Story in Shamrock Leaf of the Irish art form. June 2012, "From Lissadell to Saint John- Sligo's Famine Story" I can only imagine the countless hours of practice, mir- and comments on the famine ship 'Carrick's' which was wrecked rored by the commitment of founder and driving force, Ellen off the coast of Cap Des Rosiers, Gaspe in 1847. Doyle MacDonald, the parents, peers, community, sponsors I have been researching the Carrick's for several years and and friends, as well as the dancers themselves. This is no small did a presentation on survivors of the ill- fated ship last summer undertaking.