Thank you Shirley. There are only two kinds of people, Irish and those
who want to be. I heard that saying many times when I was a child on
2nd Ave. There is some interesting history about that rock. I believe
it was moved some distance away from its original location to build
the foot of Victoria Bridge. Apparently the Irish bridge workers
discovered this once forgotten memorial stone, and demanded the city
relocate the stone rather than discarding it as was intended. As long
as I lived in Verdun I never went to see it, but when I next visit,
this will be one occasion I will not forget to say a prayer for the
Irish families from the Emerald Isle who died by the thousands in
makeshift hospitals (shacks) near the waterfront. I would not be here
had my grandmother and her family died of this terrible illness after
disembarking in Montreal in the 1800s.
Bill Cooper
"Kwitchyerbellyakin."
- Irish saying
THANKS for stopping by, I do my best to acknowledge when someone leaves a comment,you do not have to be a member here & everyone is welcome. Ps: This site is monitored but not actively posting on a regular basis. Mostly these are stories & some photos saved from a defunct site known as Verdun Connections which was on MSN Groups initially then on a social network called Multiply.
5 comments:
Bill Cooper
I don't know if you are aware of this little known fact or not but for your
info., many Irish names are still alive and well in Montreal & Quebec City
even though many of these people cannot speak a word of English or are not
very fluent in the language. This was due to many good French Canadian's who
were predominent at the time of the "Potatoe Famine' going aboard ships that
docked in Quebec City & Montreal & literally adopting young children &
babies whose parents gave up their lives endevoring to see that their
children made it to the New World & better lives. These good Cdn. people
adopted the children but wherever possible knowing their surnames arranged
that the adoptees were able to keep their Irish surnames. I knew many such
kids from my youth & in fact a very famous High School in Quebec City at one
time was almost 50% Irsh named kids who spoke French only. Thank God for
these generous French Canadians who only thoughts were for the children &
that they never lose their heritage & roots.
Just a thought. We too often bad mouth French Canadians but I never have
forgotten this little history lesson nor would my Grandfather & Father from
Tralee ever let me forget this Charity.
Martin Sullivan (Tony)
My great grandparents were some of the lucky ones to make it and not die of the illness. I did see a program about the orphans being taken into French canadian homes and struggling to keep their Irish names. Pictures that were posted yesterday to the Pointe site - I copied them "in case" and have posted them on this site in an album Walk to the Rock. "May those that love us love us, and those that dont love us may God turn their hearts and if He cant turn their hearts may He turn their ankles that we may know them by their limping." Old Irish Saying
I did not know that bit of history about the generosity of the French
Canadians. It touched my heart, God bless them all. They were very
hards times indeed, especially for the motherless and fatherless
children. Thanks Tony.
"The most effective kind of education is that a child should play
amongst lovely things."
- Plato
There is another picture on the "Point" site Frank Baddeley singing the Irish National Anthem - copied the picture to the album on this site for those who do not get to see the picture today.
My Aunt & Uncle live on Leclair have for last 50 years. This was 1847-1848 during the potato famine in Ireland - the Irish were leaving the country in droves. Many contacted fever on the ships because of the unsanitary conditions. When the ships docked in Montreal they had to go through immigration and those found to be in ill health suffering from what was called ship fever were held at the fever sheds in Goose Village, Many died and were buried in mass graves - when they were building the bridge they came across the remains and rather than desecrate the graves moved the remains to Bridge Street and Wellington and erected a huge stone to mark the final resting place. Please have a look again at the pictures in the album - you will see the huge stone and perhaps on your next bike ride through the area stop and reflect.
Post a Comment