This is part of a message we received from members of other CCEs in North America.
Where: TG4 http://www.tg4.ie/en/programmes/tar-abhaile.html
When: Episode 2, November 24th at 9:30pm Irish Time (4:30pm in Ontario)
Tar Abhaile ("Come Home")
Hosted by broadcaster Evelyn O’Rourke, Tar Abhaile is a new six part series on TG4 that follows local Irish communities as they welcome people from across the globe in search of their Irish ancestors. You will see twelve different Irish descendants and their families, scattered all over the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK, travel to Ireland to reconnect with their Irish roots.
Ultimately, Tar Abhaile is about real people and their unique stories, their unique journey and their unique connection with Ireland. It pivots on Reconnection, Reunion and Homecoming.
Episode 1 - Sunday, 17.11.13, features families in Chicago and Australia.
Episode 2 - Sunday, 24.11.13, features families in Ontario, Canada, and Chicago.
Episode 3 - Sunday, 1.12.13, features families in Australia and Beauval,Canada.
Episode 4 - Sunday, 8.12.13, features families in Arizona and New Zealand.
Episode 5 - Sunday, 15.12.13, features families in Detroit and Arizona.
Episode 6 - Sunday, 22.12.13, features families in Virginia.
Not long ago I came across an old article titled “Isle of Irish despair,” by S. Kingsmill, and V. Wilkinson. Canadian Geographic, January/February 1992, 112(1):78-83.
I was surprised to learn that one of the islands we saw from Île d’Orleans last summer, had such a tragic history, for being Canada’s first quarantine station for Irish immigrants. The article recalls the “Summer of Sorrow,” when nearly 100,000 Irish immigrants arrived in Grosse Île, situated 50 kilometers downriver from Quebec City. It tells of the Irish immigration to North America in the 19th century, of people fleeing famine in Ireland and bringing sickness with them, those that survived the ocean crossing faced the quarantine on the island. It is estimated that 5,400 people died at Grosse Île during the summer of 1847.
If you are interested in learning more, check Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/qc/grosseile/natcul/natcul1/b.aspx
You can also see Newspapers reports from 1847 where are listed all the ships that docked at Grosse Île:
Until next time / Go dtí an chéad uair eile!
