200th anniversary of Peter Robinson Emigration to be marked in Cork

Local volunteers, businesses, and community leaders from across the Ballyhoura Region are preparing for the upcoming Ireland Canada Homecoming.

Organised by Ballyhoura Development CLG, the event will welcome over 150 international guests from Canada and the United States from September 15 to 21, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Peter Robinson Emigration.

The Homecoming honours the journey of over 2,500 Irish men, women, and children who emigrated to Upper Canada in 1825, and a week-long programme will reconnect descendants with the communities their ancestors once called home.

Amanda Slattery, development manager at Ballyhoura Development, expressed her gratitude to all involved: “The local voluntary effort going into presenting this programme is hugely impressive.

“We thank all the local communities, volunteers, and businesses for giving their time and support to reignite this almost forgotten piece of our local history. One that has been strengthened by the ongoing support of our Canadian friends in Nine Ships 1825 Inc., linking 200 years of shared heritage across the Atlantic.”

Programme highlights include community tours across Charleville, Liscarroll, Churchtown, Doneraile, Newtownshandrum, Milford, Colmanswell, Mitchelstown, Ballyporeen, Kilbehenny, Kildorrery, Kilfinane, Kilworth, Fermoy, Rathcormac, Ballyhooly, Castletownroche, and Mallow.

There will also be a heritage tour to the Port of Cobh and the Cobh Heritage Centre – the departure point of the 11 ships that carried the settlers to Canada in 1823 and 1825.

Guests will be based in Mitchelstown, Kilmallock, Doneraile, Charleville and the surrounding areas, with up to 20 local accommodation providers hosting international visitors.

Evening events will be open to the public, offering locals a unique opportunity to engage with this historic occasion.

A new theatrical production by Callback theatre, will be held September 15 to 21 nightly at 8pm, at the Schoolyard Theatre, Charleville, while a Peter Robinson Settler Commemoration Concert will take place on September 19 at Saint George’s Arts and Heritage Centre, Mitchelstown.

On September 20, the Peter Robinson Emigration Conference in the Mitchelstown centre will be opened by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and His Excellency Dennis King, Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, with guest speakers from Ireland, Canada, and the US.