A new book by local historian Christy Roche, was launched on Thursday last, detailing the tale of the Peter Robinson Settlers.
In the 1820s, around 2,500 people, many of whom hailed from Mitchelstown, Fermoy and surrounding areas, emigrated to Canada through a scheme sponsored by the British Government. The launch of Mr Roche’s book, titled ‘From Whence They Came’, is apt, given that around 100 Canadian descendants of the Peter Robinson Settlers are set to descend upon the region in September as part of a ‘homecoming’ event, with Duoro in Canada recently celebrating 200 years since its foundation.
HONOURING OUR ANCESTORS
Speaking at the launch, Mr Roche said that the scheme was a ‘tremendous success’, with many farmers and labourers travelling to Canada, where they were given 70 acres per family and to this day, graveyards in the Peterborough area are populated largely with people of Irish heritage.
Full story in this week’s Print & Digital Edition.
