Valley Irish (to Carleton, Lanark & Renfrew Counties, Upper Canada)

By Carol Bennett-McCuaig (text) and D W McCuaig (photos)

Carol Bennett has documented the Irish settlement in the old District of Bathurst (part of the modern counties of Carleton, Lanark and Renfrew in Ontario, Canada), drawing on the history of nineteenth century Ireland to explain why the people left their native land, and how these events affected the Ottawa Valley. In addition, she has profiled a cross-section of the old families of the area. Browse the Index to see which families are included.

What would the Ottawa Valley be without the Irish? Between the years 1818 and 1868 they came here in their thousands, both Protestant and Catholic, from every county in the Emerald Isle. They left Ireland for many different reasons, and their arrival helped to shape the destiny of this part of Canada.

These stories are invaluable to genealogists and local history enthusiasts.

D.W. McCuaig's photographs of Ireland and the Ottawa Valley interspersed with a few heritage photos for contrast, will enable the reader to compare the two landscapes as they are today (1983).

Contents include:

• Introduction - Valley Irish
• The first settlers - how they came
• They killed my father on Vinegar Hill
• The Peter Robinson Settlers
• The Great Famine
• On the move
• In memory of Ireland
• Mount St. Patrick
• Tales of the Mountain
• Springtown
• Morphy's Falls - Carleton Place
• Settlers
• Historical sketches of towns, villages and townships focused on Irish families and individuals.
• News from home
• The Orange Order
• The Fenian Raids
• A bid for independence
• A lost child
• The Ballyghiblin story - Carleton Place
• The pioneer priest
• Tragedy in the West
• News from the paper
• The Rock of Cashel
• The St. Patrick's Society
• Is this a record? [stories of individual families and people]
• To serve their country
• They served the Church
• Irish wit and humour
• On being Irish [more accounts of individual families and people]
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Map - The Bathurst District
• Map - The counties of Ireland
• Index (click here to view complete Index)

After decades of being out of print, Valley Irish is available once again in its complete original format under an exclusive publishing agreement with the author's heirs. The only change to the original book is the illustration on the front cover.

Details:

• 114 Pages
  
• 8-1/2 x 11"
  
• Photographs
• Maps
• Softcover - Coilbound
  
• Originally published by Juniper Books, Renfrew, 1982 under ISBN 0-919137-07-5
  
• This new edition published by Global Heritage Press, Ottawa, 2022 under ISBN 978-1-77240-197-4