The Iona Irish
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- SpeakerThe speaker’s introduction is indistinct due to poor audio.
- SpeakerThe speaker believes the Irish came to PEI due to a lack of opportunity and land, British oppression and the ongoing immigration. Also, many immigrants who were seasonal workers in the Newfoundland fishery stayed. Thus Iona’s Irish immigrants came directly from Ireland or via Newfoundland. These Irish immigrants were not destitute. The speaker uses a visual to name the counties of origin for the Irish immigrants.
- SpeakerUsing Father Burke’s notes, the speaker states Newtown’s first settler was Pat Morrisey in 1820 from Waterford and Iona’s was Martin Daly from Wexford in 1826. Using Iona’s tombstones the speaker names other immigrants who came between 1828 and 1842. The speaker emphasises that all the Irish settlers in Iona came before the Great Famine of 1845-1848 and paid their own way.
- SpeakerUsing the 1841 census the speaker reviews the occupations of the Iona Irish. After listing the family names, the speaker notes that there were 31 families living in Iona recorded in the 1841 census and 14 additional family names noted in the 1861 census.
- SpeakerThe speaker explains that Iona has been known as Newtown, Valley, Montague Cross and Irish Montague. The schools were known as Montague East and Montague West until the 1960’s when it became Iona School. The speaker notes that in 1901 Father James Phelan gave the area the name Iona after the Scottish island Iona.
- SpeakerThe speaker’s voice is indistinct as he discusses a visual showing the location of the island of Iona.
- SpeakerThe speaker tells that Saint Columba landed on the island of Iona in 563 to establish a monastery with the intent of Christianizing Scotland. The speaker also notes that Iona is involved in small-scale farming and more recently tourism.
- SpeakerThe speaker continues explaining that the Columba’s missionaries left Iona and traveled throughout Scotland, northern England and beyond. Columba died in 597 and was buried on Iona, but later reburied in Kells 250 years later. Columba’s monastery was destroyed and rebuilt in the 12th century allowing Iona to become the ecumencial community it is today.
- SpeakerThe speaker explains that Belfast’s first Scottish settlers arrived in 1803 and were able to buy land from Lord Selkirk who had already bought out lots 57, 58, 60, and 61. This was not an option for settlers elsewhere on PEI and may not have been a possibility for the Iona Irish settlers before the 1875 Land Purchase Act.
- SpeakerThe speaker recounts the Belfast Riot which took place during the 1847 By Election. The speaker names the three men who died from their injuries. Some of those involved in the Riot were from Iona. The speaker speculates that factors contributing to the riot included drinking, open voting, outsider agitators, religious differences and the land question. The voting was suspended and held a few weeks later without incident.
- SpeakerThe speaker reviews Iona’s three catholic churches and parish house and all the resident priests who served from 1884 to 1986. The speaker highlights the community hall built in 1914, and the local store which operated for 115 years. It was established in 1875 by the O’Connell family. Starting in 1893 Joe McCabe and then his daughter Mary McCabe ran the store with Leo and Florence O’Shea running it from 1963 until recently.
- SpeakerThe speaker says that the area’s schools were known as Montague West and Montague East and in 1960’s they became Iona West and Iona East. Since the consolidation of schools the students have attended school in Belfast or Montague.
- SpeakerThe speaker reviews in detail the 18 priests who were from Iona, as well as religious brothers, and sisters. The speaker also notes the doctors, lawyers and teachers who came from Iona. However, the speaker emphasizes that those who stayed home to work or went away to work were also very important to the community.
- SpeakerThe speaker begins to highlight a few of Iona’s Irish personalities beginning with Patrick Stevens. He arrived in 1842 from Dublin with a letter of recommendation from Daniel O’Connell dated August 16, 1842. The speaker reads the letter.
- SpeakerStevens was instrumental in building Iona’s first church. His wife, Mary Mathew, was a cousin to Theobald Mathew and many of the Iona immigrants had taken the abstinence pledge. The speaker reviews James Phelan's life as a teacher and a priest in Iona and the diocese. He named the Iona train station Fodhla in 1905. The speaker introduces James Daley Sr, and his sons Dr Joe Daley and Dr Authur Daley.
- SpeakerThe speaker introduces Pat Bulger who was noted for his teaching and his penmanship. The speaker shows a sample of Bulger’s handwriting. Using a Massey Harris ad dated August 30, 1904 the speaker points out that Iona was referred to as Montague Cross.
- SpeakerThe speaker continues by quoting a school inspector’s description of Bulger’s technique for hand writing. Using Sir Andrew MacPhail’s book, “The Master’s Wife” the speaker tells about Bulger as a fiddler, creator of fiddle tunes and fiddle maker.
- SpeakerThe speaker reads “Notes from Iona” published in a newspaper on September 5, 1904. The letter references teachers Michael Connolly, P J McKenna, and P J Bulger, blacksmith L Byrne, store keeper and post master J McCabe, and pastor Rev. James Phelan. The letter ends lamenting the loss of potential to the community by young people who leave.
- SpeakerIn conclusion the speaker notes that Iona was an integrated community of Irish Catholics and a few Scottish Protestant families. He names peddlers, school inspectors, farmers, fishermen and cattle buyers. The speaker also notes that protestants had a presence in Catholic community events and Catholic funerals.
- SpeakerTape drop
- SpeakerThe speaker ends by highlighting the Iona’s landscape, community elements including the Experimental Farm plots and the train, and the people of a more recent time as well as the experience of the early settlers.
- SpeakerThe speaker ends his lecture.
- SpeakerBreak time with background sounds recorded.
- SpeakerFollowing the break, the audience questions are difficult to discern. The speaker's responses include references to microfilm records, Father Clare MacDonald from Cardigan, the source of the speaker’s letters, Clark’s Store, Steven’s Store, Mrs John O’Shea from Kerry, James Farrel as teacher and priest, and the five Phelan priests.
- SpeakerThe speaker is thanked.