An Irish Heart: How A Small Immigrant Community Shaped Canada

by Sharon Doyle Driedger

During the Great Famine of the 1840s, thousands of impoverished Irish immigrants, escaping from the potato crop failure, fled to Canada on what came to be known as “fever ships.” As the desperate arrivals landed at Quebec City or nearby Grosse Isle, families were often torn apart. Parents died of typhus and children were put up for adoption, while lucky survivors travelled on to other destinations. Many people made their way up the St. Lawrence to Montreal, where 6,000 more died in appalling conditions.
Despite these terrible beginnings, a thriving Irish settlement called Griffintown was born and endured in Montreal for over a century. The Irish became known for their skill as navvies, building our canals and bridges, working long hours in factories, raising large, close-knit families. This riveting story captures their strong faith, their dislike of authority, their love of drink, song and a good fight, and their loyalty.
Filled with personal recollections drawn from extensive author interviews, An Irish Heart recreates a community and a culture that has a place of distinction in our history. From D’Arcy McGee and Nellie McClung to the Montreal Shamrocks, Brian Mulroney and beyond, Irish Canadians have made their mark.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Canada

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Susan Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book but not all will - although I guess that's true about every book.

It is a non-fiction book about a portion of the Irish who emigrated to Montreal and settled in an enclave called Griffintown.

It is meticulously researched, which can often lead to simply a recitation of facts and figures. I didn't find it to be boring at all, with all this research.

The author starts with the situation in Ireland that lead to the massive emigration in the 1800's and then chronicles the lives of those who made it to and settled in, Griffintown.

I happen to be of Irish Catholic descent and have (and had) many relatives in Quebec so this whole topic was extremely interesting to me. While I knew a little bit of this history, this book enlightened me a lot.

So, who is it going to appeal to? Irish history buffs? History buffs in general? Those connected to Quebec, specifically Montreal? People who want to read about discrimination and bigotry? All those. The casual reader? Maybe not so much.

[Jessie]

Is it odd that the fact that the title is listed wrong bothers me?

[Maggie Toner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is extremely well researched and informative and played a part in helping me develop the parts of my book that take place in Montreal. There is also a great deal of information about Irish immigration to Canada overall. The manuscript was reviewed Peter Toner PHD, the great Canadian historian, specializing in Irish immigration to Canada. This is an excellent book for those wanting to understand how Irish communities developed in Canada.

[Doug Adamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. It is well-written and seems well-researched. I would take issue with the title because it, in my opinion, misleads one about the subject of the book. I thought it was about the Irish in and their impact on Canada. It was actually a history of a small village/town/suburb of Montreal. Still, it was an interesting read and worth recommending.

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only learned this year that I am at least 25% Irish. After a trip to Ireland this Spring I learned of the tragic history of the country.
I grew up in Montreal and am ashamed of the educational system here that completely ignored this chapter of Montreal.
I never knew about the tragic history and wonderful community sitting right under my nose.
I loved the book and I learned so much.

[Michael T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched with attention to detail. I picked this up in a bookstore in Montreal last fall. As a first born American of Irish immigrants in Woodside Queens NY, what was once a dominant hard working Irish community the book peaked my interest as I love Irish American history. This was great to see how Montreal specifically Griffintown came to be. I really enjoyed the history here.

[Raynald Provost · Rating 4 out of 5]

La somme d'une recherche assurément exhaustive, tout ce que l'autrice a pu trouver sur Griffintown, à Montréal comme anecdotes et histoires est vraiment extraordinaire. Les résidents et les anciens résidents vont adorer.

[Linda Brennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome, personal, read like fiction!

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a thoroughly researched biography of the history of the Irish living in Montreal...but I'm not entire sure it's a book that shows how this community helped to shape Canada. Montreal and Quebec, certainly...but I'm dubious about the grander claim of the title. Certainly, the focus on socio-industrial history in the pre-colonial era doesn't endear the book to me; both are topics that don't appeal to me in any great respect. Overall, it's an interesting book I admire, but no more than that. It just doesn't hit my personal history sweet spot.

[Ruthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting slice of Montreal's Irish immigrant history, but she basically says that all the Irish contributed was typhus, cholera, slums, a few churches and manual labour to dig canals and build railways. Not a very flattering portrayal!

[Luci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and informative.