'It is a great honour': Cork historian to lead St Patrick's Day parade in Canadian city

Christy Roche from Fermoy will be the grand marshal of the Peterborough parade in Ontario in honour of his research on the 2,000 Irish settlers who took part in a 1825 immigration programme from Cork and Limerick

Christy Roche with a copy of his book 'From Whence They Came', at its launch at The Old Mill in Castletownroche. Picture: Noel Sweeney

A Cork historian will lead the St Patrick’s Day parade in a city in Canada on Sunday, in recognition of the work he has done in helping descendants of a resettlement programme from Munster to Canada.

Christy Roche from Fermoy will be the grand marshal of the Peterborough parade on Sunday as part of a number of events he will be attending over the coming week in the Canadian city.

Peterborough in Ontario was named after Peter Robinson, a Canadian politician who spearheaded the resettlement of more than 2,000 Irish settlers who took part in the 1825 immigration programme from Cork and Limerick. 

The settlers travelled to Canada on nine ships from Cobh. The majority of those who travelled were in family groupings, with all having to be recommended by local landlords before being accepted onto the scheme.

Mr Roche published a book last year on the scheme. A book signing will take place in Peterborough on Saturday evening. The book is entitled From Whence They Came: The Peter Robinson Settlers and was launched as part of a series of events to mark the 200th anniversary of the scheme.

Mr Roche will also give a talk on the Blackwater Valley on Monday in Peterborough.

He said: “It is a great honour — I found out about six weeks ago.” He said he has been in Peterborough a number of times, including last year during the bicentennial celebrations.

“I know a lot of people around the area now,” he said. "I am among friends and I am very much looking forward to it.” 

As well as researching the scheme itself, Mr Roche has worked with descendants of the settlers to help them find relatives in Ireland.

A group set up in Peterborough to mark the 200th anniversary of the scheme last year invited Mr Roche to lead this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade.

“Christy has visited the Peterborough area numerous times and has been a wonderful help to people visiting Ireland from our area who are wanting to learn more about the villages and families their ancestors came from,” said Brendan Moher, chairman of the Nine Ships 1825 committee.