Canada-Ireland 180 at a glance

• Year: 2027
• Anniversary: 180 years since 1847
• Historical connection: Irish Famine migration to Canada
• Key location: Grosse Île, Quebec
• Major migration year: 1847
• More than 100,000: Irish people migrated to Canada in 1847

For visitors to Dublin who want to learn more about the Irish Famine, the Irish Famine Exhibition in Dublin explores the history of the Great Famine and the mass emigration that followed, including the journeys of Irish people who left for Canada, the United States, Britain and Australia.

If you are planning a visit to Dublin, see our guide to things to do in Dublin for museums, historic sites, parks and other attractions.

2027 marks an important anniversary in the shared history of Ireland and Canada. Canada-Ireland 180 commemorates 180 years since 1847, the year that became one of the defining moments in the history of the Irish Famine and Irish migration to Canada.

In 1847, more than 100,000 Irish people travelled to Canada as the Great Famine devastated Ireland. Many were fleeing hunger, poverty and disease and hoping to find safety and a better future.

For many, however, the journey to Canada was extremely difficult. Thousands died during the Atlantic crossing or after arriving in Canada, particularly during the terrible typhus epidemic of 1847.

Canada-Ireland 180 is planned to take place throughout 2027, bringing renewed attention to the history, culture and enduring connections between Ireland and Canada.

What is Canada-Ireland 180?

Canada-Ireland 180 is a major cultural and commemorative initiative taking place in 2027.

It marks 180 years since 1847, a defining year in the history of the Irish Famine and the mass migration of Irish people to Canada.

The initiative was launched by the governments of Ireland and Canada and will include cultural, artistic, historical and community activities across Canada. The Irish Government describes it as a programme centred on remembering, reflecting and reimagining the relationship between the two countries.

The Canadian Government has also announced support of up to C$2 million for Canada-Ireland 180. The initiative is intended to highlight the shared history and cultural connections between the two countries.

But to understand why 2027 is significant, it is necessary to go back to 1847.

Why is 1847 important to Ireland and Canada?

The year 1847 was one of the worst years of the Great Irish Famine.

The potato blight had devastated Ireland's main food crop, while millions of people were already living in poverty and heavily dependent on the potato.

As the crisis deepened, large numbers of Irish people were forced to leave their homes.

Many travelled to Britain, the United States and Canada.

Canada became one of the major destinations for Irish emigrants during the Famine.

The Irish Government states that more than 100,000 Irish people migrated to Canada in 1847, making the year a defining moment in the shared history of the two countries.

For this reason, Canada-Ireland 180 is not simply an anniversary of diplomatic relations between two countries. It is also an opportunity to remember the people who made the desperate journey across the Atlantic during the Great Famine.

The Irish Famine migration to Canada

The journey from Ireland to Canada could take many weeks.

Ships carrying emigrants crossed the Atlantic in difficult conditions. Many passengers were already weakened by hunger and disease before they left Ireland.

In 1847, the scale of migration was unprecedented.

At Grosse Île, the quarantine station serving the Port of Québec, more than 100,000 immigrants arrived during the season. Most were Irish.

Parks Canada records that many arrived suffering from malnutrition, starvation and infectious disease. Typhus soon reached epidemic proportions.

The consequences were devastating.

More than 5,000 people died at sea, while 5,424 people were buried at Grosse Île in 1847. Thousands more died in Canadian cities including Québec, Montréal and Kingston.

For this reason, Grosse Île has become one of the most important places associated with the Irish Famine in Canada.

Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial

Today, Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site stands as an important place of remembrance.

Grosse Île is an island in the St Lawrence River in Quebec. From 1832 to 1937 it operated as a quarantine station for the Port of Québec.

During the terrible events of 1847, the island received huge numbers of Irish immigrants fleeing the Famine.

More than 5,000 people were buried there.

A Celtic Cross was erected on the island in 1909 to commemorate the Irish immigrants who died during this tragic period.

The story of Grosse Île is therefore an important part of the wider story of Ireland and Canada's shared Famine history.

Why was 1847 known as Black '47?

The year 1847 is often remembered as Black '47, because of the extraordinary suffering and mortality experienced in Ireland during the Great Famine.

The famine migration to Canada was closely connected with this terrible year.

People did not leave Ireland simply because they wanted to travel.

For many, emigration was a desperate attempt to escape starvation, eviction, poverty and disease.

Some families sold what little they had to pay for passage.

Others were assisted by landlords, charities or relatives already living abroad.

Many never reached their destination.

Those who survived the journey often arrived in Canada exhausted and in poor health.

The scale of the migration placed enormous pressure on Canadian ports, quarantine facilities and communities.

The voyage to Canada

The Atlantic crossing could itself be dangerous.

Some vessels carrying Irish emigrants were poorly suited to carrying large numbers of passengers. Voyages could last for many weeks, and disease spread rapidly in crowded conditions.

Parks Canada records that the average crossing in 1847 was around 45 days, while some voyages took more than 60 days.

When the ships reached the St Lawrence, passengers still faced quarantine.

At Grosse Île, medical staff attempted to deal with an enormous number of sick and exhausted arrivals.

The quarantine station was overwhelmed.

Ships sometimes had to wait offshore while passengers waited for inspection and medical attention.

The tragedy of 1847 therefore continued even after the emigrants had left Ireland.

The Irish in Canada

The story of Irish migration to Canada did not end with the Famine.

Those who survived established communities throughout Canada.

Irish immigrants and their descendants became part of Canadian society, contributing to communities, churches, politics, business, culture and public life.

Over time, Irish Canadians became an important part of Canada's national and cultural history.

This long-term legacy is one reason Canada-Ireland 180 looks beyond the events of 1847.

The initiative is intended not only to remember the Famine migration, but also to reflect on the contribution of Irish people to Canada over the following 180 years.

Canada and Ireland's shared history

The relationship between Ireland and Canada reaches far beyond the Great Famine.

However, the events of 1847 created one of the most powerful links between the two countries.

For thousands of Irish families, Canada became the place where a new life began.

For their descendants, the story of the Famine migration remains part of their family history.

Today, many Canadians can trace their ancestry back to people who left Ireland during the Famine.

This is particularly significant for people researching Irish family history.

A surname, county of origin, passenger record or family story can sometimes provide a connection between a Canadian family and an Irish community that existed more than 175 years ago.

Canada-Ireland 180 and the Irish diaspora

The Irish diaspora in Canada is an important part of the story being remembered in 2027.

The Taoiseach has described Canada's Irish community as an important part of the relationship between the two countries, with more than 15% of Canadians identifying as having Irish heritage.

For people of Irish descent living in Canada, Canada-Ireland 180 provides an opportunity to explore the history of their ancestors and the circumstances that brought them across the Atlantic.

For visitors to Ireland, it also provides an opportunity to understand one of the most important consequences of the Great Famine: the transformation of Ireland through mass emigration.

What will happen during Canada-Ireland 180 in 2027?

Canada-Ireland 180 is planned as a year-long programme of cultural and commemorative activities.

The initiative will involve artists, historians, academics, cultural organisations and communities.

The programme is expected to include artistic performances, cultural events, exhibitions, heritage activities and other projects across Canada.

The three themes associated with the initiative are:

Remember

Remembering the people who experienced the Famine and the dangerous migration of 1847.

Reflect

Reflecting on the 180 years of Irish contribution to Canadian history, culture and society.

Reimagine

Looking towards the future relationship between Ireland and Canada through cultural, community and other partnerships.

These themes connect the events of 1847 with the relationship between the two countries today.

Ireland and Canada: a shared Famine story

The story of the Irish Famine is sometimes presented primarily as an Irish story.

But the effects of the Famine extended far beyond Ireland.

Hundreds of thousands of Irish people left the country.

They travelled to Britain, North America, Australia and elsewhere.

Canada became one of the most important destinations.

The events of 1847 left a lasting mark on Canadian communities, particularly in Quebec and along the St Lawrence River.

Grosse Île became a place of both tragedy and remembrance.

The famine migration also helped shape the Irish Canadian community that exists today.

This is why Canada-Ireland 180 is so closely connected to the history of the Irish Famine.

Visiting Ireland and learning about the Irish Famine

For visitors to Ireland who want to understand the Great Famine in Ireland, Dublin provides an important starting point.

The Irish Famine changed Irish society permanently.

It resulted in widespread death, poverty, eviction and emigration and had a profound effect on Ireland's population and culture.

The story can also be followed beyond Ireland through the experiences of Irish emigrants in Canada, the United States, Britain and Australia.

For Canadian visitors with Irish ancestry, exploring the Famine story while visiting Ireland can provide a deeper connection to the history of their own families.

Canada-Ireland 180 and the future

In 2027, Ireland and Canada will look back 180 years to 1847.

It was a year marked by hunger, disease, death and mass migration.

But it was also the beginning of new lives for many Irish people who eventually settled in Canada.

Their descendants became part of Canadian society, while the connection between Ireland and Canada continued to develop over generations.

Canada-Ireland 180 provides an opportunity to remember that history and to explore the continuing relationship between the two countries.

For anyone interested in the Irish Famine, Irish immigration to Canada, Irish genealogy, Grosse Île, 1847 or Irish Canadian history, 2027 will be a particularly significant year.

FAQ section

I would put an FAQ near the bottom of the article, immediately before your exhibition promotion.

Use these questions:

What is Canada-Ireland 180?

Canada-Ireland 180 is a 2027 cultural and commemorative initiative marking 180 years since 1847 and celebrating the historic and continuing relationship between Ireland and Canada.

Why is 1847 important to Canada and Ireland?

1847 was one of the worst years of the Great Irish Famine. More than 100,000 Irish people migrated to Canada that year, many fleeing hunger, poverty and disease.

How many Irish people migrated to Canada during the Famine?

More than 100,000 Irish people migrated to Canada in 1847 alone, making it one of the largest movements of Irish people to Canada during the Great Famine.

What was Grosse Île?

Grosse Île was a quarantine station in Quebec that received large numbers of Irish emigrants during the Great Famine. Thousands of Irish people died there in 1847 from disease and the effects of starvation.

What was Black '47?

Black '47 is the name commonly given to 1847, one of the most devastating years of the Great Irish Famine, when hunger, disease, death and mass emigration reached catastrophic levels.

Why is Canada-Ireland 180 being celebrated in 2027?

2027 marks 180 years since 1847, when more than 100,000 Irish people migrated to Canada during the Great Famine. The programme provides an opportunity to remember this history and celebrate the continuing relationship between Ireland and Canada.

Where can I learn about the Irish Famine in Dublin?

The Irish Famine Exhibition tells the story of Irelands Great Famine through historical photographs, documents, newspaper accounts, personal stories and original artefacts.

The exhibition also explores the mass emigration that followed the Famine, including the journeys of Irish people who left for Canada, the United States, Britain and Australia.

For Canadian visitors and people researching Irish ancestry, the story of the Famine migration provides an important link between Ireland and Canada.

Canada-Ireland 180 in 2027 is a reminder that the story of the Irish Famine did not end when people left Ireland. It continued across the Atlantic and became part of Canada's history too.