At Home and Abroad

Patrick Leahy: Douro 200 Year Celebrations We can trace our strong community identity to 1825, and in some ways earier. As many of you may know, about 50 Irish families settled in Douro Township in the fall of 1825 as part of the larger Peter Robinson Emigration. Several Irish families were granted land in the northern stretches of Otonabee township, and from the very beginning they too were very much part of the Douro Irish community. What is unique about the Douro families of 1825 is that almost 80% of them came from within a 15km radius of the Parish of Brigown in the north-east of County Cork, As such, they brought with them a strongly shared identity of their own history, local culture, and way of life. These were people that knew each other, and knew how to work and he together. They valued community life, and have passed that on to us. Nor did the story end there. In the decades that followed, friends, family, and neighbours from Cork, Tipperary, and Limerick made their way to Douro, to a community that they could feel at ease in and offered them greater chances than in an Ireland beset by famine, violence, and economic uncertainty. The period of the Irish Famine saw families from across Ireland, in counties such as Westmeath, Sligo, and Fermanagh come to Douro, where they still have descendants today. Similar additions to our community have continued through the twentieth century and up until today, with several farming families leaving post-war Europe; setting down roots and making a strong contribution to our community. Today, families from numerous different backgrounds have found their home in the Douro community, adding a greater diversity of culture and experience. We hope that this weekend's events help display this legacy of agriculture, faith, music, family, and community. Even more so, we hope that this is an opportunity for younger generations to connect with their past, and find inspiration to move forward into the future. Above all, thank you to everyone who has made this weekend happen. Through contributions of time, effort, financial support, or participation, you are what makes Douro a unique and special place to live, as it has been for two hundred years.