Waterford Newfoundland heritage connections explored in seminar
Attending were Mayor Seamus Ryan, L to R Paddy Dwan, Niall Wall, Joanne Rothwell, Dr. Eugene Broderick, Cllr, Pat Nugent, Kieran Cronin, SETU. Photo: John Power
The connections between Waterford and Newfoundland were explored recently at a seminar in Waterford's, City Hall.
Speaking at the event Archivist, Joanne Rothwell, noted how "Waterford exported not just salt, but salt of the earth in the people, that emigrated from the City and surrounding counties".
The Waterford-Newfoundland Heritage Connections Seminar was attended by over 160 people including members of St. Teresa’s Parish Choir from St. John’s in Newfoundland. Those in attendance enjoyed a series of presentations on the history of social, economic and cultural connections between the two regions.
Opening the seminar, Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Seamus Ryan recounted his recent trip to Newfoundland, and commented: "We visited St. John’s and the Cape Shore and were welcomed with wonderful hospitality as we celebrated our shared culture and heritage in story, song and sense of place."
"We remarked on the great similarities in the natural environment, the placenames, the people, the family names and musical traditions," he said.
"When on Signal Hill in St. John’s we could have been on Bilberry Hill in Waterford, when in Branch we could have been in Dunmore East or Helvick Harbour," he added.
Dr. Eugene Broderick gave a fascinating presentation on migration to 'Talamh an Éisc', how the SE had a well-established connection with Newfoundland with seasonal migration of over 30,000 people from Waterford, Wexford, South Tipperary, Carlow and Kilkenny in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to work on the cod fisheries
He reflected on the historical, political links with Waterford focusing on the first Catholic Mayor of Waterford, Thomas Meagher and how his Newfoundland heritage influenced his political and charitable outlook, for the benefit of Waterford and its citizens.
Kieran Cronin, of SETU, gave an excellent presentation on the Saunders and Sweetman families and the fisheries of Placentia Bay. He also detailed the archival resources available and his work visiting The Rooms Museum and Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
A spokesperson for Waterford City & County Council said Ms Rothwell explained how the social and economic ties between the south east of Ireland and Newfoundland helped the economic development of Waterford City and paid for many of its fine 19th century merchant houses.
Waterford merchant families who traded in Newfoundland invested their money in the development of Waterford.
Quaker and Catholic merchants utilised the Newfoundland trade to build a better place for themselves in Waterford society.
"It was also noted how Waterford Corporation leveraged the need for those families to build their new prosperous houses and premises to both build new infrastructure and to improve existing infrastructure," said the Council spokesperson.
Traditional singer Niall Wall regaled the audience with Ireland and Newfoundland’s shared musical heritage and the audience broke into chorus as he sang 'Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary’s'.
The presentations were then followed by choral performances with St. Teresa’s Parish Choir directed by Noreen Greene-Fraize and the choir from St. Joseph directed by Joe Beirne.
"A photo exhibition by Paddy Dwan marking the 20th anniversary of the 2005 Tall Ships Festival to Waterford provided a lovely backdrop to the seminar and was complemented by a specially penned poem, 'Sail', by poet Mark Roper to mark the event and the visit to Waterford by the choir from Newfoundland," said the spokesperson.
The event was part of Waterford City and County Council’s Heritage Office Event programme and funded by Creative Ireland.
