Exploring connections
Louisbourg event looks at connections between here, Ireland
LOUISBOURG – The historic connection between the communities of Louisbourg and Louisburgh, County Mayo, Ireland, will be explored during a weekend-long event taking place at Fortress Louisbourg National Historic Site September 8-10.
The event, Louisbourg-Louisburgh Sea to Sea, will feature historic talks, live entertainment, social gatherings, fireworks and more.
According to the event’s Facebook page, the twinning of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, and Louisburgh, County Mayo, Ireland, “has roots stemming from the Seven Years War and the subsequent siege of Fortress of Louisbourg by the British military in 1758. Among the English attackers was an Irishman, Henry Browne, whose nephew John Denis Browne eventually became the 3rd Earl of Altamont in 1780. John Denis’ wife was Louisa Catherine Howe, who also had an ancestor involved in the siege of Louisbourg as a commander of a British regiment. These connections to the colonial town were most likely the reason that, in 1795, when Lord Altamont was organizing the community in County Mayo near Westport, he chose to call the town Louisburgh. This is a very unique situation of a European town being named for a colonial town.” The event recognizes this historic connection between the two communities and wants to create awareness of and foster Cape Breton’s cultural connection to Ireland.
Friday, September 8 features the following events:
5-7 p.m., Weekend kickoff social at the Louisbourg Playhouse
8-10 p.m., Irish Entertainment at the Louisbourg Playhouse featuring the MacArthur School of Dance with music by Matt Earhart and Debbie Keating.
Saturday, September 9 will feature the following events:
8 a.m. – 10 a.m.: Breakfast at St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church Hall
9:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m.: Trace your roots, Irish or otherwise, with the Cape Breton Genealogical and Historical Association at the Joseph Trimm Community Centre, Lower Level.
10:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m.: “Rascals enough upon the Island” The story of the abandonment of Irish convicts in Main-à-Dieu, by Charles Burke at the Joseph Trimm Community Centre
12 p.m.- 2 p.m.: Opening ceremony and unveiling of commemorative stone at the S& L Railway Station
1:15 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Irish Tour begins at de la Plagne #23, Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
2 p.m. -5 p.m.: Trace your roots, Irish or otherwise, with the Cape Breton Genealogical and Historical Association, Joseph Trimm Community Centre, Lower Level.
2:30 p.m. -3:30 p.m.: Hiking History Tour, with Charles Burke begins at de la Plagne #23, Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
5 p.m. -7 p.m.: Social gathering at Joseph Trimm Community Centre
8 p.m. -10 p.m.: Irish Descendants concert, and draw for trip to Ireland at Louisbourg Playhouse 10 p.m: Fireworks
Sunday, September 10 will feature the following events:
10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
Trace your roots, Irish or otherwise, with the Cape Breton Genealogical and Historical Association, at the McLennan Centre
10:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m.: Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
Ecumenical service in King’s Bastion Chapel
11:30 a.m. -12 p.m.: Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
Military Pageantry at the King’s Bastion
1:15 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site,
Irish Tour begins at de la Plagne #23
2:30 p.m. -3:30 p.m.: Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
Presentation on the Irish in Cape Breton by Ken Donovan, at the MacLennan Centre
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.: Joseph Trimm Community Centre, wrap up and social hosted by CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke.