A TOTAL of 190 descendants of the Peter Robinson settlers travelled from Canada and the United States to the Ballyhoura region for a historic homecoming that, for the first time on Irish soil, formally recognised the origins and communities behind the 1823 and 1825 Peter Robinson Emigration Scheme.
The week-long voyage, from September 15 to 21, spanned heritage tours, community gatherings, a conference on the emigration scheme, and a commemoration ceremony at the Griston bog and woodland.
From community halls and heritage centres to churches, graveyards, and rambling houses, Ballyhoura’s communities opened their doors and their hearts – offering music, stories, tea and time.
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin was present for the unveiling of two custom plaques – one to remain in Ireland and one to travel with visitors back over the pond.
There was a moving finale at Griston Bog, as descendants of the historic settlers read letters written two centuries ago and a native oak was planted. Dedication plaques now mark Griston Bog as a place of memory and reflection.
“This has been a powerful week in Ballyhoura, honouring the 1823 and 1825 emigrants and recognising the communities from which they came,” the Taoiseach said.
“We acknowledge the pain of parting, the strength of those who left, and the steadfastness of those who remained. The Ireland–Canada connection is not abstract — it is lived in families, in scholarship, in art, and in welcome.
“The plaques and the tree at Griston Bog will stand as lasting markers of our shared past and a hopeful future.”
