Grosse Île Memorial Dedication Speech (1909)
Major E.T. McCrystal, delivered at Grosse Île, Québec
“Cailleadh Clann na nGael ina mílte ar an Oileán seo ar dteitheadh dhóibh ó dlíthe na dtíoránach ngallda agus ó ghorta tréanach insa blianta 1847-1848. Beannacht dílis Dé orthu. Bíodh an leacht seo i gcomhartha garma agus onóra dhóibh ó Ghaeil Ameriocá. Go saoraí Dia Éire.”
“Children of the Gael were lost in their thousands on this island having fled from the laws of foreign tyrants and intense famine in the years 1847-48. The loyal blessing of God upon them. Let this monument be a sign of their names and their honour from the Gaels of America. May God save Ireland."
Memorial Inscription, 1909
In 1909, a solemn ceremony of rememberence for the victims of the Great Famine was held on the bleak quarantine island of Grosse Île, “Oileán na nGael” in Irish. In attendance for the unveiling of a memorial cross were some of the Famine children who had been adopted as orphans by Québec families in 1847, many now only understanding French.
To this assembled crowd of Canadians, Major E.T. McCrystal delivered the following address. His speech was published, without translation, “for the benefit of those who understand the ancient tongue” across Canada.
Memorial erected in 1909 in commemoration of the death of Irish immigrants of 1849.
Adapted from: Jules-Ernest Livernois / Library and Archives Canada / PA-136924.
“A Cairde Dhílse
Sula rugadh an chuid is mó againn, cailleadh agus cuireadh faoin bhfód seo, níos mó ná dhá mhíle daoine déag. D’ár sliocht fein b’ iad. Rugadh insan oileán céanna ina rugadh ár seacht-sinsear romhainn iad. Bhí siad ag teitheadh ó dhlíthe na dtioránach, ó ghorta agus a phlá. Fuair siad an feabhras agus an bás ar na loing ina raibh siad bailithe, agus tá cuid díobh faoin bhféar anseo.
Ar feadh caogad blian’ bhí siad sínte ina luí anseo gan leacht nó comhartha le taispeáint don díbirtigh óga gurb Éireannaigh iad atá ag cur féir anseo ar feadh leath-aoise. Ba mhian le mórán daoine comhartha a thógáil suas lena gcuimhne a choimhéad ach níor tháinig rud éigin ar bith leis. Is minic a mhachnaigh na daoine maithe ar an chaoi ab’ fhearr, an obair naofa seo a dhéanamh ach ní raibh neart ar bith acu.
Bliain ó shin, ‘s ea, thug siad Coiste Gnótha Chumainn Ársa na nÉireannach, rún daingean go gcuirfeadh siad suas leacht mór breá a bheadh mar comhartha poiblí ar an áit ina bhfuil na díbirtigh as Éirinn ina gcodladh. Sé sin an t-ábhar go bhfuilimíd cruinnithe anseo inniu ó gach áit. Tá ár n-obair déanta againn. Tá an leacht seo mar comhartha ar Chríost, agus insan am céanna, mar rian buanchuimhne ar na daoine atá sínte anseo faoi.
Ach Ó, a mhuintirí! Ní h-iad seo na daoine amháin a cailleadh sna laethanta duibhe sin. Ní hea. Ó, ba dhorcha a bhí na blianta ocht gcéad déag, seacht is dáichead, agus ocht agus dáichead! D'éag na daoine bochta ina mílte agus cuireadh sa reilig iad gan comhra, gan cóiriú. Bhí an feabhras, agus an gorta tréasach, agus an bás ar ghach taobh dhíobh tríd na tíre. Tháinig eagla agus scanradh orthu agus theith siad ina mílte trasna an tsáile go hAimirice. Á, ba thrua a gcás! Dúradh go raibh a gcófra scaipithe in gach míle rian na loingeas ó fhág siad Éire chun gur shroich siad Aimirice.
Fuair siad léirscrios ón Sasanach is dócha linn – ní hea; táimid cinnte – go bhfuair siad síocháin le Dia ar Neamh. Tá tír ár ndúchais faoi bhrúid fós agus tá ár sliocht faoi scrios. Ach déarfainn libh, agus éist liom: chomh cinnte is atáimid anseo, chomh cinnte is atá an leacht os cionn ár marbh bocht, scriosta, ní ligfear as cuimhne na nGael an mhéid a rinne an Sasanach orainn agus tiocfaidh an lá – lá díoltais Dé – agus ar an lá úd, béidh cuid againn réidh chun buille a thabhairt ar son Éireann is a cúis.”*
“Dear Friends
Before the largest portion of us was born, more than twelve thousand people were lost and were put beneath the ground here. They were of our own people. They were born in the same island where seven generations of our ancestors before us were born. They were escaping from the laws of the tyrants, from famine and plague. They got the fever and died on the ships in which they were gathered, and a portion of them are beneath the grass here.
For fifty years they were stretched laying here without a monument or a symbol to show to the young people that they were Irish who are now growing the grass here for a half a century. Many people wished for a symbol to be put up to keep their memory but nothing came of it at all. Often the thoughts of the good people were on what way would be best, this saintly work to do, but they did not have the strength at all.
A year ago, yes, they gave the Business Committee of the Ancient Order of Hibernians a determined intent that they would put up a great, magnificent monument that would be as a public symbol on the place where those banished from Ireland are sleeping. That is the reason that we are gathered here today from every place. Our work is done. This monument is a symbol to Christ, and at the same time, as a permanent reminder of the people that are buried here below.
But Oh, people! The people here are not the only people who were lost in those black days. No. Oh, dark were the years eighteen hundred forty-seven and forty-eight! The poor people perished in the thousands and were put in the graveyards without coffin, without dressing. The fever, and the overwhelming hunger, and the death was on every side of them throughout the country. Fear and fright came on them and they escaped in the thousands across the sea to America. Ah, their case was pitiable! It was said that their coffins were scattered in every mile of the ships’ paths from when they left Ireland until they reached America.
That they were clearly destroyed by the English it is likely – no; we are certain – they found peace with God in Heaven. The land of our heritage is under a brute still and our people are in ruin. But I would say to you, and listen to me: as certain as we are here, as certain as this monument is above our poor dead, destroyed, what the English did to us will not be forgotten from the memory of the Gael and the day will come – a day of God’s vengeance – and on that day, we will be ready to strike a blow for the sake of Ireland and its cause.”*
Pádraig Ó Laighin, an alumnus of McGill University in Montreal, played a crucial role in garnering support within Québec for the designation of Grosse Île as a National Historic Site in honor of the Irish Gaels who lost their lives there. This achievement was realized in 1997. Additionally, Pádraig spearheaded the successful campaign to have Irish recognized as an official working language of the European Union in 2007.
*the language of this last passage must be understood in context, being in the era leading to the 1916 Irish Rebellion.
Adapted from: Jordan, J.A. 1909. The Grosse-Isle Tragedy and the Monument to the Irish Fever Victims, 1847. Telegraph Printing Company: Quebec. 97.
For citation, please use: McCrystal, E.T. 1909. “Grosse Île Memorial Dedication Speech” Ó Dubhghaill, Dónall. 2023. Na Gaeil san Áit Ró-Fhuar. Gaeltacht an Oileáin Úir: www.gaeilge.ca
