Ireland Canada Homecoming 2025 Remembering the Peter Robinson Settlers of the Ballyhoura Region - 200th Anniversary Join us for a week-long commemoration marking 200 years since the Peter Robinson Settler Emigration Scheme to Canada. This special event honours the hundreds of resilient families from the Ballyhoura Region and wider Munster area who embarked on a brave journey to build new lives across the Atlantic. In 1823 and 1825, these settler families set sail from Cobh to Ontario, where they established a new life in what we know today as Peterborough. Moving from one complex economic and political crisis to another, their remarkable stories of resilience and determination live on through their diaspora worldwide. We invite you to join us for the commemorative events scheduled for September 2025 as we celebrate this significant chapter in Irish-Canadian history. Gala Lunch & Tour of Lough Gur Monday September 15th, 2025 12 PM - 3 PM Kick off a week of commemoration with a complimentary Gala Lunch at Deebert House Hotel, Kilmallock. Enjoy local produce while connecting with fellow descendants and the local community. 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM After lunch, delve into the rich history of Lough Gur, the earliest known site of Neolithic settlement in Ireland, and explore the beliefs, traditions, and folklore of your ancestors. Tickets available on Eventbrite Galtee Origins Experience Tour Tuesday, September 16th 2025, 9 AM - 4:30 PM This full-day, immersive tour will take in the key settler communities of Mitchelstown, Doneraile, Kilbehenny, Kilfinane and Ballyporeen (Templetenny). Walk in the footsteps of your ancestors, taking in the lands of the Kingston Estate and St Leger Estate Doneraile. Reconnect with your communities of origin – meet with local people, experience local history and historic graveyards and visit some of the sites pertinent to you and your ancestors. Tickets available on Eventbrite Golden Vale Origins Experience Tour Tuesday, September 16th 2025, 9 AM - 4:30 PM Walk in the footsteps of your ancestors, in this full-day, immersive experience taking in the lands of Charleville, Doneraile, Churchtown, Liscarroll, Milford, Newtownshandrum and Colmanswell. Reconnect with your communities or origin – meet with local people, experience local history and visit some of the sites pertinent to you and your ancestors. Tickets available on Eventbrite Avondhu – Blackwater Origins Experience Tour (County Cork) Wednesday, 17th September 2025, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Enjoy this full day, immersive tour taking in the key settler communities of Mallow, Fermoy, Kilworth, Rathcormac and Ballyhooly. Walk in the footsteps of your ancestors while reconnecting with your communities of origin. Meet with local people, experience local history and visit some of the sites pertinent to you and your ancestors. Tickets are available on Eventbrite Journey to the "Port of Cove" Experience Tour (County Cork) Thursday, 18th September 2025, 8 AM- 5 PM This very special tour is designed to follow the journey of the settlers to their final departure point at the "Port of Cove". In collaboration with the Cobh Heritage Centre and Cobh Titanic Trails, this tour focuses on Ireland's emigration story, as well as the emigrant stories of your ancestors. Note: There will be free time to grab lunch and explore Cove before returning. Tickets available on Eventbrite Treaty – Kingdom Experience Tour (Counties Limerick and Kerry) Friday, 19th September 2025, 8 AM - 5 PM This full day immersive and scenic tour will take you across East Limerick, West Limerick and Kerry and incorporating parts of the beautiful Kerry coastline. Walk in the footsteps of your ancestors, while reconnecting with your communities of origin taking in the key settler communities of Dingle, Listowel, and communities in East and West Limerick. Meet with local people, experience local history and visit some of the sites pertinent to you and your ancestors. Tickets available on Eventbrite Peter Robinson Settlers Commemoration Concert Friday, 19th Sep 2025 8 PM - 10 PM Promising a memorable evening, this concert will take place in Saint George’s Arts & Heritage Centre in Mitchelstown, featuring beautiful performances of traditional Irish music, song, dance, and heritage. . The Commemoration Concert is free, ticket cost is a contribution to the associated overheads costs. Tickets available on Eventbrite Peter Robinson Settlers Emigration Scheme Conference Saturday, 20th September 2025, 10 AM - 5 PM Saint George’s Arts and Heritage Centre, Mitchelstown will host this full-day conference, where you will hear from guest speakers and lecturers as well as a panel discussion. Join with international and national speakers in addressing some of the key themes and factors surrounding this emigration scheme. The conference will be held in the beautifully restored Saint George’s Church, which is associated with 38 Settler families. This is a wonderful opportunity to find out more about one of the most successful emigration programmes. Download the Conference Programme Tickets available on Eventbrite Commemoration of the Peter Robinson Settlers at Griston Bog & Woodland Sunday, 21st September 2025, 10 AM - 4 PM The Commemoration Ceremony at Griston Bog and Woodland is the final event of this weeklong commemoration. Music will greet you upon arrival in Ballylanders, with smaller groups transported by bus to Griston Bog and Woodland. Here, the ‘Woodland Dedication’ will take place to remember and commemorate the Peter Robinson Settler families of 1823 and 1825. This is an immersive, creative experience that will be managed in small groups across the bogland finalising with a commemoration ceremony and tree planting on site. In collaboration with Ballyhoura Heritage and Environment, Síolta Glasa and Ballylanders Community. Lunch (included), closing remarks and a Taste of Ballyhoura Experience will be held at Ballylanders GAA Hall. Please note for independent travellers that parking is both limited at the venue and limited at the woodland location. On street parking is available in the village of Ballylanders. Tickets available on Eventbrite “The Robinson Experiment” An Epic North Cork tale of hope, fear and resilience Schoolyard Theatre, Old Limerick Road Charleville, 15th - 21st September, 8 PM Step back in time and experience the newly commissioned “The Robinson Experiment” with CallBack theatre, premiering for this week-long event and showing on selected evenings across the week. Tickets available on Eventbrite Download the Full Programme of the Ireland Canada Homecoming 2025 Wreath Laying Ceremony Wreath Laying in Cobh Marks 200 Years Since Peter Robinson Emigration Read More Peter Robinson - News & Resources Find out more about the Peter Robinson Emigration Scheme Read more Discover Ballyhoura Walking & Cycling Guide for Visitors Booking for this event has now closed. Manage Cookie Preferences