Irish in Toronto

Today, I’ll be chatting with William Jenkins, Associate Professor in the Department of History at York University here in Toronto. I got to know William through his immense work with the Canadian Association of Irish Studies who have enabled me to present my own research at previous conferences and will do so again this June in Galway. 

In this chat, we discuss how William came from Clondalkin to Toronto, touring North America to scope out the most suitable PhD in 1995, ending up at the University of Toronto before moving to Vancouver and the University of British Columbia for his post doc before returning to Toronto and York University where he now, through his own pertinacity, teaches a course in Modern Irish History. 

Towards the end of our conversation, William discusses the typical emigrant’s challenge of living in two places at once. 

I would still encourage people to download the episodes and to share them with friends and family. Downloads are the easiest indicator for me to gauge how many people I am reaching with these conversations so I would really appreciate it. 

Today, I’ll be chatting with Emer Maguire. Emer is my colleague here in the Celtic Studies Program at the University of St. Michael’s College, having received an award from the Ireland Canada University Foundation to teach Irish in Toronto. Emer has been here since September 2023 and will be going back to Ireland before the beginning of the summer.  I wanted to get Emer on the podcast to chat as in contrast to most of my other guests so far, she has a definite end date on her time here in Toronto and may provide a different perspective. 

In this chat, we discuss Emer’s journey from Louth to Toronto, including a year as Fulbright Scholar at Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts. We discuss the importance of new experiences at a young age, the benefits and disadvantages of living in a city as large as Toronto and the challenges which every emigrant faces such as being far away from a loved one who may be unwell. Emer was extremely candid during our chat and I appreciate her for that. 

I would still encourage people to download the episodes and to share them with friends and family. Downloads are the easiest indicator for me to gauge how many people I am reaching with these conversations so I would really appreciate it. 

Today, I’ll be speaking with Bill Jermyn. Bill came to Toronto forty years ago having grown up in West Cork and studying at Trinity College Dublin. We speak about a number of topics in our chat including the decision to move him and his family to Toronto, being a Protestant in the Republic of Ireland and the Wider Horizon programme with which Bill worked over the years, helping disadvantaged youths from the Falls Road, Shankill and Tallaght to settle in Canada. To hear more about Bill’s pursuits, I would recommend buying his wonderful memoir: Only Dead Fish Swim with the Current; https://www.amazon.ca/Only-Dead-Fish-Swim-Current/dp/1738961907

I would still encourage people to download the episodes and to share them with friends and family. Downloads are the easiest indicator for me to gauge how many people I am reaching with these conversations so I would really appreciate it.

Clár i nGaeilge ina labhraím leis na teagascóirí ICUF (Ireland Canada University Foundation) don bhliain 2023/24: 

Clíodhna Ní Chorráin - University of Ottawa 
Gearóid Ó Treasaigh - St. Thomas' University, Fredericton, New Brunswick 
Helena Ní Rocháin - University of Alberta 
Cathal Ó Néill - Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador 
Emer Maguire - University of St. Michael's College, Toronto, Ontario

Today, I’ll be speaking with Tracey Lyng, Secretary of Toronto GAA. It is not only the GAA with which Tracey volunteers, she also sits on the board of ICAN, the Irish Canadian Immigration Center as well as volunteering for a committee which helps resettle refugees here in Toronto. Tracey immigrated to Toronto thirteen years ago and has had many various roles within the Irish community in the city. Tracey speaks about her life in Cavan and how she feels about potentially moving back to Ireland someday, but not right now. 

I would still encourage people to download the episodes and to share them with friends and family. Downloads are the easiest indicator for me to gauge how many people I am reaching with these conversations so I would really appreciate it.

Today, I’ll be speaking with Eddie Moley, Chairperson of Toronto GAA. Being two big GAA men, you would assume we would talk about nothing but hurling and football. This conversation goes a lot deeper than that, however. Eddie speaks candidly about why he came to Toronto in 2012, leaving behind a cycle of addiction to alcohol and drugs only for that cycle to follow him to this side of the Atlantic as well. I am extremely grateful to Eddie for his honesty in this conversation. It is something that people are unfortunately not too keen on speaking about and I hope that Eddie’s sincerity can help at least one person. 

We do get around to talking about the role of the GAA here in Toronto and what Eddie envisions for the future. Be sure to stick around for the end of the conversation when Eddie speaks honestly once again on the topic of surrogacy and how living in Canada has really helped him and his wife, Gráinne. 

I would still encourage people to download the episodes and to share them with friends and family. Downloads are the easiest indicator for me to gauge how many people I am reaching with these conversations so I would really appreciate it.

In this episode, Lauren tells us about how she first began coming to Canada as a child in the summertime to visit family who had moved here before permanently relocating here after finishing her university degree. Unlike many previous guests on this podcast, Lauren emigrated to Canada with her parents and her sister, as well as her then boyfriend, now husband, Brian. 

I had the privilege of attending the wedding of Lauren and Brian in August of last year and although it took place in a barn in rural Ontario, I felt like I was in the heart of West Belfast. 

As you will hear during the episode, Lauren and Brian’s dog, Millie, becomes the star of the show. Upset at not receiving the attention she deserves, she rightfully plants herself in the middle of myself and Lauren, demanding that we instantly stop ignoring her and play a game of tug. Brian is forced to remove her, not once but twice from the room. I was going to remove all of this but I think that would be unfair to Millie, she is the center of attention in the Curran household. 

Lauren is a Registered Psychotherapist here in Canada and we speak a lot about the different approaches to mental health in Ireland and in Canada. I am sure this particular part of the conversation will be of great help to a lot of people.  

I would still encourage people to download the episodes and to share them with friends and family. Downloads are the easiest indicator for me to gauge how many people I am reaching with these conversations so I would really appreciate it. 

How I came across Elizabeth is a little bit more unusual than most of the guests on this podcast. I run most mornings and I like to run on the Lakeshore here in Toronto. Elizabeth works as a crossing guard some mornings on Bathurst and Queen’s Quay. I got stuck waiting on a red light there a few times and began chatting with Elizabeth, she recognised my Irish accent and we immediately hit it off. This began to happen a bit more regularly and as I got to know her better, I knew she would be a great guest to share her story of being Irish in Toronto. 

I want to thank Elizabeth for being so honest. Her story is a unique one filled with happiness and of course, moments of sadness. As you heard in the introduction, coming to Toronto provided Elizabeth with a sense of freedom that was taken from her in Ireland and in England. I think you will really enjoy the conversation. 

I would still encourage people to download the episodes and to share them with friends and family. Downloads are the easiest indicator for me to gauge how many people I am reaching with these conversations so I would really appreciate it. 

Today, I’ll be chatting with Jack Armstrong. Jack has an interesting relationship with Ireland. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, both of his parents were immigrants from the west of Ireland. Jack speaks about how this shaped his identity growing up in New York. He also speaks of his Irish identity in Toronto. Jack is currently an NBA analyst for TSN and the on-air in-game broadcaster for the Toronto Raptors and has been since 1998. Consequently, Jack was afforded the opportunity to be honoured as the Grand Marshal of the Toronto St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2023. It was in Quinn’s Pub on Richmond St. after the parade where I met Jack. He is a genuinely sound person and I am delighted he agreed to take time out of his schedule during the season to have this chat with me. I hope you enjoy it. 

I would still encourage people to download the episodes and to share them with friends and family. Downloads are the easiest indicator for me to gauge how many people I am reaching with these conversations so I would really appreciate it. 

I would still encourage people to download the episodes and to share them with friends and family. Downloads are the easiest indicator for me to gauge how many people I am reaching with these conversations so I would really appreciate it. 

Robert arrived in Toronto in 1979 not knowing how life would pan out for him. With a degree in Archaeology and Greek and Roman Civilization from UCD, he could scarcely have imagined that he would find and become President of his own insurance firm; Kearns Insurance Corporation. What drew me to Robert was his incessant work with the Irish community in Toronto, especially the Ireland Fund of Canada from 1980-2004, serving as its Chair from 1989-1992. Along with being a Director of the America Ireland Fund, he is also a Founding Director of the Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce and remains a member to this day. In terms of my own work at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto, Robert  served as Chairman of the Campaign for Celtic Studies and is an Honorary Fellow of the university. 

At the moment, Robert is the Chair and founder of the  Canada Ireland Foundation, which created Ireland Park and Grasett Park in Toronto, and is now in the midst of developing The Corleck, a new arts, culture and heritage venue set to open soon on Toronto's waterfront.