Irish Migration
Vol. 1
The very first Cask & Kettle piece was done in 2016 when I was 19 years old and the bar was first opening. This piece was my first ever commission. Three acrylic paintings done on 4’x8’ sheets of MDF. Cask & Kettle is an Irish Gastropub and Saint John has deep historical ties to Ireland. The paintings tell the story of how the Irish immigrated over to Canada, specifically Saint John.
Details
96” x 48” acrylic on wood (x3)
Year
2016
Reading from left to right; the first painting showcases many symbolic imagery of Ireland. The cliffs of Dover, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, bridge and buildings of Dublin, a Celtic harp and a stag. In the bottom left corner there is also the word “éireann” which is the old Irish word for Ireland.
The second painting represents the Great Irish Migration across the Atlantic Ocean.
In the top left we have a farmer and his wife. The empty basket of potatoes points to the Irish potato famine of the 1840s and 50s. Millions of Irish left due to the famine, many of them coming to Saint John.
When they sailed across the Atlantic, the 3 Sisters was one of the first things they would have seen on the mainland. The triple light post remains a historical landmark in Saint John. Before they could set foot on the mainland though, the Irish needed to quarantine on Partridge Island.
The voyage across the ocean was treacherous. Many people died and many more became sick. The Celtic cross seen in the middle of the painting was on Partridge Island and served as a beacon for the Irish ships when approaching Saint John. Today there stands a Celtic cross on the island and one uptown Saint John. Both serve as monuments for the many Irish who died.
Lastly we have the third painting. Saint John, New Brunswick, has a history of devastating fires, with the Great Fire of 1877 being one of the most notable incidents. This fire left a significant impact on the city, leading to widespread destruction. Communities faced the daunting task of rebuilding and recovering from the aftermath. The Irish were heavily discriminated against at the time. The British controlled the city and the protestant/catholic conflict between the British and Irish has a long history. The Irish however, were a large part of the labor force, specifically construction. When it came to rebuilding the city of Saint John, the Irish played a major roll. This granted them favour with the British and laid a solid foundation to the the validity of the Irish Immigrants in Saint John.
