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June 25, 1997
(Executive Council)

 

Irish Prime Minister Presents Gift to People of Newfoundland and Labrador

The Taoiseach of Ireland, Mr. John Bruton, presented to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador a magnificent Waterford crystal centrepiece. The crystal bowl, atop a boat-shaped pedestal, commemorates the Irish men and women who have travelled to Newfoundland since the middle of the 16th century to fish the rich fishing grounds off its coast.

Accepting the gift on behalf of the Province, Premier Brian Tobin said: "This beautiful and generous gift will occupy a prominent public place here in our Confederation Building."

The Taoiseach said: "I was delighted to be able to attend the Cabot 500 festivities in Bonavista. The ceremonies were truly magnificent. The ties between Newfoundland and Ireland run deep, and it was an honour to be here. We already have a Memorandum of Understanding between us that Premier Tobin and I signed last November, and I look forward to the development of our already close relationship through trade, investment and cultural opportunities."

The Premier said: "We were deeply honoured to have the Taoiseach here with us to celebrate our common heritage. It is a testament to his extraordinary personal commitment to our province that he could be here at this time, so soon after the election in Ireland. Whatever happens in the days ahead as a new government is formed there, John Bruton will always be a true friend to Newfoundland and Labrador. Through his personal commitment to this MOU, we have made an extraordinary start to enriching our relationship with Ireland."

Attachments:

  • 1. 500 Anniversary Centrepiece
    2. Waterford and Newfoundland

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WATERFORD AND NEWFOUNDLAND

Waterford City, a Viking foundation dated to 914, belongs very much to the Old World. Newfoundland, on the other hand, is to us very much part of the New World. History has, however, created strong links between the two regions, links that have been strong enough to cross both the great Atlantic Ocean.

In 1536, when King Henry VIII of England was busy divorcing his first wife, the first recorded Irish ship to set sail for the New World left from Waterford and so began our long and very fruitful links with Newfoundland and the new world.

The first Waterfordians to travel to Newfoundland were fishermen. They gave the land its Irish name Talamh An Eisc which can be translated as the "Land of the Fish", or perhaps more accurately the "Fishing Grounds".

The outward voyage to Newfoundland was fraught with dangers and perils. Facing the south west winds in March and April it often took up to fifty days to make the crossing. Mercifully, the return trip was frequently fast, the return voyage with the assistance of the prevailing winds taking as little as ten days.

The period spent in Newfoundland could be the conventional two summers and the intervening winter or, as was frequently the cast, ten or twenty years. An entry on the parochial records of St. Patrick's Parish, Waterford, for 7th December, 1760, records the baptism of Honora Walsh, aged 22 years, a native of Newfoundland. These baptismal records are frequently punctuated with similar entries. It seems to have been common for Waterford born parents living in Newfoundland to have their children brought back to Waterford for baptism.

The wealth generated by both the provisions and fishing trade was to transform late eighteenth century Waterford. It financed the rebuilding of the city's quays, City Hall and many of the fine Georgian houses that adorn the city. These same merchants endowed their respective churches. The Anglican Cathedral was build in 1779 while the Catholic community built the first post-Reformation Cathedral in these islands. The Quaker community who controlled about one third of the Newfoundland trade built this building a little over 200 years ago (Garter Lane 2) as a meeting house.

In time, Waterfordians remained on Newfoundland never to return and like their relatives at home they too learned to speak English. Their shared mother tongue was to have a lasting impression on pronunciation of the new language and to this day many similarities in the accent of Newfoundland and Waterfordians can be detected.

Some descendants of Newfoundland settlers did return to Waterford, the most famous being Thomas Meagher. In 1840 he became the first Catholic Mayor of Waterford since the seventeenth century.

Today in Waterford, Newfoundland is still remembered with great fondness as a safe and welcoming haven for a large portion of the Irish emigrant population.

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500TH ANNIVERSARY OF NEWFOUNDLAND
CENTERPIECE

  • - This magnificent Waterford Centerpiece was designed for the Irishmen who travelled from the middle of the 16th Century to fish the rich fishing grounds off Newfoundland. These men came from the South East of the Country predominantly from Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny.

    - The crystal bowl that sits on the pedestal is the same shape of a boat to represent the fishing trade that all these men went by which to earn a living, and also the original roots of these three counties in their Viking Heritage. The scallop top is inspired by the tail of a fish as the Island became known as "Talamh An Eisc" or the "Fishing Grounds".

    - The two panels carry a harp on the left (closest to the heart) and the cod, the most abundant fish that was hunted. - Under the boat is an inscription written in both Irish and English reading "To the People of Newfoundland from the People of Ireland," capturing the uniqueness of both Islands.

    - The wooden plinth is made from Wexford Beech and is Kilin dried to 12 per cent moisture content. The piece is hand turned and colour enhanced to highlight the grained feature, then brought to a highly polished finish.

    - The wooden plinth is inlayed with a circular piece of Kilkenny black marble to represent the input by the men of that country.

    - The marrying of the most famous produce of these three counties into a uniform work of art is the ideal gift to the People of Newfoundland on the occasion of their 500th Anniversary.

1997 06 25 10:45 a.m.

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