La Jacques-Cartier region isn’t just renowned for its majestic landscapes, perfect for outdoor activities. It’s also a region full of treasures big and small, bequeathed by its colonizing communities. They’re well worth the visit!
As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, come with us as we follow in the footsteps of the Irish.
Visit a cemetery
Follow the footsteps of the Irish in Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier. The Juchereau-Duchesnay cemetery is a must-see for history buffs and passing pilgrims alike. Located at Place de l’Église, near the Jacques-Cartier River and Chemin de La Liseuse, it bears witness to the English-speaking origins of several founding families who helped build the area.
Headstones bearing the names Higgins, Kelly, Leahy, O’Shea, and Walsh (to name but a few) stand alongside those bearing the name Juchereau-Duchesnay, a seigneurial family that helped bring the first Irish settlers to the region. Members of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s family, including his parents, are also buried here.
Interpretive panels, new landscaping, and seating have all been added to enhance your visit to this historic site.
Enjoy a show
The Shannon Irish Show is a great way to immerse yourself in traditional Irish culture. The annual show brings together a hundred or so people of all ages to perform songs and music handed down from generation to generation since Irish immigrants arrived in Shannon so many years ago.
The show also features traditional dances. One of the highlights of the event is a performance by the Shannon Irish Dancers, an Irish dance troupe that has gained international renown over the years. Another part of the show involves a traditional wake, a memorial party that was often held in homes until recently.
The Shannon Irish Show is held at the Shannon Community Center in the afternoon and evening of the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day.
Go on a tour
BaladoDiscovery tours are another original way to follow in the footsteps of the Irish, the region’s settlers, whether you’re on foot, on a bike, in a car, or even on your couch at home!
The Historical Tour of Shannon takes you back in time to the municipality’s early days, when the community was still mostly Irish. The 4-kilometre loop follows the old wooden railroad (now known as Vélopiste La Jacques-Cartier/Portneuf) and goes past the old schoolhouses, the chapel with its Celtic cross, and the bridges. This bilingual virtual tour creates an inclusive experience, welcoming the diversity of Shannon’s residents and visitors alike.
Discover Valcartier is a bilingual tour that shares the rich history and heritage of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier. In a free app that’s available for most mobile devices, visitors are guided through ten sites by none other than John Neilson, an iconic figure of Irish origin.
Listen to a podcast where history is brought to life
Whether you’re visiting Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval to hit the trails or to enjoy the lively atmosphere in the Espace festif, if you understand French you’ll want to listen to the podcast Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval: Une histoire vivante.
It’s available on several platforms and goes through the history of the municipality from its origins, recalling the part the Irish played in opening up the area for settlement. In fact, if you look up at the church tower, you’ll see a statue adorning the gable end of the exterior. It’s Saint Brigid of Kildare, patron saint of the Irish.
Many churches, chapels, crosses, and place names still bear testimony to the area’s Irish heritage and founding families. Follow the footsteps of the Irish!
To know more about the history of La Jacques-Cartier, read the blog Discover La Jacques-Cartier and its history!
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