Nine Ships 1825

04/29/2026

It was a full house at Victoria Hall in Cobourg last night (April 28) for Nine Ships 1825 Board Member Dennis Carter-Edwards' presentation on the Peter Robinson Emigration for the Cobourg and District Historical Society! Dennis' presentation was two-fold, as he discussed both the emigration itself and the events that were held to commemorate the bicentennial of the emigration in 2025. We would like to thank the Cobourg and District Historical Society for hosting Dennis and the rest of the Nine Ships board, and everyone who came out and expressed an interest in this topic and everything we did to commemorate this milestone year!

04/29/2026

Mary Smith, Vice Chair of Nine Ships 1825 Inc., contributed an article to the April 2026 issue of the Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley! Entitled "Reflections on Ireland Connections Leading up to the Bicentennial," the article discusses the lasting connections that were made between our community and the Ballyhoura region in Ireland. Check out Trent Valley Archives post below for information on how to access the digital version of this issue of the Heritage Gazette:

The latest issue of the Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley is here! We are finally caught up on our publishing schedule and our April 2026 issue marks the first issue in Volume 31.

Within its pages, you'll find a diverse collection of stories ranging from specific moments in our community's history (like in J.A. Forrester's article "Three Canadian Feature Films Shot During the Summer of '76") to a larger discussion of why history, and by extension the archives that preserve it, are important to current and future generations, just in time for the theme of this year's Archives Association of Ontario's Archives Week, "Archives Activism: Advocating for Archives Survival" (in Dawn Berry Merriam's article "Supporting Future Generations by Preserving the Past").

We also want to highlight the photograph on the cover of this issue, taken by photographer George Sproule in the early 1890s and featuring both the exterior of the Ashburnham School and its staff and students. To accompany the photograph, which is part of our Wickenden Family Fonds, our Archivist Elwood Jones has written an insightful article exploring the history of the school that can be found on page 23.

We hope you'll take time out of your busy spring schedule to enjoy each of the articles in this issue. If you're subscribed to our mailing list, check your inbox for an email from us with links to download the issue. If you're not already subscribed to our mailing list, you can do so here: https://trentvalleyarchives.com/newsletter-signup/. This issue (along with past issues) is also available to download on the Heritage Gazette page on our website. Once you've read the issue, we'd love to hear what you think. Leave a comment down below with your thoughts on this issue and any suggestions you have for our next issue, which is expected in August!

04/28/2026

Tonight! Come out to hear Dennis speak about a memorable year:

Nine Ships 1825 board member Dennis Carter-Edwards has been invited to speak at the Cobourg and District Historical Society's AGM on Tuesday, April 28! Dennis will speak about Nine Ships and the Peter Robinson Emigration, sharing his thoughts on both the emigration experiment itself and the activities that were planned to commemorate the Bicentennial of the emigration in 1825.

The meeting will take place at the Concert Hall at Victoria Hall, 55 King Street W in Cobourg, ON. Doors will open at 7pm, and the presentation will begin at 7:30pm. Admission is free for Cobourg and District Historical Society members and $5 for non-members. We hope you'll consider making the trip to Cobourg to support Dennis and Nine Ships 1825!

04/26/2026

04/22/2026

If you're a fan of history, music, and Irish culture, you won't want to miss this event! Hosted by Patrick Leahy with support from Nine Ships 1825, "Irish and Canadian: An Evening of History, Heritage and Music" is taking place this Saturday, April 25th at 7pm at the St. Joseph's Parish Hall in Douro.

The event will feature a presentation from Patrick Leahy entitled "Irish and Canadian: Irish Identity in Times of Conflict," live music from the Kitchen Party Band and a Q&A discussion about where Irish-Canadian historical research is headed in 2026. Admission is $5 at the door and both refreshments and a cash bar will be available.

04/18/2026

Nine Ships 1825 board member Dennis Carter-Edwards has been invited to speak at the Cobourg and District Historical Society's AGM on Tuesday, April 28! Dennis will speak about Nine Ships and the Peter Robinson Emigration, sharing his thoughts on both the emigration experiment itself and the activities that were planned to commemorate the Bicentennial of the emigration in 1825.

The meeting will take place at the Concert Hall at Victoria Hall, 55 King Street W in Cobourg, ON. Doors will open at 7pm, and the presentation will begin at 7:30pm. Admission is free for Cobourg and District Historical Society members and $5 for non-members. We hope you'll consider making the trip to Cobourg to support Dennis and Nine Ships 1825!

04/16/2026

Nine Ships 1825 is pleased to support an exciting event in Douro next Saturday, April 25 at 7pm! Head out to St. Joseph's Parish Hall for an evening of history, heritage and music featuring a presentation from Patrick Leahy entitled "Irish and Canadian: Irish Identity in Times of Conflict," live music from the Kitchen Party Band and a discussion about new research projects underway in 2026. Admission is $5 at the door and both refreshments and a cash bar will be available. We hope you'll join us for a memorable evening!

04/13/2026

The wait is over! 🎭 The box office is officially open for our entire summer season!
Secure your seats for "Wild Irish Geese" , a show you will not want to miss!
Want the best of both worlds and see our production of “Schoolhouse” as well? Grab a Summer Subscription to see both shows at the best price. Get your tickets today! 🎟️
“Wild Irish Geese”
Back by Popular Demand
Written by Megan Murphy
Directed by Kim Blackwell
Musical Direction and Original Compositions by Justin Hiscox
Indigenous Story Consultation by Patti Shaughnessy
Costume Design by Bonnie Garland
Set Design by Michelle Chesser
Choreography by Monica Dottor
Fight Direction by Edward Belanger
Intimacy Direction by Greg Carruthers
Sound Design by Steáfán Hannigan
August 4 - 29
Previews: August 4, 5
Opening Night: Thursday, August 6
Tuesday to Saturday at 6 pm
With an added Monday performance on August 24th

Tickets, gift certificates and charcuterie snack boxes can be purchased by phone at 705-932-4445, toll-free at 800-814-0055, online at 4thlinetheatre.on.ca and at 4th Line Theatre’s Box Office at 9 Tupper Street in Millbrook. Photo: " Megan Murphy in "Wild Irish Geese," 2025, by Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio."

04/12/2026

We’re grateful to Nine Ships 1825, a bicentennial commemorative initiative honouring the arrival of Irish settlers to this region, for their generous support of Indigenous students at Trent University.

Their gift to the Indigenous Student Assistance Fund and the Peter Gzowski College Endahying Subsidy supports First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students through access to culturally supportive housing and financial assistance.

A meaningful step toward reconciliation, community‑building, and belonging. Want to support similar initiatives? Help shape what’s possible for students by giving to the Momentous Campaign: https://momentous.trentu.ca/indigenousresurgence

04/11/2026

You won’t want to miss this powerful and engaging conversation with Patti Shaughnessy and Kim Blackwell! Join us on April 18th at 2 pm for an intimate Artist Talk featuring Patti Shaughnessy—Indigenous Story Consultant and actor in Wild Irish Geese.

Patti will share insights into her work on the production, her artistic journey, and the importance of Indigenous storytelling in contemporary theatre. It’s a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes and gain a deeper understanding of the stories shaping this summer’s return of Wild Irish Geese.

Peterborough Museum & Archives
300 Hunter St E, Peterborough, ON, K9H 1H1
Come be part of the conversation!

04/07/2026

When it comes to the history of Douro, historian and author Mike Towns is the person to ask! Known for his three oral history books on the Douro community: While Mindin' the Store, I Mind the Time and Sit Down 'Til I Tell Ya, Mike (and his parents, grandparents and great-grandparents before him) made deep connections among the Douro community as the proprietors of the infamous Towns General Store.

Our Bicentennial Storyteller, Teresa Kaszuba, visited Mike at his home last June to chat with him about the store, his love of photography, and his connection to the Peter Robinson Emigration. Mike came prepared for the interview with a historical treasure trove of artifacts, documents and photographs, and you'll see many of them in the video. We hope you enjoy this in-depth look into the Towns family history!

Video Credit: Teresa Kaszuba, Bicentennial Storyteller