Media Release – August 22, 2025

Nine Ships 1825 Builds Connections with Ireland during the Peter Robinson Irish Emigration Bicentennial Week. 

During the Bicentennial Week, August 1-10, of the Peter Robinson Irish Emigration commemoration, the Board of Directors of Nine Ships 1825 built valuable relationships with Ireland.

Irish Vice Consul General Cahal Sweeney – Toronto Office, Cultural Attache Aengus Finnan – Irish Embassy, Amanda Slattery – Development Manager of the Ballyhoura CLG,  Mark Purdy – Chair of the Canada Ireland Foundation and Gerry Murphy of the Boss Murphy Community Fund in County Cork, all brought greetings from their organizations and attended events over several days.

Nine Ships 1825 appreciated the time taken by our Irish visitors to meet community members, attend as many events as possible and speak to the importance of these new relationships for the common good on both sides of the Atlantic.

“When Amanda Slattery, Development Manager of Ballyhoura CLG, and I first met in Mitchelstown Ireland in 2013, we knew that the event planning we envisioned for the year 2025 would be exciting for both the Ballyhoura and Peterborough regions. Over these past years and months, having Amanda and her staff working with us to publicize our events and in turn Nine Ships 1825 supporting the planning of events in Ireland, meant success for both our communities. The legacy of this co-operation will live on into the future.” states Mary Smith, Vice Chair of Nine Ships 1825 Inc.

For more information on the Peter Robinson Irish Emigration Bicentennial visit www.nineships1825.com.               

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Contact: Bicentennial Administrator 

Caption 1: Amanda Slattery, Development Manager of Ballyhoura CLG, brings greetings at the Bicentennial Official Opening Ceremony on August 1, 2025.

Caption 2: Dignitaries gathered for a group photo after the Bicentennial Official Opening Ceremony at the Peterborough Armoury. Amanda Slattery had her 4-year-old daughter and other family members in Canada for Bicentennial Week.

Caption 3: Warden Bonnie Clark, Vice Consul General of Ireland in Toronto Cahal Sweeney, the Embassy of Ireland – Canada’s Cultural Officer Aengus Finnan and Nine Ships 1825 Chair Brendan Moher at the Peterborough Canadian Irish Club 50^th Anniversary Plaque unveiling on Friday, August 1, 2025 in Millenium Park.

Caption 4: Nine Ships 1825 Chair Brendan Moher and Janet Moher extending welcome to incoming Irish Consul General Claire Fitzgibbon at the Irish Consulate reception in Toronto on August 7, 2025, as she arrives to continue consulate activities in Toronto. On behalf of Nine Ships 1825 we wish Ms. Fitzgibbon the very best in her new assignment.