Early Settlement: Introduction

While Irish immigrants may not have been the first settlers to brave the North American frontier, by the end of the 19^th century they made up a significant proportion of New Brunswick’s population and contributed much to the early settlement of the province.

In this section we explore some of the causes of Irish immigration to New Brunswick by examining conditions in both Ireland and New Brunswick that led so many to seek a new home in a strange land. We also take a look at what the Irish experienced when they arrived and how the social and political environment were influenced by our early ancestors.

We strive to present a balanced persepective in our discussions on the Irish in New Brunswick therefore we welcome additional essay contributions for publication under these topics, or suggestions for additional topics in each category of the "Irish Trail of New Brunswick" section on this site.