On July 19, the community of Saint-Colomban gathered to mark a historic occasion—the official unveiling of the Bronze Shoes monument and the recognition of Saint-Colomban as a designated site on the Global Irish Famine Way. The Bronze Shoes are not just a sculpture; they are a symbolic remembrance of the Irish Famine emigrants who fled hunger and despair in 1847. Some found new lives here in Canada, while others—like young Mary and John Phelan—did not survive and are buried in Saint-Colomban’s historic cemetery. The day served to honour both their suffering and the compassion of those who welcomed them.
Saint-Colomban Cemetery
The morning began with a bilingual mass at Saint-Colomban Parish, beautifully emceed by Carol McCormick, President of the Saint-Patrick’s Society of Montreal. Father Lévi Cossette and Deacon Ciaran Pitchford of Saint Patrick’s Basilica presided over the service.
Following the mass, the procession was led in front of city hall by the uilleann pipes performance by Alexis Ceallaigh for the official unveiling of the Bronze Shoes sculpture. The presentation began with Samara O’Gorman performing the Irish National Anthem. Kelley O’Rourke, President of the Canadian Irish Migration Preservation Network, and Carol McCormick, President of the Saint-Patrick’s Society of Montreal introduced the speakers.
The afternoon continued with live Irish music by Bill Gossage, Mike Bleho and Glen Roy, Pierre Savaria (caller), traditional dance by the Bernadette Short School of Irish Dancing, and exhibitions from Irish heritage groups across Quebec. Visitors also enjoyed a self-guided cemetery tour with volunteers on hand to share stories, and a guided look at the church’s historic stained-glass windows.
It was a day of shared memory, deep pride, and celebration—a tribute not only to the Irish past but to the enduring spirit of community that keeps its legacy alive.
and Michael McBane
“This project, led by the Canadian Irish Migration Preservation Network (CIMPN) under the direction of President Kelley O’Rourke, was made possible in close collaboration with the City of Saint-Colomban, with support from Mayor Xavier-Antoine Lalande and his team, and the guidance of the National and Global Irish Famine Way Steering Committee.”