The collection is comprised of field recordings of oral history interviews conducted by BIS student researchers in 1982 and 1983 with elderly Irish residents of PEI.
Project Background
These recordings were digitized and provided with metadata records at the UPEI Robertson Library during the Spring and Summer of 2018, with further editing and enhancement of metadata in 2020. Financial support for this project, facilitated by the Benevolent Irish Society, was generously provided through the Government of Ireland's Emigrant Support Programme. Special acknowledgment is also due to the late Mr. George O'Connor, Past-President of the Benevolent Irish Society, whose patient-but-persistent advocacy helped bring this project to fruition. Go raibh maith agat!
Benevolent Irish Society - Oral History Interviews Collection
Displaying 16 - 30 of 40
- Type:Interview
- Contributor:Lawless, Wilburt
- Contributor:Stordy, Paul
- Abstract:This is Paul Stordy interviewing Wilburt "Wib" Lawless in Kinkora, PEI. Wilburt talks about his family coming from Ireland, his career as a musician, working and wages when he was young. Wib also sings some songs and talks about music.
- Date Recorded:1982-06-01
- Duration:00:14:35
- Type:Interview
- Contributor:Kilbride, Kevin
- Contributor:Kilbride, Margaret
- Contributor:LePage, Geoff
- Abstract:This is Geoff LePage interviewing married couple Margaret and Kevin Kilbride in Foxley River, PEI. They talk about family heirlooms, their parents, grandparents family members, and superstitions. They also discuss businesses, customs, land ownership, community events, and share stories about various other topics.
- Date Recorded:1983-07-19
- Duration:01:11:52
- Type:Interview
- Contributor:Kelly, Margaret
- Contributor:LePage, Geoff
- Abstract:Geoff LePage interviews Mrs. Margaret Kelley. Mrs. Kelley tells of family tree from her Grandfather, the fire destroying the house and heirlooms from Ireland that she owned. She also talks about the arrival of an English landlord coming to control Lot eleven. A drowning account, murder in Alberton and the mysterious death of a boy More
- Date Recorded:1983-07-11
- Duration:00:37:21
- Type:Interview
- Contributor:Kelly, Joseph
- Contributor:Kelly, Loretta
- Contributor:Stordy, Paul
- Abstract:This is Paul Stordy interviewing married couple Mrs. Loretta Kelly and Mr. Joseph Kelly at the Senior Citizen's Home. Mr and Mrs Kelly discuss Joseph's career as a fiddler, and Joseph plays fiddle tunes for the interview. They discuss processing flax and making things by hand, Father Duffy and his grave, the naming of Kelly's Cross More
- Date Recorded:1982-05-21
- Duration:00:40:52
- Type:Interview
- Contributor:Doyle, Karen
- Contributor:Hickey, Kathy
- Abstract:Kathy Hickey is interviewed by Karen Doyle. Mrs. Hickey speaks about the Indian river parish, the early settlers who settled along the river, the Scot's the religion being Catholicism, the entertainment in the early days and her musically inclined sons along with other musically talented family members. She also talks about her time More
- Date Recorded:1982-06-29
- Duration:00:43:19
- Type:Interview
- Contributor:Doyle, Karen
- Contributor:Flanagan, Doris
- Contributor:Wallace, Stella
- Abstract:This is Stella Wallace and Karen Doyle interviewing Doris Flanagan at her home in Charlottetown. Doris talks about family history records and gravestones, her family immigrating to PEI from Dublin, and blacksmithing jobs. She talks about histories of marriages, death, mistakes on official documents, and spends time sharing old More
- Date Recorded:1982-05-18
- Duration:00:33:20
- Type:Interview
- Contributor:Fitzgerald, Edward
- Contributor:LePage, Geoff
- Abstract:This is Geoff LePage interviewing Edward Fitzgerald at Summerset Manor in Summerside. Edward talks about his family's arrival to PEI, original homes in PEI, education and schoolteachers, superstitions and ghost stories, his parents and grandparents, and entertainment in his early life.
- Date Recorded:1983-08-03
- Duration:00:28:53
- Type:Interview
- Contributor:Duffy, Joe
- Contributor:Wallace, Stella
- Abstract:This is Stella Wallace interviewing Joe Duffy in Fort Augustus, PEI. Joe sings songs, plays the mouth organ, and shares stories of superstition from his childhood. Joe Duffy also discusses blacksmiths, community members: Peter Dunn, Jimmy Callaghan, Leo Garland, Jack Simpson, and tells other various stories.
- Date Recorded:1982-07-05
- Duration:00:56:19
- Type:Interview
- Contributor:Duffy, Mother Ethel
- Contributor:Stordy, Paul
- Abstract:Paul Stordy interviews Mother Ethel Duffey who resides at the Sacred Heart Home. Mother Duffey talks about the famine that brought on disease, her family tree as well as marriages and occupation. Cardinal McGuigan, ships coming to Charlottetown and the structures used to keep homes warm. She also mentions the average life structure More
- Date Recorded:1982-05-13
- Duration:01:08:08
- Type:Interview
- Contributor:Duffy, Annie
- Contributor:LePage, Geoff
- Abstract:This is Geoff LePage interviewing Annie Duffy in Kinkora, PEI. Annie discusses family members and careers, religions, customs, and tells of living a very normal life.
- Date Recorded:1983-07-13
- Duration:00:18:51
- Type:Interview
- Contributor:Doran, John
- Contributor:Doyle, Karen
- Contributor:Wallace, Stella
- Abstract:Karen Doyle and Stella Wallace interview John Doran who has a lot of knowledge about the Irish from personal research. He first mentions the History of Irish and German Surnames, the Gaelic Language used by the Irish and the History of the Celts and the celtic church. He then goes on to talk about the Doran family tree and the More
- Date Recorded:1982-06-17
- Duration:01:24:49
- Type:Interview
- Contributor:Deighan, Bennett
- Contributor:Stordy, Paul
- Abstract:This is Paul Stordy interviewing Bennett Deighan in Emerald, PEI. Bennett discusses the Deighans, family history, jobs, religion and County 9 Ireland. He also talks about his family farming, entertainment, traveling on the island, customs and traditions as well as other various topics about his life and family.
- Date Recorded:1982-06-17
- Duration:01:00:20
- Type:Interview
- Contributor:Cullen, Sister Ellen Mary
- Contributor:Wallace, Stella
- Abstract:This is Stella Wallace interviewing Sister Ellen Mary Cullen at Mount St. Mary's, discussing memories of Irish settlers, parishes on the island, and Father Fitzgerald. She also talks about old cemeteries and churches, Bishop Maceachern, sorts through and shares old family documents, and talks about various other memories of Irish More
- Date Recorded:1982-06-04
- Duration:00:45:20
- Type:Interview
- Contributor:Cullen, Sister Ellen Mary
- Contributor:Doyle, Karen
- Contributor:Wallace, Stella
- Abstract:This is Stella Wallace and Karen Doyle interviewing Sister Ellen Mary Cullen at Mount St. Mary's, where they discuss the Sister's family's immigration, Scottish-Irish relations, family farming, education, and religion. She shares stories from her childhood, items found in a church in the 1950s, and other details of her childhood and More
- Date Recorded:1982-05-20
- Duration:00:43:54
- Type:Interview
- Contributor:Coyle, Maurice
- Contributor:Wallace, Stella
- Abstract:Maurice Coyle is interviewed by Stella Wallace. Mr. Coyle share's with her how the Early Irish had to stump the land with hand as there were no oxens and lived comfortably. He talks about there being no tensions between the Irish and Scots and how they both would mix during parties. He discusses the epidemic of Diphtheria, leather More
- Date Recorded:1982-06-10
- Duration:00:32:03