Ireland Park

Ireland Park is a gem of Toronto's harbourfront because it gives you one of the best view of the city skyline. It's worth the walk over to west side of harbourfront from downtown. It's usually more quiet there and you can enjoy the view and the waves of the lake since it's protruding into the lake. I 100% recommend taking a walk and some great photos there!

My husband and I happened upon this little park on a walk along the water quite by accident. I had no idea it existed, despite my own Irish heritage on my mothers side (Corbett). The sculptures were absolutely arresting and heartbreaking in the emotion they evoked- powerful artistic reflections of another time of intense human suffering when the Irish came to North American shores to escape the Irish Potato famine. And the massive sculpture of the “boat” with the names of the lost- I must return to see it at night. There is a clear view of the Porter Airlines which is a little more cheerful. Farther east there is the lovely HTO park with deck chairs and sand and a view of the Toronto Harbour and the Porter planes taking off and Landing.

The Ireland park, located on Toronto waterfront, slightly over 20 minutes' walk to the west of CN Tower, is a poignant tribute to the victims of the terrible Great Famine, that in the course of 4 years, from 1845 to 1849, ravaged Ireland and resulted in 1 million deaths and mass immigration from the country. In 1847, over 30,000 Irish immigrants came to the shores of Toronto, back then a city of 20,000 residents. Over 1,000 men, women, and children succumbed to the illnesses. The tragic events are commemorated in the group of sculptures by the world renowned Irish artist Rowan Gillespie. The park is quite small; 10 to 15 minutes is enough to tour the Ireland Park.

Nice spot to enjoy Toronto from the harborfront.

I am embarrassed by some of the ignorant and insensitive comments in the reviews. Do yourself a favour, read about the park first to understand the subject and the context of the location of this moving monument to an important event in the Canadian and world history. Then go and visit and contemplate your good fortune when compared to the struggles our predecessors had gone through in search of livelihood.

This park is like an escape from the city. You can enjoy the harborfront but not be amidst the chaos of Spadina street. It is usually very quiet and you can sit and watch some planes fly.

On Toronto’s waterfront you will find a poignant tribute to Irish #refugees, who made the harrowing #transatlantic journey to #Canada to escape starvation and disease during the #GreatFamine. Approximately one million people died, and millions more sought refuge around the globe. Ships carrying refugees were overcrowded and disease-ridden, providing ripe conditions for cholera and typhus to run rampant throughout the vessels. These boats, known as ‘#CoffinShip’, brought the sick, the indigent, the dead, and survivors to #America. In 1847 around 40,000 #Irish men, women and children landed on the shores of #Toronto. At the time Toronto had only 20,000 inhabitants, but the city welcomed twice more newcomers with open arms. Over 1.2 million Irish #immigrants arrived in Canada from 1825 to 1970 making them the second largest group after the #FrenchCanadians. The sculptures mirror a similar #FamineMemorial in #Dublin at the Bank of River #Liffey (the last picture). The monuments in Dublin represent The Departure with Toronto's sculptures being The Arrival. A total of seven sculptures stand on the dockside in Dublin, but this number is reduced to five on the Toronto waterfront to signify the tragic loss of life across the #Atlantic. These spine-chilling bronze statues detail the tragedy of the #GreatHunger. One statue depicts a man lying on the ground emaciated, while another displays a skeletal pregnant woman holding her bulging belly, followed by a meek child standing wide-eyed in stress. Another statue remains bent over with hands elapsed in #prayer, while the last one extends his hands to the sky in #salvation. In solemnity and quiet contemplation of the park, each statue represents an emotional connection to every immigrant’s journey: hope for new life, the tragedy of hardships, uncertainty for what lies ahead, and excitement for a new beginning. #IrelandPark is a centre for reflection, contemplation, and recognition of the past and the possibilities for the future. The park will surely inspire migrants and visitors of every nationality for years to come.

The park is an interesting spot in the lower harbour of the city across from the Island Airport. Unfortunately the area is under rehabilitation process so a bit messy currently. The statues are daunting reminder of the perils and struggle of immigration to our beautiful Canadian shores by many a pilgrims and sheds light on the suffering many endured. The park and its reminder not for everyone.