Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD was in Cork City Hall today to launch The Mannion Collection project. The project has resulted in a dedicated website – www.mannioncollection.ca – holding the digitised version of extensive records held by Dr John Mannion, retired Galway-born Professor of Geography at Memorial University of Newfoundland, and his wife and research partner, Maura, reflecting their lifetimes’ work on Irish emigration to, and settlement in Newfoundland.

Now available on a free to access online portal for the first time, the collection holds extensive information on the largest single migration from a small confined geographical area – that of Southeast Ireland – to another small confined geographical area in Newfoundland.

The project was jointly funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade and the Provincial Government of Newfoundland & Labrador and contains almost 160,000 records of individuals and families who migrated from South-East Ireland and settled in Newfoundland, primarily in the years 1765 – 1835.

Speaking at today’s launch An Taoiseach said: “I was delighted to be asked to officiate at this launch which expresses the spirit of the second sentence of Article 2 of our Constitution, revised as part of the Good Friday Agreement, that now reads: ”… the Irish nation cherishes its special affinity with people of Irish ancestry living abroad who share its cultural identity and heritage.

“Moreover, I thoroughly enjoyed the examples…