About

 

                              Cead Mile Failte!


Welcome to the on-line home of the Durham Irish Association of Canada, based out of Durham Region, Ontario. All the information you need to know will be noted in detail in this area. Be sure to check back frequently for updates and new information. Our association is non-profit, non-sectarian and non-political and is dedicated to the preservation and celebration of Irish culture and heritage.Our association is social in nature and our activities include getting together on the third Sunday of each month at an Irish pub. Currently, we meet at the Irish Times Pub in Pickering. Here, we talk, listen to Irish music and perhaps get up for a song ourselves. We also take group trips several times a year to the Toronto Irish Players Theatre for Irish plays, plan trips to wineries, host dances and Christmas parties, offer Gaelic lessons and direct members to Irish Dance studios in the region, participate in Toronto's St. Patrick's Day Parade, among other activities.

If you would like to get a membership, or if you would just like to speak with someone about the Association, please contact our president, Marian Sheridan at mariansheridan@rogers.com.

Memebership is open to those of Irish descent or to anyone who has an interest in Irish culture and heritage.

DIA Committee 2022-2023:
President:                        Marian Sheridan 

 

 

 

 

10 th Anniversary

History

The Durham Irish Association was established in 2003 by a group of concerned people of Irish descent interested in preserving and celebrating Irish culture and heritage in the Durham Region of Ontario.

The Irish community has very strong roots in the Durham Region. Indeed, Irish people were some of the very first settlers in the area and have made many contributions to the area’s history.

The DIA is concerned that, with the recent decline in emigration from Ireland to Canada, Irish traditions and culture are in danger of becoming a thing of the past.

As a non-profit, non-political and non-sectarian association the DIA is totally inclusive and strives to bring together people from all corners of Ireland, and others of similar views to preserve the strong Irish traditions of song, story, music dance and sport.

 

 


The Irish have had, and continue to have, a profound influence on Canada.

The following statistics are from the 2006 Census of Canada.


 

 

Canadians of Irish descent by province and territory
Province/TerritoryIrish Canadian
population
Percentage of Population
Newfoundland and Labrador107,39021.5%
Prince Edward Island39,17029.2%
Nova Scotia195,36521.6%
New Brunswick150,70521.0%
Quebec406,0855.5%
Ontario1,988,94016.5%
Manitoba151,91513.4%
Saskatchewan145,48015.3%
Alberta539,16016.6%
British Columbia618,12015.2%
Yukon5,73519.0%
Northwest Territories4,86011.8%
Nunavut1,2204.2%
Canada4,354,15513.9%