Retrace the Footsteps of Irish Ancestors

Chaudière-Appalaches. This activity was part of our 2-Day Road Trip in Chaudière-Appalaches designed for families and individuals interested in unique travel experiences.

Located in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, Grosse île was a quarantine station for the port of Québec from 1832 to 1937. Grosse île is known for its evocative landscapes, inspiring nature, and moving history. Visitors to the village and hospital sector (accessible by trolley or by foot) are given the opportunity to delve into the lives of past inhabitants, employees and immigrants of the island. Visitors can also admire the impressive Isle-aux-Grues archipelago by taking the Mirador Trail.

For those interested in retracing the footsteps of their Irish ancestors, Grosse île houses the Irish Memorial which bears the names of people who died either on Grosse-Île or on the boats: immigrants, employees and sailors.

Grosse Île is accessible by boat or by plane. For our particular visit, we boarded the Croisières Lachance at the Berthier-sur-Mer marina in order to visit the island. Berthier-sur-Mer is located about 40 minutes east of Québec City and approximately three hours from Montreal.

Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site will appeal to history-enthusiasts, nature-lovers, and those who are interested in learning more about their Irish ancestry. Before our trip to the region of Grosse Île, we had actually never heard of the island before.

Ultimately, it proved to be an enriching and enjoyable visit for the entire family. The particular tour we chose to explore the island was family-friendly. Apart from having park guides show us around and inform us of the histories associated with the various areas of Grosse île, we also "travelled through time" to meet several of the island's past inhabitants (aka costumed interpreters/actors) to learn more about its fascinating (albeit at times grim) history.

The kids (adults included) also enjoyed the boat cruise to and from the island. The Croisières Lachance crew gave Kiarra and Seamus a turn at being captains. They were thrilled to be given the opportunity to steer the boat on our way to Grosse île.

Though admittedly I was a bit nervous at first given our kids have never undergone a tour that lasted for several hours before, I was relieved to find the tour kept them interested and occupied. The tour allowed for breaks in between visiting the various areas of the island giving us and the kids enough time to explore on our own, catch a breather, and grab a few snacks from the island's store.

Be prepared for some walking involved when exploring Grosse Île. Though there is a trolley you can catch to visit various parts of the island, there are areas such as the celtic cross and Irish Memorial which require some hiking and walking uphill.

There are no restaurants on the island. For a quick snack, there is a small store selling a few snack items available. You may bring food to the island with you. There are several indoor and outdoor tables on the island where you can sit down and have a picnic of sorts during a break in between your tour.

You select the themed tour you wish to take just prior to boarding the boat to Grosse île. When choosing a themed tour, there are a couple recommended for families with young children. If in doubt, the guides available on the Berthier-sur-Mer Marina before you board the boat to Grosse île will be able to assist you and make some recommendations.

Open from May to October
June 18 to September 3 : every day
September 4 to October 8: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday *
* Open on Friday for groups only, reservation in advance required
Please note that on May 2, May 3 and October 8, 2018, the transportation will only be available by plane

Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site is located in the Isle-aux-Grues archipelago (approximately 3h from Montreal)

Persons under 17 yrs old are free to enter the park. Daily entrance rate for an adult is $17.60CDN.

Croisières Lachance's cruise fees:
Children (6-12 yrs) $12.99CDN
Children (13-17 yrs) $53.99CDN
Children (18+ yrs) $66.99CDN
Children (65+ yrs) $64.99CDN
Family (2 adults + 2 children 6-12 years old) $179.99CDN

Please note that transport fees (by boat or by plane) to get to Grosse Île apply in addition to Parks Canada admission fees. The schedule and duration of visits vary according to the carriers' packages.

Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site
Croisières Lachance

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Photo: Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site