City of Ottawa designates part of ByWard Market as ‘Irish Village’

Ottawa has an "Irish Village” in the ByWard Market to celebrate the city’s Irish heritage. (CTV News Ottawa)

Ottawa has an “Irish Village” in the ByWard Market to celebrate the city’s Irish heritage.

“Irish Village – Sráidbhaile Gaelach” was unveiled in an event outside the Heart and Crown (The Snug Pub) on Parent Avenue Thursday at 2 p.m.

St. Patrick Street and Parent Avenue are the designated roads for the village, Irish Society of the National Capital Region said in a news release.

“(The initiative) marks the first anniversary of the passing of Larry Bradley—beloved publican, philanthropist, and the man who coined ‘The Irish Village’ and all those Irish men and women who have gone before,” reads the release.

The event was attended by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, city councillors, Irish Embassy officials, Irish Society board members and local community members.

“We’re so delighted to be here today, because we have a long connection between the two countries, obviously. We have friendship that goes back generations,” Sutcliffe said.

“We also tremendously value the important contributions of the Irish community to our city. The Irish arrived in our city around 200 years ago and immediately started contributing to the building of our city, including our historic Rideau Canal Skateway.”

Tim Tierney, the Ottawa city councillor representing Beacon Hill-Cyrville ward, brought forward the motion to city council earlier this year to officially designate the area as the Irish Village.

The event included a ribbon-cutting, a street sign unveiling, live Irish music and tributes.

The new initiative is in partnership with the Irish Society of the National Capital Region.