The Forgotten Migration: Unearthing a Lost Chapter of Irish‑Canadian History
Aired on RTÉ Lyric FM, 4 January and produced by Chris Nikkel, lecturer at the National Film School, IADT, The Forgotten Migration is a striking example of research-led, practice-based audio storytelling that combines history, memory, and craft.
A Lost Journey Re‑discovered
At the heart of the documentary is the largely forgotten 1825 migration from County Cork to Ontario, when Irish families resettled in the newly developing lands of Upper Canada. While their journey has faded from mainstream historical narratives, these migrants carried with them a powerful cultural inheritance: a rich folk-song tradition.
Decades later, these songs would be uncovered by renowned folklorist Edith Fowke, who recorded more than 2,000 songs from Irish-Canadian communities. Her work reshaped the understanding of Canadian folk music and revealed a resilient, deeply rooted Irish cultural identity that endured far from home.
Two Centuries, Two Shores, One Story
Two hundred years after the original voyage, descendants of those emigrants have returned to Cork for a deeply moving commemoration. Their journey — emotional, personal, and symbolic — reconnects the threads of family history across the Atlantic.
The Forgotten Migration is also a story about colonialism—Irish emigrants fleeing its consequences in Ireland, and then finding they are part of those consequences for the First Nations people in Canada.
Through rarely heard voices and songs from both Ireland and Canada, The Forgotten Migration explores how memory, music, and place intertwine to sustain identity across centuries and continents.
A National Film School Approach to Storytelling
The documentary embodies the National Film School’s commitment to socially engaged, research-informed storytelling. Drawing on archival material, historical investigation, and contemporary reflection, Nikkel crafts an audio narrative that bridges past and present with sensitivity and creative insight.
Listen to the Documentary
🎧 Listen on RTÉ Lyric FM:
https://www.rte.ie/radio/lyricfm/clips/22571852/
The Forgotten Migration is an independent production by Chris Nikkel for RTÉ Lyric FM, supported by the Royal Irish Academy’s Commemoration Bursary. The Forgotten Migration is part of a practice-based PhD project at LUCA School of Arts, in Belgium.