Preserving and promoting awareness in the history and heritage of the Gatineau Valley since 1962
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Saturday, April 26, 2025 at La Fab Sur Mill, 8 Ch. Mill, Chelsea
Time: 2:30 p.m. ~ 4 p.m.
Public Workshop:
A Thousand Years in a Word: An Interactive Journey Through Irish Language and History
Presenter: Dónall Ó Dubhghaill
Discover the deep connection between the Irish language and the history that shaped it in this engaging, interactive workshop. Through a dynamic word-creation game, participants will explore key moments in Irish history—from ancient monasteries to Viking raids, Gaelic culture, colonial upheaval, and the Great Famine—while learning about the resilience of this globally endangered language. No prior knowledge of Irish or its history is needed!
This immersive experience will provide a new appreciation for the language’s significance and set the stage for a follow-up historical lecture on its decline and survival.
Join us to uncover the past, shape new words, and connect with a language that refuses to be forgotten!
Reservations are mandatory for attendance due to limited space.
Please contact GVHS board member Della Lacharity until Wednesday April 23rd, 2025 by phone at 613-794-9143 or by email at jasmagjac@yahoo.ca
Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the Heritage Hall in Low
Time - 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Public Lecture:
The Lost Language – Irish Gaelic in the Gatineau Valley
Presenter: Dónall Ó Dubhghaill
This lecture will explore the history of the Irish Gaelic language in the Gatineau Valley, tracing its arrival with 19th-century Irish immigrants and its subsequent decline. Despite the region’s strong Irish heritage, the language has nearly disappeared, shaped by historical events such as British colonial policies, the Great Famine, and cultural assimilation.
Through census records, oral histories, and local folklore, the presentation will uncover the hidden linguistic past of the area and examine the broader decline of Irish Gaelic in Canada. It will offer valuable insights into the Irish immigrant experience in Canada and encourage meaningful discussions about language preservation.
Videos from recent speaker series posted on GVHS Facebook
April 9, 2024
The Irish of the Gatineau and Ottawa Valleys 
November 22, 2023
Tessouat, Chief of the Kichsipperinin Algonquin-Anishinabe Nation
An Ancient Cultural Landscape in the Heart of the Capital Region
September 27, 2023
Challenges in the Protection and Conservation of Archaeological Resources In the National Capital Region
Pat Evans Archives
Chelsea Library downstairs
By appointment
Contact info@gvhs.ca.
New on website
St. Andrews United Church, Cantley. An Historical Sketch.
Establishment of a Methodist Mission 1876-1976 by Eirene McClelland.
Tributes - Gatineau personalities and historical events
A selection of articles and stories by Ernie Mahoney on people and places in the Gatineau Valley.
Publications of Local Interest
Past Event
November 15, 2024
Remembrance Day Ceremony
at the Chelsea Pioneer Cemetery and Cenotaph
Other past events.