Irish Canadian – Jannet L. Walsh

Canada Day! Search for Irish Canadian ancestors, Irish genealogy tips

Jannet L. Walsh
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
77F, sunny
Murdock, Minnesota USA

Today is Canada Day, July 1, 2025. Canada’s national holiday is celebrated on July 1.

Canadians around the world show their pride in history, culture and achievements. Canada has been celebrating since 1868, with festivities are held across the nation. Learn more about Canada Day at the Government of Canada website.

I’m an American with Canadian heritage, very proud to say. My Walsh family from County Kilkenny, Ireland arrived in Canada as early as 1842 to Kingston and Wolfe Island, Ontario. They farmed and raised a family on Wolfe Island, staying 35 years, until departing in 1877, migrating south to Minnesota, joining an Irish Catholic colony started by the late Archbishop John Ireland in De Graff, Minnesota, a few miles from where I live today.

Send letters, cards by mail, start preserving family history

Jannet L. Walsh
Monday, June 30, 2025
Murdock, Minnesota

Dear Readers,

If you want to receive a letter, you need to write a letter first!

I’m writing you today to express my deepest concerns about the lost art of letter writing, including sending postcards, or greeting cards through the mail.

To be clear, letters and cards you can hold in your hand, write with ink and pen to create letters, forming words, sentences, next placed in an envelope, addressed, and attach postage stamps in the upper right corner of the envelope.

Writing grant ends for Creative Individuals grant, Minnesota State Arts Board, National Endowment for the Arts, 2024

Jannet Walsh is a fiscal year 2024 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Honoring John “Johnny” Francis O’Shea, May 15, 1932 -September 11, 2023, Wolfe Island’s bard, storyteller

Tribute, poem honoring John “Johnny” Francis O’Shea, May 15, 1932 -September 11, 2023, Wolfe Island’s bard, storyteller by Jannet L. Walsh.

Writing grant ends, Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Artist Growth Grant, McKnight Foundation, 2022-2024

Jannet L. Walsh
September 21, 2023
Murdock, Minnesota

Two round-trip from Murdock, Minnesota to Wolfe Island, Ontario, Canada now completed, about 4,800 miles.

I recently returned to Kingston and Wolfe Island, Ontario, Canada, August 28 to September 12. This is my second trip to Wolfe Island to explore my family roots on the largest island of the Thousands Island located in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, situated next to the international borders of Canada and the United States.

Walsh expedition continues to Wolfe Island 2022-2023, video posted

Jannet L. Walsh
September 21, 2023
Murdock, Minnesota

Two round-trip from Murdock, Minnesota to Wolfe Island, Ontario, Canada now completed, about 4,800 miles.

Featured story at IrishCentral — Directions for Ireland, travel and Irish genealogy, May 22, 2023

Jannet L. Walsh
May 22, 2023
Murdock, Minnesota

I’m excited to announce my story just published at IrishCentral, Directions for Ireland, travel and Irish genealogy, May 22, 2023.

An earlier version of the story appeared at JannetWalsh.com on March 27, 2023.

Luck of the Irish – Tracing the Lineage, Wolfe Island, Ontario, Canada

Jannet L. Walsh
March 18, 2023
Murdock, Minnesota

I’m excited to announce a story written by Brian P. Johnson, retired Captain of the Wolfe Islander III, of Kingston, Ontario, Canada, published today, March 18, 2023, at the West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minnesota. It’s another story about my adventures to Kingston and Wolfe Island, Ontario. This is the first publication of the story in the United States, with earlier versions published in Canada.

Search for Irish Canadian ancestors, Irish genealogy tips

Jannet L. Walsh
March 14, 2023
Murdock, Minnesota

I’m sharing a listing of resources for searching for Irish Canadian ancestors. If you are searching for your roots in Ireland, here is my Irish Genealogy toolkit to help get you started.

Enjoy!

Jannet

‘Irish Bard’ finds family roots on Wolfe Island by Brian P. Johnson, Thousand Islands Life

Jannet L. Walsh
February 15, 2023
Murdock, Minnesota

I’m excited to announce a story written by Brian P. Johnson, retired Captain of the Wolfe Islander III, of Kingston, Ontario, Canada, published today online at Thousand Islands Life, Feb. 15, 2023.