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| Middle Island |
A popular local recreation park, Middle Island has rich historical significance, first as a fishing spot for mackerel
and gaspereaux which were exported to the West Indies in exchange for rum and molasses. Later, in the mid-1800s, the island
was used as a reception quarantine for Irish immigrants.
Located on the southern shore and accessible via a short causeway off Water Street, the Middle Island Interpretive Centre
tells the story of Irish immigrants who journeyed through thick and thin to a New World that was often less welcoming than
they had hoped. Legends and lives haunt this place where many were quarantined, some never to leave. Tales are told of the
conditions these intrepid travelers sought to escape, the trials they endured on the high seas and the challenges faced here
at Miramichi, gateway to the New World.
Key Goals and Strategies
• Enhance the features of Middle Island to merit classification as
a Ecomuseum destination site.
• Provide suitable facilities to commemorate and celebrate Irish culture in the
Miramichi.
• Restore Middle Island to a natural state with native plantings and by redirecting vehicular circulation
and parking.
• Provide recreation opportunities for Miramichi residents that are compatible with the natural and
cultural attributes of the island.
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