The main subjects of this story originated in Richibucto, a prominent community on the eastern shores of New Brunswick, not more than twenty miles by water to Prince Edward Island's West Point. Named by the Micmacs "River of Fire", Richibucto has a long history. The Basques were there as early as 1523 and records reveal that by the early 16003 this was the largest site of Indian vil— lages on the entire coast of the American continent. In the 1700s a growing number of French settlers appeared in the area, followed by residents of British origin and eventually by a few immigrants from Ireland.1

Richibucto in the early days was known mainly for its ships and in time it was to become one of the top shipping ports of New Brunswick. In the last century hundreds of beautiful vessels were built there, vessels that sailed to almost every port in the world. Shipbuilding declined in the 18803, but to those who remembered the old days there was nothing more inspiring than a full—rigged ship lustily furrowing the green foam. In its movements there was something typical of human life and the perseverance that wins the day "for although one ship sails east and the other west, by the self- same wind that blows, it's the set of the sails and not the gales which determine the way she goes." 2

Henry O'Leary, father of the two bishops, was born in Castle- town, County Cork, Ireland in 1836. Coming to this country at the age of sixteen, he landed at Chatham on an immigrant ship and walked through the woods to Kouchibouguac where he worked for Caie who was then building ships for Cunard. Later, the lure of salmon fishing called and he joined forces with the Callenders. In 1855 he moved to Richibucto where he opened a small store. From the beginning he prospered and eventually operated 27 lob- ster canneries from Point Sapin to Cocagne, as well as on Prince Edward Island. In addition, he had sawmills and stores at both Richibucto and Campbellton.3

In line with these business interests O'Leary was also a ship builder of note. One of his ships, the “Charles Stewart Parnell”, set

1