nd in Pictou, and on Sydney on the island of
             Cape Breton, and in the village of Arichat on the Isle of Madame as
             well.[10] Most of the early Irish population in Nova Scotia were Catholic
             and were legally prohibited by the English from practicing their religion
             for many years, creating in great conflict between the two groups and
             resulting in the Irish support of the French, who were Roman Catholic.[11]
             Many Irish at that time still perceived the English as the enemy and even
             "adapted a philosophy of the enemy of my enemy is my friend' when they
             became involved in the conflicts of the two colonial powers."[12]
             Still, a large number of Irish made their way tot the island
             provinces of Prince Edward and Newfoundland, two areas which most resembled
             Ireland, especially the coast land of Newfoundland, and were ideal for the
             type of agriculture and fishery the Irish were accustomed.[13] In fact
             even today, Canada's largest producer of potatoes are Prince Edward and
             Newfoundland.[14] So similar to Ireland was Prince Edward, that it too was
             suggested by many to be called New Ireland.[15]
             More than half a million Irish had immigrated to British North
             America by the 1850's and today the descendants of those immigrants
             comprise more than ten percent of the Canadian population.[16] The Irish,
             being English speaking, were able to participate more directly in Canadian
             ...