French fisherman used the area as a base in the 1500's for fishing and privateering and they continued to use St. Mary's until 1713. Afterwards English merchants arrived with Irish fishing servants and pemanent settlements soon followed. Early Portuguese named the community, the bay and the cape all in honor of Portugal's patron saint; St. Mary.
St. John's, the oldest city in North America, is the capital of Newfoundland Labrador. St. John's is only 20 minutes away from the Irish Loop and is home to the St. John's International Airport.
Salmonier is the home of the Salmonier Nature Park. This provincial park gives all visitors a chance to see the wildlife of Newfoundland in their natural environment. Many of the animals had been injured in the wild and, due to these injuries, are not able to be released. The Salmonier Nature Park is both scenic and relaxing for people of all ages.
St. Vincent’s, St. Stephen’s,
Peters River are located at the eastern entrance of St. Mary’s Bay were
undoubtedly visited by French, and Portuguese migratory fisherman in the
1500’s, 1600’s, and 1700’s. Permanent settlement began shortly
thereafter with the arrival of English and Irish settlers who established a
local salmon fishery. St. Vincent’s
first appeared on a Portuguese map in 1519, as Porta de Cruz. Until
1910, it was often called Holyrood South or Holyrood Pond to distinguish it
from Holyrood, Conception Bay. St. Stephen’s, previously known as
Middle Gut, was renamed in honour of Father Stephen O’Driscoll of
St. Mary’s. Peters River is said to have originated from the French
word Pierre and was named by French Fisherman. This area is known for
its scenery, large variety of birds, whale watching, and trails.
St.
Vincent's is also home to the Fisherman's Museum.
The French, Spanish, Basque, Portuguese, and West County England fisherman as a summer fishing station originally used St. Shott’s. In the late 1700’s, English and Irish settlers begin to arrive in the area. St. Shott’s appears on early maps as Cape de Chincete, deriving from the old French meaning ragged, referring to the rugged coastline and underwater shoals.
Spanish, Portuguese, and French fisherman visited Trepassey in the early1500’s. Early English settlement attempts failed, and it was not until the latter part of the 1600’s that the French settled in the area. Later fisherman from the West County of England arrived to be followed by large numbers of Irish and by the 1770’s they formed the majority of the population. Trepassey originates from the French word trepasses, meaning the ‘dead or departed’. It is believed that it acquired this name due to the many shipwrecks that occurred off its coast. Trepassey is the hub of the Southern Avalon Peninsula.
Portugal Cove South was originally visited by the Basque, English, French, and Portuguese migratory fisherman and originally settled in the late 1700’s by William Henry of Waterford County, Ireland. It is believed to have taken its name from having been a Portuguese fishing station in the 1500’s. Portugal Cove South is the entry area to the Cape Race Cable Station that received the distress call from the Titanic on April 14, 1912.
Lord Baltimore founded a settlement in Ferryland in 1621. He is the same person who later founded the US State of Maryland, and the English predominated here until the Irish started arriving in the 18th and 19th centuries. While there is some disagreement over the origin of the name, early French fisherman referred to the area as Forillon that meant, “standing out or separated from the mainland,” this evolved to become Ferryland. Ferryland is home to Colony of Avalon Archaeological Site and the Shamrock Folk Festival
The English first tried to colonize Cape Broyle in 1618, but did not succeed. Later in the 1780’s the Irish settlers began arriving and the community began to grow. There are two theories on how Cape Broyle got its name. Originally many believed that the name was derived from the Portuguese word albrolho, meaning a pointed rock in the sea. More recently it is believed that it is a derivative of brolle, meaning to roar, referring to a ledge of sunken rock jutting out from the cape and causing white water to form at the bay’s entrance. Cape Broyle is known for a rock formation called the Devils Stairway that has to be seen to be believed. Legend says that Satan left his footprints in the face of the cliff.
Migratory fisherman and planters were some of the first people to settle in Tors Cove year round. They began arriving in the late 1600’s. Later Irish settlers arrived and worked in the inshore fishery. Prior to 1910, the community usually appeared on maps as either Toad Cove or Toad’s Cove, possibly derived from the Old English word tode meaning a fox. Tors Cove is the entryway into the Avalon Wilderness Reserve.
Migratory fisherman from England first settled Witless Bay. In the latter part of the 1700’s, large numbers of Irish began settling in the area. Folklore states that one of the original inhabitants of the area was Captain Whittle and his family from Dorestshire, England. The area was originally named Whittles’ Bay. Upon the death of Captain Whittle, his widow and her children returned to England. Hence, the remaining inhabitants referred to Whittles’ Bay as Whittle-less Bay and eventually Witless Bay. Witless Bay is home to the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve.
Bay Bulls is one of the oldest communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. French fisherman used the harbour in the 1500’s but by 1635 English fisherman were spending their winters in the area. It is believed by some that Bay Bulls is a corruption of the French Baie de Bos, which means wooded bay others believe that it may be a reference to the Common Dovekie, also known as a “bull-bird”. Bay Bulls is the main centre for bird and whaleboat tours and hiking and camping activities.
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Maps from 1519 referred to Aquaforte
as R. da Aguea, meaning fast or strong water. This may have referred to
a local waterfall that empties into the harbour. Later R. da Aguea
evolved into Aquaforta and eventually into Aquaforte.
By the late
1700's seasonal fishing crews were visiting the area, however it was not until
the early 1800's the pernament settlement occurred when English fisherman began
to stay year round.
Origin of the name Fermeuse dates back to
maps from the early 1500's that refer to the area as R.Fermoso and Rio Fremoze.
There is no agreement on the meaning of the word, some believe that it is a
derivative of Fermosa which in Portuguese means beauty. Fermeuse Harbour was
not settled until the 1700's when migratory fishermen from England decided to
settle. By the late 1700's and into the early 1800's Irish settlement
increases.
Jacque Cartier (1536) referred to Renews as Hable Rougnose, which is associated with the French word rogneux, meaning rugged or scrappy shore. Visited from the 1500's, first by the French, Portuguese, and English migratory fisherman. By the 1800's, the community was settled by Irish immigrants.
Cappahayden originally referred to as
Broad Cove, is believed to have been renamed after the village of
Cappahayden in Ireland.
Visited from the 1500's, first by the
French, Portuguese, and English migratory fisherman. By the 1800's, the
community was settled by Irish immigrants.
Cape Race
Welcome to the Irish Loop of Newfoundland, Canada. Located on the southern portion of the Avalon Peninsula, the Irish Loop is truly a unique vacation experience. The people of the Irish Loop are some of the friendliest people you will meet anywhere in the world. We are the same today as our forefathers were hundreds of years ago. So come on, take a tour, and let us show you what the Irish Loop is all about! There are no strangers here...just friends you haven't met yet.
The Irish Loop, "You're Going To Want To Stay!"
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