David Nelligan

Source: David Nelligan

David Nelligan emigrated with his parents from Dublin in the 1850s to a new life in Montreal. David did well at school and eventually entered the service of the Canadian Post Office in his adopted city where he was to carve out a successful middle-class career. He married Émilie Hudon, a member of one of the old families of the city, Catholic but French‑speaking. Their first child, Émile, was born on Christmas Eve, 1879. He was baptised on Christmas Day in Montreal’s ‘Irish church’, St. Patrick’s. The family was completed by the birth of two girls, Éva in 1881 and Gertrude in 1882. David had high hopes for his son and expected him to achieve success in the professions or business. He was to be bitterly disappointed. Though required and able to use French in the course of his work, he let it be known that he would not tolerate anyone, not even his wife and children, speaking French while he was at home.

David Nelligan’s outright disapproval led in the end to a complete rift between Irish father and Canadian son.