I would have assumed that the links between French Canadian Irish and/or Newfoundland (about 1/2 Irish descent) were formed elsewhere, but in reading about the potato famine some people have claimed it originated in Quebec province after the famine, during the famine, when the ships came and discharged their dying cargo on the banks of the river...the French Canadians were absolutely saintly in many instances, taking in orphans, providing medical help, food etc. I would say it is saintly to give people food and clothes and drop off medicines a few miles away from them, but it is beyond that when you take diseased orphans into your homes. L Anyway, that is where "they" say the great integration of Irish and French Canadian music began, although of course it would have been taking place in seaports etc. even before that..and I don't know how many Irish made it to France but a lot of French did settle in Ireland...and parts of Newfoundland area still belong to France and other areas were strongly disputed in the past...Terra Neuve anyone? mg