About the Red Island website

This website is a compilation of information and photographs about Red Island and the people who lived there. It's purpose is to preserve some of the history of the outport community that had existed for over 150 years until the time of the government's resettlement program in the late 1960s. The community continues to thrive today as former residents and many of the younger generation have built summer homes and the harbour is rarely without visitors.

Brian Hennessey began developing this website in the 1980s as a project based solely on his love for Red Island.  He is the grandson of James McCarthy and Julia Reddy and was born in Yonkers, NY in 1947, the son of Anastasia (nee McCarthy) and John Hennessey. Brian spent countless hours (and a lot of money) visiting the province and researching Red Island\'s history and genealogy (especially the Argentia Parish records) in developing the Red Island family tree. That information has helped many misplaced Red Islanders reconnect with friends and retrace their family connections. His contributions to Red Island, and indeed Placentia Bay, genealogy were exceptional.  Unfortunately Brian passed in July, 2021 but the website will continue, dedicated to his memory.