Located on a site where monuments of Montreal’s past and present meet, the Montreal Irish Monument Park project transforms the historic Black Rock site into a place of remembrance, gathering, and cultural reflection.

Envisioned by Lemay in collaboration with the Montreal Irish Monument Park Foundation, the Black Rock is the world’s oldest Irish Famine memorial.

The new design pays homage to this historic site through architecture and landscape, preserving its solemnity while fostering contemplation, education, and communal engagement.

At the centre of the space is a terraced agora, where the centrepiece of the Black Rock is framed by a water feature that mirrors the sky and evokes the Irish immigrants’ ocean crossing.

A memorial wall carved with 6,000 Celtic crosses extends across the site. An elongated form resembles the hull of a ship.

Corten steel, locally quarried stone, and sustainably sourced timber contribute to durability and a reduced ecological footprint.

The surrounding landscape features vast green spaces punctuated by natural stone. A museum pavilion provides visitors with exhibitions and programming illuminating the legacy of Irish immigration and its lasting imprint on Montreal.