“Say that you’ll stay forever and a day in the time of my life” – Noel Gallagher.
Just when you think Toronto can’t get any stranger, you stumble across the Republic Of Rathnelly. Sorry what? Sorry where? Yes it’s me again and I am backpacking, whackpacking and nutspacking another “wacaday republic”!!
Hidden away in the southeastern corner of South Hill, Rathnelly is one of the Toronto’s quirkiest neighbourhoods. It gets its name from a house built in 1830 by William McMaster, who named it after his hometown of Rathnelly in Ireland. So yes, this tiny corner of Toronto has genuine Irish roots. Things took a wonderfully bizarre turn in the 1960s. Angry at Toronto city plans to bulldoze parts of the neighbourhood for an expressway and frustrated over local planning decisions, residents decided they weren’t going to take it quietly.
Backpacking🎒In The Republic Of Rathnelly: This Unique Neighbourhood
Instead, on Canada Day – 1st July 1967, during Canada’s Centennial celebrations – Rathnelly declared itself an independent country! It was now the Republic Of Rathnelly!!
Newspaper report on Rathnelly – now a Republic!
The self-proclaimed Republic of Rathnelly crowned its own queen, held a colourful parade, launched an “air force” consisting of around 1,000 helium balloons, and even issued Republic of Rathnelly passports to everyone living there. It’s exactly the sort of wonderfully bonkers story I love discovering on my travels. I have backpacked over 40 lesser recognised countries before, including –
- Sark
- Uzupis
- Herm
- Alderney
- Romkerhall
- Seborga
- Tavolara
- Podjistan
- Western Sahara
- Northern Cyprus
- Druze
- Barony Of Caux
- Freetown Christiania
- The Kingdom Of Lovely
- Lagoan Isles
- Adammia
- Austenasia
- Gibraltar
- Gagauzia
- Transnistria
- San Escobar
- Frestonia
- The Sovereign Military Order Of Malta
So it is clearly right up my street to go here and so I did…I rocked down to Rathnelly Avenue!!
Canada To Rathnelly Border
Republic Of Rathnelly Street Signs
The Republic Of Rathnelly still lives on in spirit today. Every two years, locals celebrate “Rathnelly Day” with a huge street party, proving that this tiny “nation” hasn’t lost its independent streak. If you’re backpacking around Toronto and fancy visiting one of the world’s most unusual micronations, Rathnelly deserves a spot on your itinerary. In my other post, I highlighted my top 12 sights, so what are you waiting for? Go backpacking in Rathnelly!
Backpacking🎒In The Republic Of Rathnelly: An Insight Into This Micronation Bordering Canada In Toronto
