Easter Monday Annual Catalpa Commemoration
Free public event of oration, song, theatre and verse dedicated to the escape of six Irish Political Fenian Convicts on the ‘Catalpa’ American Whaler on Easter Monday, 17 April 1876
After the abortive rising of 1867, 62 Irish political prisoners were transported to Fremantle, WA on the last convict ship The Hougoumont. These prisoners were part of an Irish nationalist movement known as The Fenian Brotherhood whose aim was the establishment of an Irish Republic.
The first of these Fenians to escape was John Boyle O’Reilly on March 2, 1869. He escaped on the American Whaler ‘Gazelle’ from a point north of Bunbury.
This annual event commemorates the escape of 6 Irish Fenian prisoners on Easter Monday, 17 April 1876. But this Rockingham event had international significance involving Ireland, England, Australia and the USA.
With Hon Madeline King MP, Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, Mayor Deb Hamblin, Business leader Michael Malone, Anne Golden of Fremantle Fenian Committee who is a descendant of Hougoumont Fenian John Golden, actor Michael Sheehy, and music by WA Irish Pipers and more. Program coordinated by David McKnight.