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Sinn Féin's Seanad leader, Senator Conor Murphy, has called on the Irish government to properly mark the 150th anniversary of the Catalpa Escape, which occurs this year, highlighting the significant Newry connection to the historic event. The senator has raised the matter twice in the Seanad in recent weeks, expressing concern at the lack of official commemoration.
The Catalpa Escape took place on 17 April 1876, when six Fenian prisoners broke out of Fremantle Prison in Western Australia. Among them was James Wilson, whose real name was James McNally, a native of Newry.
Senator Murphy outlined McNally's story: "In 1867 James McNally, an IRB member from Newry who had infiltrated the British military, was court martialled and sentenced to death. This was later commuted to life imprisonment and hard labour and in 1867 he was placed aboard the Hougoumont, the last convict ship to sail to Australia, with 280 convicts amongst them 59 Fenians prisoners."
The remaining five prisoners were Thomas Darragh from County Wicklow, Michael Harrington and Thomas Hassett from County Cork, Robert Cranston from County Tyrone, and Martin Hogan from County Limerick.
The escape was set in motion in 1876 when McNally smuggled a letter from the penal colony at Fremantle to Fenian and IRB leader in America, John Devoy. Senator Murphy explained that the letter prompted a major fundraising effort in America, led by John Boyle-O'Reilly, which raised enough money to purchase a whaler, the Catalpa, which sailed from New Bedford, Massachusetts to the coast of Western Australia.
When the prisoners boarded the vessel, a four-hour standoff followed when a police boat pursued them and ordered them to stop. The prisoners refused, flying the Stars and Stripes, and the Catalpa made its escape. The ship arrived in New York on 19 August 1876 to what Senator Murphy described as "wild celebrations."
Senator Murphy said: "This audacious escape by 6 Fenian prisoners from Western Australia's Freemantle Prison demonstrates the resilience and courage of republican prisoners, it is the stuff of legends, has inspired other escape attempts by republican prisoners, and should be marked by the state."
The senator acknowledged that the escape has been celebrated in Fremantle and in Boston, but said the Irish government's only recognition to date has been the exhibition of the Catalpa flag on 18 and 19 April.
Senator Murphy concluded: "The courage of these men, and the bravery of those involved in the rescue, must be properly commemorated on the island of Ireland."
