The flag of a ship used in a daring rescue of six Fenian prisoners in Australia will go on public view next month to mark the 150th anniversary of the jailbreak. The Catalpa whaling ship was used when six Fenian leaders — including two from Cork and one Limerick man — were broken out of custody in Fremantle in Western Australia in April 1876. A series of events is currently running in Fremantle to mark the anniversary. However, no national commemorative events have been planned in Ireland, apart from the public display of the flag of the Catalpa ship, which took the rescued men to the US. However, he said no application for a presidential pardon for the Catalpa Six had been received.

Source: Irish Examiner March 29, 2026 16:00 UTC