Paul Murphy
One of the great prison escapes stories of the last 150 years will be vividly brought to life at Netterville House, Dowth Co Meath during the four-day John Boyle O’Reilly Festival in the Boyne Valley this weekend. The festival is0………………………000000000 launching on the 13 th running to the 16 th of August to mark the life and legacy of the Irish patriot John Boyle O’Reilly.
He escaped from a British penal colony in Western Australia in 1869 in what many historians regard as the most daring prison rescue in Irish history – the Catalpa rescue. A local committee around the Slane, Belfeddock, Dowth areas has come together to organise the cultural festival which also marks the 150 th anniversary of the Catalpa Rescue.
Dundalk historian and film maker Marcus Howard will present a special illustrated talk at the festival today Friday 14 th August at 7pm in Netterville House, Dowth. Howard says that the rescue of six Fenian prisoners from Fremantle Prison and their onward journey on the Catalpa whaling ship represents an audacious escapade that captivated the world. Boyle O’Reilly safely established himself in Boston after his own escape and worked alongside fellow Fenians to help plan and organise the remarkable mission that outwitted the British empire.
Marcus Howard’s talk will also shine a spotlight on one of the Boyne Valley’s forgotten heroes – Drogheda-born John Breslin. “Breslin risked everything by infiltrating Freemantle Prison , gathering vital intelligence and helping coordinate the prisoners’ daring escape, making him one of the central figures of one of Ireland’s greatest rescue mission The timing of this year’s festival is especially significant as the United States marks its 250 th anniversary. Audiences will discover how the Stars and Stripes played a pivotal role in one of Ireland’s great escape stories.
Flying the American flag, the Catalpa defied the might of the British empire, transforming an American whaling ship into an enduring symbol of freedom for Ireland”. Combining dramatic storytelling, rare photography, contemporary accounts and newly-restored
historical imagery, the presentation promises to transport audiences from the prisons of Western Australia to the streets of Boston and Ireland, revealing how ordinary Irishmen achieved an extraordinary feat that became a symbol of courage, determination and international solidarity.
The talk is expected to appeal to anyone with an interest in Irish history, the Fenian movement or the remarkable connection between Meath, Louth, Australia and America.
Above picture: The John Boyle O’Reilly Festival Committee. Missing from the picture is Ciaran Warfield.
