We are committed to resurrecting dormant or vanished memories of the Irish men and women who fought for Ireland, fled to the United States and died on American soil. They are part of a centuries-old tradition of resistance to English rule in Ireland, and Irish America is innately tied to them, their effort and their sacrifice. Remembering them, and indeed memorializing them, is our duty. This work helps us remember where we have come from and where Ireland is headed in its continuing journey towards reunification and independence.
We invite you to join us by supporting our financial and educational efforts!
Remembering the Fenians
September 30, 2023 | Pawtucket, RI
Catalpa Six Grave Markers
The work of the Fenian Memorial Committee of America is centered on remembering the Fenians and other Irish revolutionaries who are buried in the USA.
On Saturday, November 16, 2021, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA at Saint Mary’s Cemetery, the Fenian Memorial Committee of America honored James McNally Wilson on the 100th anniversary of his death at the grave marker we had previously placed for him. He was one of the six Fenian escapees on the vessel Catalpa which sailed from Western Australia to New York in 1876. The Fenian Memorial Committee has also placed gravestones for three other Catalpa escapees, Michael Hogan (Chicago) and Robert Cranston and Thomas Darragh (Philadelphia). We also placed a commemorative stone at the gravesite of Father Patrick McCabe (Minnesota), who helped facilitate the escape and spent the rest of his life in exile as a parish priest in America.
On Saturday, October 15, 2022, a crowd of over 125 people gathered at the graves of Fenians Michael Harrington and Thomas Hassett in Calvary Cemetery, Queens, NY. Both were Catalpa escapees from the infamous Fremantle Gaol in Western Australia. Thanks to our supporters, we were able to raise the necessary funds to accomplish this, even though we had to endure a drought of donations during the pandemic. It took us a lot longer than we intended–almost three years–but we did it. Many organizations and individuals generously sent money and helped with logistics and publicity. We thank all of you who helped with this effort. We especially want to thank Joe Byrne and Ed Johnson, FMCA board members, for their tireless work on this project, as well as our matching fund donor, Peter Kissell of Washington, D.C. who remained anonymous until we reached our goal.
We are also grateful to Dennis McCarthy and officers of The County Cork PB&B of NY, James McGlashin of the FMCA Board and the many volunteers, especially members of the O’Donovan Rossa GAA Club form Astoria, Queens who helped organize and prepare on the day itself. Andrew Nagle, administrator of Calvary Cemetery was also a tremendous help. Annie and Tomas McLaughlin helped with photos and layout and design of the memorial booklet.
Our thanks go out to the speakers, musicians and singers, color guard, attending priests and great-grandson of the Catalpa Captain, George Anthony. They all helped this be a day to remember and to renew our pride in our Fenian heritage.
Read more about the voyage of the Catalpa and the effort to recognize Fenians Hassett and Harrington at Irish America
Go raibh maith agat aris! Thank you again!
For donations by mail:
Make Checks Payable to:
Fenian Memorial Committee of America
Mail to:
Fenian Memorial Committee of America
P.O. Box 10416
Cranston, RI 02910