A QUIET return to Fremantle has brought with it a remarkable family story, as the Fenians Festival 2026 marks 150 years since one of Australia’s most daring escapes.
The week-long festival, centred on the 1876 Catalpa rescue, commemorates the moment six Irish political prisoners escaping from a convict work detail from Fremantle Prison and fled to freedom aboard an American whaler.
Among the special guests is Jim Ryan, the great grandson of Catalpa captain George Anthony, who has travelled from the United States to reflect on a story he says still resonates.
Intense
“I think it has all the intense Irish kind of feelings to it, the right, the wrong; saving somebody,” Mr Ryan said.
“It’s about loyalty. It’s about taking care of people when they’re in trouble.”
The visit has also been a personal journey, sparked by family research stretching back centuries.
“We went all the way back to the 1600s,” Mr Ryan told the Herald.
“We learned that there were leaders on both sides, religious people on both sides… an awful lot of Quakers.”
That heritage, he believes, helps explain his ancestor’s role in the audacious mission.
“Quakers really believe in justice… they believe that the downtrodden, the convict, needs to be respected,” he said.
“I can understand why he could make moral and ethical decisions, because there was so many in the past.”
Anthony, a first mate rather than a seasoned captain, was drawn into the rescue after a clandestine approach in New Bedford.
“He was never a captain before this event,” Mr Ryan said.
“I think… he got the chance to go on the water and do something good.”
The risks were immense, with the mission carried out in secrecy, even from the Catalpa crew.
“One of the things that struck me… all the things that could have gone wrong that didn’t go wrong,” he said.
The anniversary has struck a chord far beyond history buffs, with Mr Ryan noting the pride the story inspires.
“I’m humbled by how much people respect what happened here.”
Events across Fremantle include music, poetry, talks and a family day, along with a history symposium and performances exploring the escape. The festival begins at 6pm on Monday, March 23 with the launch of Catalpa Escape to Freedom at Fremantle Prison, followed by “Catalpa: Flight to Freedom” at 7pm the same night.
Symposium
A History Symposium will run from 11am to 3.30pm on Friday, March 27 at the Buffalo Club, with music events continuing into the evening.
On Saturday, March 28, Oral History in the Pub will take place across Fremantle venues, alongside a headline concert by Declan O’Rourke that night.
A Family Day will be held at the WA Maritime Museum on Sunday, March 29, featuring tours, workshops and activities from the afternoon, including a live podcast recording from 4pm to 5pm.
The festival runs through to Tuesday, March 31. See www.fremantlefenians.com.au for the full details.
by STEVE GRANT