Rare American flag used by Irish prisoners in 1800s to go on display in Co Kilkenny
Sarah Slater
An extremely rare American flag used to help Irish prisoners in the 1800s is to go on display in Kilkenny to mark Independence Day on July 4th.
The flag will go on display on Friday and Saturday as the US marks 250 years.
The Catalpa Flag was used to help six Fenian prisoners escape from Australia aboard the Catalpa whaling ship in 1876.
The prisoners set off on a small rowboat from Rockingham Pier in Perth on the morning of April 17th that year to meet the awaiting ship, which was in international waters.
The ship’s captain, George Smith Anthony, hoisted the US flag and, pointing towards it, warned that an attack on the Catalpa would be considered an attack on the USA.
The prisoners eventually made it to freedom in the US.
The prisoners were among 62 Irish men transported following the rebellion of 1867. The six men who managed to escape were some of the last remaining in Fremantle Prison after most others had already received pardons.
John O’Reilly, a Kilkenny priest, managed to send a letter back to Ireland to let them know that the prisoners were free. News of the successful escape only reached Ireland at the start of June.
Fr O’Reilly, who later became an Archbishop is credited with having received the American flag from that ship. He sent it back to his family in Kilkenny.
More than 40 years ago O’Reilly’s grandnephew donated the flag to the Kilkenny Archaeological Society, and has never been on display before.
The flag will be displayed at the Society’s headquarters in Rothe House and Garden in Kilkenny City, marking 150 years since the prisoners’ escape.
Mary Ann Vaughan from Rothe House explained that it was a difficult escape for the prisoners and that they were “pursued” by an armed steamer, but by using the American flag, it helped them to freedom.
