Calls to commemorate 150th anniversary of Fenians' Catalpa jailbreak

External affairs minister Desmond FitzGerald welcoming veteran Fenian John Devoy, right, as he arrived in Cobh for his first visit to Ireland in 45 years on July 28, 1924. Picture: Irish Examiner Archive

The Government is being urged to organise a formal national commemoration to honour the 150th anniversary of “the largely forgotten” daring operation which led to the escape of Fenians from a British penal colony in Australia.

It will also be asked to recommend a posthumous presidential pardon for the six who were rescued from Fremantle in Western Australia in what became known as the Catalpa expedition, which was organised by John Devoy and John Boyle O’Reilly with finance raised by Irish-Americans.