A standing-room-only, sold-out crowd met at the New York Irish Center on the evening of August 19, 2026 to remember and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the returning of the Catalpa. After some songs and tunes by an excellent traditional band, historian Marcus Howard recounted the details of the planning, coordination, and bravery of the fenians who made and executed the plan to break 6 fenian prisoners out of Fremantle Prison and bring them from Australia to New York.
Many had travelled from all over the North East to hear the story told and to learn about the escape. People came from New Bedford, MA, Hartford, CT, Springfield, MA, and beyond to celebrate the exact 150th anniversary of the ship’s return to New York harbor.
At the conclusion of his presentation, Marcus Howard reflected on the moment and said, “We’re not only here tonight to learn about history, but we are here tonight to make history. Coming together to reconnect with the long legacy of these brave and daring fenians reminds us of what is possible. There will only be one 150th anniversary of this event, and we are making sure to mark the moment, and to make sure these stories and this history continue to inspire.”
