A Newry man key to a global maritime escape could be set to be honoured in his home city.
Known as the Catalpa Escape, the 150th anniversary is being marked in both Australia and the USA.
A motion is to be brought before Newry, Mourne and Down District Council seeking for the native man to be celebrated.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Councillor Aidan Mathers (Sinn Fein) said: “While there are celebrations happening across the world in Australia and America, right here in the home town of James McNally there are no plans.
“This motion will look for the council to mark the 150th anniversary of the great escape from Freemantle, Western Australia aboard the Catalpa whaling ship to New York by six Fenian prisoners.
“So, the motion will come before the council to try and explore ways of telling this important story to the people of Newry on the role McNally played.”
The 1876 escape masterminded by Clan na Gael was funded by Irish-Americans in Boston and New York, and carried out by the American whaling ship Catalpa.
The escape is one of the most famous and celebrated prison breaks of the era and an important milestone in the story of Irish independence.
Former Newry and Armagh MP and now Sinn Féin’s Seanad leader, Senator Conor Murphy, has called on the Irish government to properly mark the 150th anniversary of the Catalpa Escape.
Concerns were raised by the senator over the lack of official commemoration on the significant Newry connection to the historic event.
The five other prisoners to escape were Thomas Darragh from Wicklow, Michael Harrington and Thomas Hassett from Cork, Robert Cranston from Tyrone, and Martin Hogan from Limerick.
Now 150 years later, another Newry native is calling for Stormont and Dáil Éireann ro get on board with a commemorative event.
Councillor Mathers added: “I will ask the council to write to the Minister for Communities in the Executive and the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport in the Dublin government to request the hosting of commemorative events.
“It will also look to examine the possibility of hosting a commemorative event in the district to acknowledge the bravery of the escapees, in particular James McNally, and those who planned and participated in the Catalpa rescue.”
The motion is due to be brought before the equality and good relations group of the council for screening later in August ahead of a committee debate.
