Fr McCabe Memorial

Memorial to be placed and dedicated to Father Patrick McCabe

The Fenian Memorial Committee of America is working to erect a memorial stone at the grave of Father Patrick McCabe (1827-1899) of, Arnaghan, Lough Gowna, Co. Cavan, who was instrumental in the escape of the great Fenian, John Boyle O’Reilly and six military Fenians from Fremantle Prison in Western Australia to America aboard the whaling vessel the Catalpa which sailed from New Bedford, Massachusetts to rescue them and bring them to New York, before they dispersed to different parts of the U.S.

All funds raised will go towards the memorial for Father McCabe, who is buried in St. Mary Cemetary in Waseca, Minnesota, where he fled to from Australia—with the help of Archbishop John Ireland (from Burnchurch, County Kilkenny)—and became the parish priest for mainly Irish immigrant farmers.

George McLaughlin and members from the Fenian Memorial Committee of America will be unveiling the memorial stone on Saturday, May 18, 2019. A benediction, commemoration and celebration of this great man will follow.

Saturday, May 18, 2019

Waseca County Historical Society and St. Mary Cemetery

The Fenian Memorial Committee of America has commissioned Tom Miller, a Minnesota stone cutter, to create a polished granite gravestone legend to be placed at the foot of Fr. McCabe’s Celtic Cross cemetery marker.