This carefully researched book lists the complete biographies of the 62 Irish Fenians who were transported to Western Australia on the Hougoumont. This ship also brought the last convicts to Western Australia. The title of the book, ‘Voices From the Tomb’, originated in a letter written by James Wilson, one of the remaining Fenian prisoners incarcerated in Fremantle Prison. He frequently communicated with John Devoy and O’Donovan Rossa in New York over the years appealing for assistance to escape. His last know letter and final words to the Fenian leader said: ‘If you will aid us in the way I speak of we will soon be in the Land of Freedom…. Now, dear Friend, remember this is a voice from the Tomb. For is this not a living Tomb?’ Within two years the American whaling ship Catalpa rescue had taken place in April 1876 from Rockingham beach, Western Australia.

Priced at A$27 including GST and postage.

Available from: 

Centre for Irish Studies Murdoch University Murdoch WA 6150 Phone: 93602366 

Liam Barry was born in Cork, Ireland and educated at St Patrick’s National School, the North Monastery (Christian Brothers Schools), Crawford Technical Institute and the Centre of Human Rights Education, Curtin University, Perth. He lived in Cork for 21 years before travelling abroad, eventually settling in Western Australia. He is married with four children and lives in Australind, north of Bunbury. As president of the South West Irish Club in 1998, he was instrumental in erecting a granite monument in honour of Fenian John Boyle O’Reilly on the northern tip of the Leschenault Peninsula, W.A. Liam has done extensive research work on the transported Fenians in Australia and has located a lage number of their unmarked graves. He has previously published articles on his findings, including two books on Fenian John Boyle O’Reilly.