The Australian Irish Heritage Network based in Perth, Western Australia lives up to its mission to create opportunities for all to appreciate Irish heritage. Its interactive map at https://irishheritage.com.au/heritage-trail/ is a wonderful achievement and is a boon for locals and for travellers to Perth.
The map is in two separate sections: north and south of the Swan river. When you click on the bottom left-hand side, you are taken to a description of the numbered item.
Charles Yelverton O’Connor‘s grave in Fremantle Cemetery is item number 1 on the Irish Heritage Trail (South). O’Connor (1843-1902) was an Irish engineer whose most famous works were the development of Fremantle harbour and the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme. His death was poignant and tragic following sustained criticism from the press.
Item number 6 on the Irish Heritage Trail (South) is a memorial to the ‘Rockingham Wild Geese’ commemorating the last of the convict ships to arrive in Australia. The Hougoumont had on board 62 Irish Fenian political prisoners, including the famous John Boyle O’Reilly.
The North trail includes the suburb of Subiaco, home of the Irish Club of Western Australia and the Famine Memorial.
The Secretary of the Australian Irish Heritage Association, Tony Bray, was the driver of the Heritage Trail project from 2011 which culminated in the trail being incorporated into the new website in 2018 by Ronan Bray from Bray Marketing and funded by WA Lotteries. Tony has hopes for further development of the Irish Heritage Trail as a phone app.
Tinteán 