Nestled in the rolling hills of Tasmania lies the charming town of Westbury, where history comes alive every year during the vibrant St Patrick’s Festival. This annual celebration not only honours the rich Irish heritage of the town but also commemorates the daring escapes of two legendary figures from Irish history: John Mitchel and Thomas Francis Meagher.

Westbury’s Irish roots run deep, with its eastern region, once known as Pensioners Bush, settled by Irish soldier settlers seeking refuge from the famine-stricken shores of Ireland. These resilient pioneers were granted land and resources, shaping the landscape of the town with their indomitable spirit and unwavering determination.

By the 1850s, Westbury had become a thriving community, predominantly Irish and comprised mostly of free settlers. 

Central to the tale of Westbury’s St Patrick’s Festival are the daring escapes of two iconic figures from Irish history: John Mitchel and Thomas Francis Meagher. Exiled to Tasmania for their involvement in Irish nationalist movements, both men plotted their escape from captivity.

John Mitchel, immortalised in his gripping memoir The Jail Journal, staged a daring getaway, riding through the rugged terrain of Tasmania’s mountains with the help of sympathetic locals. His escape became the stuff of legend, inspiring in its audacity and ingenuity. The most wanted man in all Tasmania, he boarded a public coach to travel to Hobart, dressed as a priest and found himself sitting opposite the ex-Attorney General of the colony who had met him previously, but did not recognise him. He was smuggled onto a boat to America. He was greeted there as a hero. One of his sons fired the first shot in the American Civil War.

Thomas Francis Meagher, known for designing the Irish flag, also embarked on a perilous journey to freedom. Escaping from prison, he crossed treacherous landscapes and evaded capture, ultimately finding sanctuary in the welcoming embrace of Westbury’s residents. Meagher went on to found the Irish Brigade and became a Brigadier-General in the American Civil War, and later Governor of Montana. 

Each year, the St Patrick’s Festival in Westbury pays homage to the town’s Irish heritage and the remarkable feats of Mitchel and Meagher. Visitors flock to Westbury, drawn by the allure of live music, traditional dance, and hearty Irish fare.

This year, the festival will take place on Saturday, March 16th from 10am on the Village Green. The family-friendly event will feature Maypole dancing, children’s activities, food and craft stalls, music, dancing, a church market and vintage tractors. It will also feature a St Patrick’s Day parade. 

Acts playing at the festival include The Wheels, The Meander Men’s Choir, Matt Dames and Anna Talbot, Tasmanian harp and violin duo Matt Wooley and Annie Parsell, Flitch – Bottom Pub Ceilidh Band, Aileen Poynter Irish Dancers, Kimroe Dance School and much more. Entry costs just $5 and children under 15 are free. 

Picture: Local school children dancing around the Maypole at Westbury Saint Patrick’s Festival in Tasmania. Credit: Facebook/Westbury St Patrick’s Festival