On Montserrat, A Unique Festival blends African and Irish Heritage

On this episode of Destination Diaspora, we take you to Montserrat!

Montserrat is known as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean because of its lush green landscape and the fact that many of its early settlers were from Ireland. It’s the only place outside of Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick’s day as a national holiday.

On Montserrat, Saint Patrick’s day became a national holiday in 1985 but not to celebrate St. Patrick, who is patron saint of Ireland. And the 10-day festival which takes is not just about parties and fetes although speaking from experience they are really good.

Montserrat’s St. Patrick’s festival actually commemorates the enslaved Africans known as the freedom fighters who lost their lives after their planned Saint Patrick’s ay slave rebellion set for March 17th, 1768 was discovered. Although unsuccessful, it was the beginning of movements for the abolition of slavery on the island.

So the St. Patrick’s festival is really about honoring the memory of those freedom fighters.
Black people, people of African descent and the role they played in helping to bring an end of slavery. On Montserrat, the holiday weaves together two heritages, acknowledging the early Irish influence while honoring the enslaved Africans who rebelled against it.

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