Tucked behind the gravestones of South Brisbane Cemetery lies a powerful Irish legacy — shaped by adversity, fueled by dreams, and marked by unwavering determination.

For St Patrick’s Day, step back in time with us on a commemorative tour that pays tribute to the Irish men and women laid to rest in these historic grounds. Whether they were famine refugees, political firebrands, trailblazers, or tradespeople, their stories are woven into the very fabric of Brisbane’s early days.

As we trace their paths through history, you’ll hear tales of:

🍀 County Clare’s unlikely connection to Queensland’s Legislative Council — and the Irish hand in colonial politics.
👒 The orphan girls of the Great Famine — their passage from starvation to struggle in a harsh new land.
🚢 Erin-go-Bragh and the Irish immigration scheme — a 196-day voyage that reshaped Queensland’s identity.
🎓 The professor turned freedom fighter — an academic who brought Irish rebellion to Australian soil.
🌌 The Irish sea captain who gazed at the stars — believed to be Queensland’s first astronomer.

This journey through time is a celebration of the Irish heart — enduring, defiant, and forever etched in stone.

All of our tours are not-for-profit, with all money raised going to our cemetery history and maintenance projects.

Prices

• Single bookings: $10 per person.