Montserrat celebrated within the UK on St Patrick’s Day
Montserrat is the only nation in the world outside of Ireland that regards St. Patrick’s Day as a national holiday
- The tiny island south of Antigua celebrates St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th
- Montserrat’s head of state is the queen, who is represented by an appointed governor
- Montserrat also commemorates nine West African slaves who lost their lives after a failed uprising in 1768
Speaker hoists first flag in British overseas territories The British overseas territory of Monserrat is celebrated by the Speaker of the House of Commons with the raising of the national flag in New Palace Yard.
The tiny island south of Antigua celebrates St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th – on the same day it commemorates the nine West African slaves who lost their lives after a failed uprising in 1768.
In fact, with fewer than 5,000 residents, Montserrat is the only nation in the world outside of Ireland that considers St. Patrick’s Day a national holiday. This is because the majority of the island’s early settlers who landed in the 17th century were predominantly Irish in origin.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle said it was important for the British Parliament to mark the days of ceremonies for Britain’s overseas territories. “Now more than ever is the time to celebrate and commemorate Montserrat, especially as many Montserratians now live in Britain as a result of a volcanic eruption that devastated the south side of the island, including the capital, Plymouth, in the mid-1990s. “he said.” I want to cultivate our relationship with the overseas territories, and this begins, to a small extent, with our recognition and respect for these countries that mean so much to us by raising flags on their national holidays. “
The Hon. Joseph E. Farrell, Prime Minister of Montserrat, said: “The government and people of Montserrat are delighted that our island’s flag will be flown in the New Palace Yard on March 17th, 2021. This is a promising addition indeed, especially on St. Patrick’s Day when both Montserrat and Ireland celebrate a shared history and rich heritage. “
Montserrat, 11 miles long and seven miles wide, was named by Christopher Columbus in 1492. He believed that the pear-shaped island resembled the land around the Spanish abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrati. Montserrat’s head of state is the queen, who is represented by an appointed governor.
