​Frank The Poet:
​A Convict’s Life in Song & Verse

Join Us for This Special ICA Zoom Event on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18th at 7:00pm
CHECK BACK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE ZOOM PRESENATION
Known to his fellow prisoners and his many admirers as Frank the Poet, Francis MacNamara was an Irishman with a provocative wit and a stubborn inclination to refuse penal servitude. "Convicted by the laws of England’s hostile crown," he arrived in Australia in 1832 and spent fifteen years under the lash in Sydney, Newcastle, and Van Diemen’s Land. Throughout the ordeal, his defiance found a ready outlet in the many songs and poems he composed.

In the Irish Club of Alaska's ongoing presentation of unique and engaging free events online in our Zoom room, singer, poet, and history major Miguel Heatwole gives a gripping 90-minute presentation of Frank’s life which covers many of his works. These are recited or sung, and set in their context by dramatic readings from historical documents. The result is a moving, rebellious, and often humorous testament to a man whose skill with words made him an articulate champion of the wretched, and an important figure in Australia’s convict history.

Irish Club of Alaska Calendar
and Other Celtic Events in Alaska and Beyond

Irish Club Members... We Need Your Help!

We are looking for performers, guest lecturers, and subject-matter experts in any and all subjects related to Irish music, history, culture, food, travel, and genealogy for monthly online and in-person events throughout 2021 and 2022. Does this sound like something you’d like to do? Or do you have any friends, family, or favorite people who fit the bill? 

We are looking for those that can entertain, educate, or elucidate for approximately sessions of almost any length, from 15 minutes to two hours. Because we are a nonprofit organization on a shoestring budget, we cannot pay performers or speakers, but we do solicit donations on their behalf from audience members.

If you are interested, please complete the online application form or contact us at irishclubak@gmail.com.​

Join or Donate

Members Only 

Board Member Zone