Montserrat island "Santa María de Montserrate", after the Virgin of Montserrat in the Monastery of Montserrat, on Montserrat mountain, near Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. "Montserrat" means "serrated mountain" in Catalan. Archaeological field work in 2012, in Montserrat's Centre Hills indicated there was an Archaic (pre-Arawak) occupation between 4000 and 2500 BP. Later coastal sites show the presence of the Saladoid culture. In November 1493, Christopher Columbus passed Montserrat in his second voyage, after being told that the island was unoccupied due to raids by the Caribs. A number of Irishmen settled in Montserrat in 1632. The preponderance of Irish in the
National Song (Montserrat) Ryan, James Frederick, Eric Fergus and his parents Steamer and Molly Fergus and John White in folk music. This cultural renaissance was centered on the Emerald Community Singers, Montserrat Theater Group, Alliouagana Dancers, Alliouagana Drummers, Alliouagana Arts Festival, the regional Carifesta movement, Montserrat Secondary School Choir, local church choirs, Heavenly Organs Steel Orchestra, and other local folk groups. song edited by Dominick Archer http://www.gov.ms/2013/07/18/learn-with-us-sing-with-us-montserrat-national-song/motherland-lyrics/ National Song (Montserrat) The Montserrat National Song is "Motherland", written by J. A. George Irish and former acting Governor of Montserrat, Sir Howard A. Fergus. "Motherland" was officially passed into law by the Legislative Assembly of