The Emerald Isle in the Caribbean, Montserrat is so named due to the island’s resemblance to that of Ireland’s and its Irish population. Road littered with volcanic rocks, not one stoplight in the entire island and a handful of hotel and guesthouses, Montserrat offer its guests a different Caribbean experience.
The first settlers of Montserrat, the Caribs calls the island Alliouagana - Land of the Prickly Bush - due to its rough terrain. Christopher Columbus, when he claimed the island for Spain had the same idea - he named it Santa Maria de Montserrate. He named it after the Blessed Virgin of the Monastery of Montserrat that is perch on top of the Mountain of Montserrat.
Though majority of its early European settlers were Irish, it was the British who was able to take control of the island. At one point, the French (aided by the Irish), was able to seize control from the British. However, after the Treaty of Paris was signed, the island reverted back to British rule.
The 70’s saw a boom in Montserrat tourism, as artists from around the world flocked into the tiny island. They came to make the most of the peach and quiet, the verdant and pristine environment in the island, which was conducive to composing and recording new music.
This, however, did not last long. In 1989, Montserrat received the full force of Hurricane Hugo’s wrath, as it tore through the region. More then 90 percent of the island’s structure was damage, taking with it Montserrat’s tourist trade. Just as the island was starting to recover from this tragedy, another calamity struck.
Barely six months after Hurricane Hugo, Soufriere Hills Volcano erupted. Dormant for over 400 years, the volcano’s sudden eruption took everybody by surprise and buried the capital city of Plymouth under 40 feet of mud. The southern half of the island was uninhabitable after this disaster, and the island’s only airport and docking facilities destroyed. There was a mass exodus to the other islands in the Caribbean.
The Soufriere Hills Volcano continues to be active to this date. Travelers are advised to check the most recent reports on the volcanic activity before entering the island.
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