1. Or the Irish Republican Brotherhood
The Fenians
Or the Irish Republican Brotherhood

2. Ireland in the 19th Century
Since 1801 Ireland had become a part of the United Kingdom and was ruled form London.
Ireland had suffered through the 1800s with the Great Famine and the failed Young Irelanders Rebellion of 1848.

3. Post 1848 – The Fenians and the IRB
In 1858, two former members of the Young Irelanders formed a new organisation – in both Dublin and New York.
These two men were James Stephens (Kilkenny) in Dublin and John O’ Mahoney (Cork) in New York.
These two ‘branches’ had different names – they were called The Fenians in the US and the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland

4. Aims and Rules
The IRB and the Fenians were both ‘oath-bound’ secret socieities.
That is you were not allowed to reveal your membership to anyone unless you were at official IRB/Fenian events.
“In the presence of God, I, ..., do solemnly swear that I will do my utmost to establish the independence of Ireland, and that I will bear true allegiance to the Supreme Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and the Government of the Irish Republic and implicitly obey the constitution of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and all my superior officers and that I will preserve inviolable the secrets of the organisation.”
The main aim of the Brotherhood was simple. Independence from Britain through strength of arms – physical force rather that peaceful political means.

5. O Donovan Rossa
The IRB tried to recruit as many men as possible during the 1850s and 1860s.
One of the most of these was Jeremiah O’ Donovan Rossa from West Cork. He was to become a very important leader in the Fenian movement in American and Ireland.

6. Activities of the Fenians and the IRB
The Fenians main activities were:
Recruiting men into the IRB and the Fenians; at home and abroad
Publication of a newspaper to further Republican beliefs
And, most importantly, trying to separate Ireland from the UK by force.

7. Main Figures in the Fenians/IRB
James Stephens
Thomas Clarke Luby
John O Leary
Charles Kickham

8. Fenians in America
The Fenians in America were quite active – both in raising awareness of the Irish cause, raising money and indeed serving in the American Civil War.

9. Fenians in America (contd.)
Some Fenians in America wanted different things.
Some, led by John O Mahoney, wanted an uprising in Ireland.
Others wanted to ‘invade’ Britain abroad and planned an invasion of Canada.
This did go ahead, but ended up a complete failure.
In 1867, an uprising went ahead in Ireland, with no success.

10. Fenians/IRB in Britain
The Fenians/IRB tried several times, unsuccessfully, to assassinate members of the Royal Family.
There was at least 8 attempts made on the life of Queen Victoria (not all by Fenians) in the 19th century.
From 1867 onwards, the Fenians/IRB decided to concentrate their efforts on England.

11. Legacy of the IRB
The IRB had a huge effect on the course of Irish history.
Many founding members of the GAA in Ireland were members of the IRB.
Nearly all the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation were IRB members, as well as many notable figures during the War of Independence.
The funeral of O Donovan Rossa in 1915 became a huge moment for the cause of Irish independence – where Padraig Pearse gave the graveside orartion.