- Fenian
The Fenians, both the
Fenian Brotherhood andIrish Republican Brotherhood , were fraternal organisations dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. The name "Fenians" was first applied byJohn O'Mahony to the members of the Irish nationalist organization which he founded in America in1858 . [Ryan, pg.317] O'Mahony, who was a Celtic scholar, named the American wing of the movement after the "Fianna ", the legendary band of Irish warriors led byFionn mac Cumhaill .The term Fenian, which derives from the Irish Fianna Éireann (IPA2|ˈfʲiənə ˈeːɾʲən, Audio|Fianna Éireann.ogg|pronunciation), also rendered as Fianna na hÉireann and Na Fianna Éireann (Irish: "Soldiery of
Ireland " or "Warriors' ofIreland "), named after the mythologicalFianna ), is still used today, especially inNorthern Ireland , theRepublic of Ireland andScotland , where its original meaning has expanded to include all supporters of Irish nationalism, as well as being an abusive term for Catholics. Irish Nationalists themselves, while honouring the19th-century Fenians, commonly use other designations for themselves such as "Nationalist" or "Republican", terms also used by the Fenians themselves.Fenianism
Fenianism, according to O'Mahony is symbolized by two principles: firstly, that Ireland had a natural right to independence, and secondly, that that right could be won only by an armed
revolution . [Ryan, pg.318]Fenianism was term sometimes used by the British political establishment in the
1860 s for any form of mobilization among the lower classes or those who expressed any Irish nationalist sentiments. They warned people about this threat to turn decent civilized society on its head such as that posed by trade unionism to the existing social order inEngland . [McGee, pg. 13-14]Ireland
James Stephens, one of the "Men of 1848," (a participant in the 1848 revolt) had established himself in
Paris , and was in correspondence withJohn O'Mahony in the United States and other advanced nationalists at home and abroad. This would include the "Phoenix National and Literary Society", with Jeremiah Donovan (afterwards known as O'Donovan Rossa) among its more prominent members, had recently been formed atSkibbereen . Along withThomas Clarke Luby ,John O'Leary andCharles Kickham he founded theIrish Republican Brotherhood on 17 March 1858 in Lombard Street,Dublin .United States
The
Fenian Brotherhood , the Irish Republican Brotherhood's U.S. branch, was founded byJohn O'Mahony andMichael Doheny , both of whom had been "out" in 1848. In the face ofnativist suspicion, it quickly established an independent existence, although it still worked to gain Irish-American support for armed rebellion in Ireland. Initially, O'Mahony ran operations in the USA, sending funds to Stephens and the IRB inIreland , disagreement overO'Mahony 's leadership led to the formation of two Fenian Brotherhoods in1865 . The U.S. chapter of the movement was also sometimes referred to as the IRB. After the failed invasion of Canada, it was replaced byClan na Gael .Canada
In
Canada , "Fenian" is used to designate a group of Irish radicals, a.k.a. the American branch of theFenian Brotherhood in the 1860s. They made several attempts (1866, 1870, etc.) to invade some parts of southern Canada which was a British dominion at the time. The ultimate goal of theFenian raids was to hold Canada hostage and therefore be in a position to ask the United Kingdom to give Ireland its independence. Because of the invasion attempts, support and/or collaboration for the Fenians in Canada became very rare even amongst the Irish.A suspected Fenian,
Patrick Whelan was hanged inOttawa for theassassination ofIrish-Canadian politician ,Thomas D'Arcy McGee in 1868, who had been a member of theIrish Confederation in the 1840s.Contemporary usage
Northern Ireland
In
Northern Ireland , "Fenian" is used as a derogatory word for Catholics generally. In 1984, the Unionist politician and UVF memberGeorge Seawright caused outrage at a meeting of the Belfast Education and Library Board by saying that Catholics who objected to the flying of theUnion Flag were "just Fenian scum who have been indoctrinated by the Catholic church".cotland
The term "Fenian" is used similarly in
Scotland . During Scottish football matches it is often aimed at supporters ofCeltic F.C. . [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4918702.stm BBC SPORT | Football | Europe | Ibrox chant ruling goes to appeal ] ] Celtic has its roots inGlasgow 's immigrant Catholic Irish population and the club has thus been associated with Irish nationalism. In a bid to eradicate "discriminatory chanting", Rangers F.C. have attempted to encourage the singing of more traditional songs such as "Wolverhampton Town "&The Sash , [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5244022.stm BBC NEWS | Scotland | Glasgow and West | Rangers revive traditional songs ] ]Australia
In
Australia "Fenian" is used as a pejorative term for those members of theAustralian Labor Party (ALP) who have Australian Nationalist views similar to those of the Irish Catholic supporters of Irish independence. Michael Atkinson,Attorney General ofSouth Australia , spoke of those members of the ALP who wished to remove the titleQueen's Counsel and other references to the crown as 'Fenians and Bolsheviks' in a speech given at the ALP Convention in Adelaide on15 October 2006 . Irish Catholics have been traditional supporters of the ALP and have influenced the party's platform regarding the monarchy.Footnotes
References
*"The Fenian Ideal and Irish Nationalism, 1882-1916", M J Kelly, Boydell and Brewer, 2006,ISBN 1843834456
*"The Fenian Chief: A Biography of James Stephens", Desmond Ryan, Hely Thom LTD, Dublin, 1967
*"The IRB: The Irish Republican Brotherhood from The Land League to Sinn Féin", Owen McGee, Four Courts Press, 2005, ISBN 1 85182 972 5
*"Fenian Fever: An Anglo-American Delemma", Leon Ó Broin, Chatto & Windus, London, 1971, ISBN 0 7011 1749 4.
*"The McGarrity Papers", Sean Cronin, Anvil Books, Ireland, 1972
*"Fenian Memories", Dr. Mark F. Ryan, Edited by T.F. O'Sullivan, M. H. Gill & Son, LTD, Dublin, 1945
*"The Fenians", Michael Kenny, The National Museum of Ireland in association with Country House, Dublin, 1994, ISBN 0 946172 42 0ee also
*
Fenian Cycle
*Fenian raids
*Fenian Ram
*Taig External links
* [http://www.aladin.wrlc.org/gsdl/collect/fenian/fenian.shtml Fenian Brotherhood]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/easterrising/profiles/po17.shtml BBC History article on the Irish Republican Brotherhood]
* [http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1865/the-fenians.htm 1865 newspaper Article describing the Fenians]
* [http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/fenian_movement.htm History Learning Site > Ireland 1848 to 1922 > The Fenian Movement]
* [http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/organizations-fenians.html The Fenian Movement in the US] including digitized materials about their activities. From the "Immigration to the United States, 1789-1930" collection, Harvard University Library Open Collections Program
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