Fenians

Fenians were members of 19th-century Irish nationalist movements that sought independence from Britain, with the term primarily applied to two intertwined organizations: the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) in Ireland and the Fenian Brotherhood in the United States. The name derives from the Fianna, legendary bands of Irish heroes, and it came to symbolize Irish resistance to British rule.

The IRB was founded in Ireland in 1858 by James Stephens as a secret oath-bound society dedicated to establishing an independent Irish republic. The Fenian Brotherhood emerged in the United States in 1858, founded by John O'Mahony and Michael Doheny, and it coordinated with the IRB across the Atlantic. Though organizationally separate, the two bodies shared aims of ending British rule in Ireland and used clandestine cells and armed action to pursue rebellion, fundraising, and recruitment.

In terms of activities, Fenians mounted attempts at armed rebellion in Ireland, the most notable being the Fenian Rising of 1867, which was quickly suppressed and achieved little concrete success. They also conducted cross-Atlantic efforts and carried out raids into British North America, notably in the late 1860s and early 1870s, with the goal of pressuring Britain to grant Ireland independence. These raids yielded limited military gains but helped sustain international attention and support for Irish nationalist aims.

Legacy of the Fenian movement lies in its influence on later Irish republican thinking and organization. While the uprisings and raids did not secure immediate independence, the networks, funds, and nationalist sentiment fostered by the Fenians contributed to subsequent generations of Irish revolutionary activity and the broader arc toward independence.