Fenian Brotherhood

Fenian Brotherhood
FounderJohn O'Mahony
Founded1858
Dissolved1880
Preceded byEmmet Monument Association
Succeeded byClan na Gael
HeadquartersNew York City
Ideology
Irish affiliate

The Fenian Brotherhood (Irish: Bráithreachas na bhFíníní) was an Irish republican organisation founded in the United States in 1858 by John O'Mahony and Michael Doheny.[1][2] It was a precursor to Clan na Gael, a sister organisation to the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). Members were commonly known as "Fenians". O'Mahony, who was a Gaelic scholar, named his organisation after the Fianna, the legendary band of Irish warriors led by Fionn mac Cumhaill.[3]

  1. ^ Ryan, p. 92. The first organization was known as the Emmet Monument Association, founded in the early part of 1855 (ibid. 53–54). The Fenian Brotherhood was launched soon after the founding of the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Dublin in 1858 (ibid. 92)
  2. ^ Neeson, p. 17
  3. ^ Buescher, John. "What Happened to the Fenians After 1866? Archived 10 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine" Teachinghistory.org Archived 28 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 8 October 2011