Fenian dynamite campaign

Fenian dynamite campaign
Part of Irish republicanism
An 1893 political cartoon depicting Erin telling an Irish republican to stop the campaign
TypePolitical violence
Location
Planned byJeremiah O'Donovan Rossa
Alexander Martin Sullivan
TargetGovernment and civilian targets
Date14 January 1881 – 10 February 1885
Executed byIrish Republican Brotherhood
United Irishmen of America
Clan na Gael
OutcomeFailure
Casualties4 killed
86 injured

The Fenian dynamite campaign (also known as the Fenian bombing campaign) was a campaign of political violence orchestrated by Irish republican paramilitary groups in Great Britain from 1881 to 1885. It involved attacks using explosives such as dynamite on British government and civilian targets and was carried out by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, United Irishmen of America and Clan na Gael with the ultimate aim of ending British rule in Ireland. Infrastructure was attacked along with government (including military and police) targets as part of the campaign, which killed 4 people, including a young boy, and wounded 86. The campaign met with widespread backlash in Britain and a mixed response in Ireland, and led to the establishment of the Special Irish Branch by the Metropolitan Police to counter the campaign. By 1885, the campaign petered out, though Irish republicans would continue to carry out attacks in Great Britain well into the 20th century.