One of the most famous Irish American organisations is the Fenians. In this episode, Damian and Fin are joined by Brennan McDonald to explore the history of this enigmatic group. Brennan reveals how the Fenians harnessed the military experience gained in the US Civil War to challenge British rule in Ireland, and how their transatlantic networks shaped the struggle for Irish independence.

Further reading and source

John O'Mahony: Dictionary of Irish Biography

James Stephens: Dictionary of Irish Biography

Thomas Sweeny: Dictionary of Irish Biography

John O'Neill: Dictionary of Irish Biography

Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa: Dictionary of Irish Biography

Patrick Egan: Dictionary of Irish Biography

1867 Fenian Proclamation

Book Chapter: Caleb Richardson: "'The Failure of the Men to Come Up": The Reinvention of Irish AMerican Nationalism" in David Prior (ed.) Reconstruction in a Globalizing World

Book: Brian Jenkins: Fenians and Anglo-American Relations During Reconstruction

Book: Jack Morgan: Through American and Irish Wars: The Life and Times of General Thomas Sweeny

Article: Michae Kane: “American Soldiers in Ireland, 1865–1867.” The Irish Sword 23 (Summer. 2002)

Book: Jermiah O'Donovan Rossa: Rossa's Recollections on archive.org

Book: David Brundage: Irish Nationalists in America: The Politics of Exile, 1798-1998

Book: Susannah Ural: The Harp and the Eagle: Irish American Volunteers and the Union Army, 1861-1865

Book: Lucy Salyer: Under the Starry Flag: How a Band of Irish Americans Joined the Fenian Revolt and Sparked a Crisis in American Citizenship

Book: Francis Carroll: America and the Making of an Independent Ireland

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