Fenian dynamite campaign

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Fenian dynamite campaign
Part of Irish republicanism
Ireland's bitterest foe, the Fenians.jpg
An 1893 political cartoon depicting Erin telling an Irish republican to stop the campaign
Type Political violence
Location
Planned by Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa
Alexander Martin Sullivan
TargetGovernment and civilian targets
Date14 January 1881 – 10 February 1885
Executed by Irish 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.

Contents

Timeline of the campaign

1881
1882
1883
1884
1885

See also

References and notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Porter, Bernard. The origins of the vigilant state: the London Metropolitan Police Special Branch before the First World War. Boydell & Brewer, 1991. Pp.27-28
  2. 16 Lives: Thomas Clarke. p. 30.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Shane Kenna. "War in the Shadows".
  4. "London Metropolital Police Service - History - The Fenians". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  5. "London Metropolitan Police Service - History - Timeline 1870-1889". Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2014.

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