Irish History 1916 through to 1923
The Irish Republican Army Invasion of Canada

On June 1, 1866- an estimated force of 1,000-1,300 Irish Republicans-known as Fenians, invaded Canada. Their aim was to ransom Canadian territory for Ireland's freedom; or at least, to divert British resources and focus world attention to their cause. They were members of the Fenian brotherhood, the American branch of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. They are the first armed force to be called the Irish Republican Army (IRA). An 1869 painting confirms this. They achieved the only Irish republican victory in battle from 1798 to the War of Independence. They crossed the Niagara River into Canada from Buffalo, New York, USA. The force was comprised mainly of veterans of the American Civil War. These were battle-hardened veterans of both sides. The Union (north) and the Confederacy (south). Regiments came from New York, Ohio, Tennessee, ...