ABSTRACT
The single aim of Fenianism, up to the rising of 1867, was to achieve the independence of Ireland from Great Britain by means of physical force. In order to attain this end, the Brotherhood in Ireland set about arming itself, relying, in great part, on the financial and material support of embittered Irish emigrants in America, Concurrently with the building up of arms and supplies, the Brotherhood proceeded to establish a secret military organisation which would strike when the international situation was most embarrassing for Great Britain and hence, most propitious for the Fenians. This process involved the seducing and suborning of the British garrison in Ireland from their allegiance, in Fenian eyes, to a foreign power.
