Welcome to the Irish Republican Brotherhood web site
Welcome to the official Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) web site. The Irish Republican Brotherhood was founded in 1858. It is the oldest political movement in Ireland. Since its foundation in 1858, the Irish Republican Brotherhood has worked to attain national independence and national sovereignty and democracy for a 32 county Ireland as expressed, declared and ratified by Dáil Éireann (Irish parliament) in 1919. Many members of this Dail Eireann (Irish parliament) were also IRB members in 1919. And all the leaders and many of the people involved in the 1916 Rising were members of the IRB. Most of the leaders and officers of the Irish army in the War of Independence 1916 - 23 were IRB men.
Note: you must become an IRB member to view the whole web site and click on the links. See membership section below.
The IRB is not Billy McGuire's IRB and we do not claim to be the government of Ireland. The IRB is a peaceful and charitable organisation, an Irish cultural, historical and charitable society, which promotes Irish culture, history and identity. The IRB supports the Good Friday Agreement (1998) and Peace Process as a peaceful and democratic means to achieve a 32 county United Ireland and 32 county Dail Eireann. The IRB supports the democratically elected Dail Eireann which existed since 1919. The War of Independence 1916 - 1921 was carried out to acheive a 32 county Irish Republic and 32 county Dail Eireann. The IRB actively promotes and protects Irish culture, Irish identity, Irish language, Irish music, Irish traditions, Irish industry, Irish agriculture, Irish nationalism, democratic freedoms, and national sovereignty AND is exposing and trying to end corruption and injustices in politics, the legal system, the police, the banks, the health service and state bodies and build a better and fairer Ireland for all Irish people. The IRB's activities are of an educational and charitable nature, designed to educate people about Ireland and Irish culture. To build a new national Irish consciousness, a new sense of Irish pride, comaraderie and belonging. For centuries many peoples and races worldwide struggled for national independence and sovereignty. Today this battle involves Nationalism against Globalism and Federalism which is the New Imperialism, the new colonialism.
The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) was founded by James Stephens in Dublin city, Ireland on 17th March, St. Patricks Day, in 1858. It was in the house of Peter Langan, a lathe-maker and timber merchant, at 16 Lombard street, Dublin that the Irish Republican Brotherhood was founded. Present at that fateful meeting were James Stephens, Thomas Clarke Luby, Joseph Denieffe, Garret O’Shaughnessy and Peter Langan. The aims or objectives of the IRB were (i) to achieve freedom for Ireland from Britain. And establish a free and independent Irish Republic consisting of 32 countries, the whole island of Ireland. (ii) to set up a democracy and an Irish parliament elected by the people of Ireland. National sovereignty and self determination. Promote the development and welfare of the Irish people and nation. (iii) oppose empires and colonialism, including the British empire. Today this means opposing Globalism, which is the new imperialism. Globalism is invovled in a war against nationalism, national sovereignty and democracy worldwide today.
Picture of 16 Lombard street in Dublin, Ireland today, the site of the founding of the IRB in March 1858
a plaque on the wall commemorating this event
Picture of James Stephens, founder and first President of the IRB
The following published historical paper details the founding of the IRB in 1858 and its early years. IRB - the early years
The founding of the IRB and its early years from the 1850's to 1895 is discussed in John O' Learys book 'Recollections of Fenians and Fenianism' published in 1896, which can be bought here at michael@irishrepublicanbrotherhood.org And the book 'James Stephens, Chief Organizer of the Irish Republic' by George Carleton, published in 1866 is an excellent book with first hand accounts from James Stephens himself and his comrades, friends and associates. It is the semi-biographical sketch of James Stephens, with the story of his arrest and imprisonment; and also his escape from the British authorities. His trips abroad to other countries and his work with organisations there. Explains the origins of the Fenian movement of the late 19th century. It can be bought here at michael@irishrepublicanbrotherhood.org
Irish Republicans trace their political origins back to the Irish patriot Wolfe Tone and the United Irishmen of the 1790’s. Inspired by the French Revolution and American revolution, their aim was to break the subjugation of Ireland by Britain. And establish a free and independent Irish republic with its own parliament, its own laws and its own language. They asserted that only an independent Irish Republic could guarantee freedom, equality and prosperity for the Irish people. Most of the leaders of the United Irishmen were presbyterians and protestants and catholics, and non religions including deists, atheists, and dissenters, all working together for a Free and Independent Ireland. Their aim was to achieve unity between Irish people of all religions in the cause of national freedom. Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, national freedom and sovereignty, a democratic parliament accountable to the people, freedom of assembly, and other democratic freedoms being the cornerstone of this Republicanism. And to return stolen lands and resources back to the Irish people not give them to foreigners or let foreigners who stole them continue to own them. Wolfe Tone and the United Irishmen carried out a rebellion in 1798 against British rule. This rebellion was ruthlessly suppressed by the British. Wolfe Tone has been compared to George Washington the great American patriot.
Wolfe Tone, Leader of the United Irishmen. He is often compared to George Washington in the USA.
Ireland's demand for national freedom and national sovereignty was similar to the demands of Americans for freedom in 1776, and the demands of South American countries for national freedom in the early 1800's, the demands of Poles, Czechs, Hungarians, Bulgarians, Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians, Romanians, Serbs, Croats, Indians, Pakistanis, Indonesians, Malaysians, Arabs for national freedom in the 20th century, and the demands of African peoples for national freedom in the mid to late 20th century. This involved challenging, fighting, overturning and dismantling empires, imperialism and colonial rule for over 100 years in many countries around the world. This has delivered national freedom, sovereignty and democracy to many countries worldwide. A global ideal which Thomas Jefferson (USA) and Abraham Lincoln predicted for Democracy shortly before their deaths in the 1800's.
This Irish republican movement and republican consciousness continued from 1798 to the present day and is detailed in the History section of this web site. A twin organisation of the IRB - the Fenian Brotherhood also known as the Fenians was set up in 1858 in New York, USA by John O' Mahony and Michael Doheny. Both John O' Mahony and Michael Doheny were close friends of James Stephens (the founder of the IRB) and they all had served in the Young Ireland rising in 1848. The name "Fenian" came from the word "Fianna" who were the warriors of ancient Ireland, over 2,000 years ago. There was a constant exchange of personnel between these twin organisations in Ireland and the USA, as many people emigrated to the USA and some returned home to Ireland for missions or meetings or military actions. The Fenians were IRB men and vice versa ; the terms were interchangeable. Clan na Gael was also formed in New York in the USA in 1867 and also became a twin organisation of the IRB in Ireland, and maintained close links with the IRB. The Fenian Brotherhood dissolved and disbanded in 1880 in the USA and most of their members joined Clan na nGael. Clan na Gael grew strongly in the 1800's and early 1900's as millions of Irish emigrants were forced out of Ireland by oppression, corruption, injustices, poverty and starvation and settled in the USA. Clan na nGael raised considerable sums of money for "the cause" in the USA and sent money, weapons, materials and personnel over to Ireland to assist in the work of the IRB and the Fenians in Ireland.
Great Achievements of the IRB
The IRB and it's members played a major role in:
the Fenian Rising of 1867 and Campaigns of the 1880's in Britain
the 1916 Rising in Ireland and the Proclaimation of Irish Independence was planned, created and led by IRB men
the Irish War of Independence from 1919 - 1923 was led by IRB men all around Ireland
IRB members set up the Land League in 1879 to fight for the rights of Irish farmers, tenants and labourers. The IRB played a role in the Land War in Ireland of the late 1800's and early 1900's. Michael Davitt, the great leader of the Land League was also a secret member of the IRB. This eventually won rights for tenant farmers, land redistribution, loans for land purchases by tenants, housing for farmers and labourers, and important rights for small Irish farmers.
IRB members were involved in the setting up of the Home Rule League in the 1800's.
The IRB supported Parnell and the Irish Parliamentary party and it's struggle for Irish Independence which was opposed by Benjamin Disraeli, a corrupt, prejudiced and unscrupulous politician, and other corrupt politicians in Britain. Parnell was believed to be a secret member of the IRB.
John O'Connor Power who was leader of the IRB from 1882 to 1891 was a member of the Irish Parliamentary party and an elected MP and he worked with Parnell to try and achieve home rule for Ireland. He also worked with the Land league.
Peadar Kearney, the author of the Irish national anthemn 'Amhran na BhFiann' (the Soldiers Song) was a member of the IRB and he also participated in the 1916 Rising. He is also the author of the famous song 'The Bold Fenian Men'.
The American Civil War of the 1860's and the ending of Slavery there. Tens of thousands of Fenian and IRB men served as officers and nco's and ordinary soldiers in the Union army and fought in many battles in the USA. Whole Fenian Circles and Divisions joined many regiments in the Union army. Over 200,000 Irish and Irish-American men joined the Union army during the civil war.
General Michael Corcoran of the fighting 69th Regiment was a Fenian. This regiment fought in many batles in the civil war and distinguished itself. General Corcoran set up the Corcoran legion which consisted of many new regiments, mostly consisting of Irish and Irish-Americans. He was given command of the 1st Division, VII Corps which won a few battles . In late 1863 he was placed in command of a division in the XXII Corps and returned to serve in the Washington defenses. The 69th regiment was part of the Irish Brigade in the Union army, which had a few regiments mostly Irish. General Thomas Meagher another Irish man and IRB man, and also a Young Irelander, led the Irish Brigade, which distinguished itself in many battles in the Civil War, including the battle of Fredricksburg in Virgina where it suffered heavy losses. The Brigade was founded and led by Fenians and IRB men of all ranks. The fighting 69th Regiment and Irish Brigade and Corcoran Legion in the Union army distinguished themselves in the battles of Bull Run, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In fact the Irish Brigade suffered the worst losses of any brigade in the Civil War. Thousands of Irish men died in the American civil war. The Irish were awarded 146 Medals of Honor during the Civil War, and President Lincoln himself kissed the Irish flag and said, “God Bless the Irish" after the battle of Malvern Hill.
President John F Kennedy praised the Irish Brigade, the 69th Regiment and all the IRB men and Fenians who were in that regiment and fought in the Union army in the American Civil war in the 1860's. And he praised the Irish who fought in the American War of Independence in the 1700's in his address to the Irish Parliament in June 1963.
The 69th regiment survived the American Civil war and the cutbacks by the US government after the war to serve in world war 1 and world war 2.
The Catalpa rescue masterminded by John Devoy, of the IRB and Fenians. This involved the rescue of Fenians in a penal colony in Australia and bringing them by ship to the USA as free men.
Thomas Meagher a Young Irelander and Fenian invented the Irish tricolour flag, the national flag of Ireland
the setting up of the Gaelic League and the revival of the Irish language and the promotion of Irish language literature from the late 1800's to the present day. Several IRB men played leading roles in Gaelic League activites around Ireland.
the setting up of the GAA in the 1880's and its spread throughout Ireland and to other countries. Michael Cusack one of the founders of the GAA was an IRB man. The GAA promotes hurling, gaelic football and handball.
the famous hurling and gaelic football trophies - the McCarthy cup and the Sam Maguire cup were named after IRB men, Liam McCarthy and Sam Maguire. They were both involved in IRB activities and Maguire recruited the famous Michael Collins into the IRB in London, England.
the Irish Literary revival which included William Butler Yeats, Shaw, Joyce, Synge, Gregory, McDonagh, O'Casey, Beckett and others. William Butler Yeats was a member of the IRB.
the growth of Sinn Fein in the early 1900's and its victory in the 1918 election
assisting Irish workers in their struggle for fair wages and conditions in the early 1900's
the invention of the first submarine by IRB man John Philip Holland for use by the IRB and Fenians. He later developed the first submarines for the United States Navy
the Fenian raids from the USA into Canada in the late 1860's and 1870's
the political struggle for Australian Independence from Britain
assisting the Boers in the Boer war for Independence from Britain.
the setting up of the Irish Volunteers in 1913 to fight for Irish Independence
and the importation of arms
the setting up of the first Dail (Irish Parliament) of Ireland in January 1919. All members were elected by the Irish people in the 1918 election. Most elected members of the Dail were members of the IRB.
the Declaration of Irish Independence in the first Dail on January 21, 1919.
the Irish Constitution of 1919 and the Democratic Program of the first Dail in 1919
the first President of Ireland, Eamon De Valera and a later President Sean T. O'Kelly were members of the IRB, and Michael Collins, a Minister in the early governments of Ireland and IRA leader and many other revolutionary leaders of Ireland were members of the IRB
New Political Freedom movement
Since the 1918 election we support new political movements such as Nationalist Anti Corruption Independents who defend Irish Democracy sovereignty and freedoms and are running in elections. See www.irish-independents.org/
This is well documented by historians, academic researchers, the national archives and historical evidence. The IRB has played an important part in reviving and protecting Irish culture, its language, music, dancing, poetry, literature, gaelic games, spirituality, celtic origins, history and traditions from its foundation in 1858 up to the present day.These achievements and successes of the IRB were achieved by hard work, determination, high levels of motivation, comradeship, teamwork and cooperation, total commitment, total loyalty, duty, integrity and actions. These IRB men and Fenians were equivalent to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin and others of the Continental Congress and Army who fought for American Independence in the 1700's.
Today, Imperialism and Colonialism has not gone away or disappeared. It has taken on a new form. Globalism and Federalism have become the new Imperialism, and a significant threat to nationalism, sovereignty, national culture, democracy and national freedoms worldwide.And also a significant threat to businesses, farms, families and the working class. One sees the destructive effects of Globalism around the world, primarily against native peoples and native cultures. This is a recurring theme in Ireland in many other countries around the world at present.
Today the IRB is an open organisation, not a secret organisation. It is open to males and females who are 18 years old or older who are of Irish descent in Ireland and other countries. You can join today and follow in the footsteps of many other famous Irish people who were in the IRB in the past.
Some Famous IRB men
Michael Collins
Padraig Pearse
Dan Breen
William Butler Yeats
Thomas Clarke
Cathal Brugha
John Devoy
James Connolly
O'Donovan Rossa
Michael Cusack
Founder of GAA
Michael Davitt
Founder of Land League
Eamon De Valera
Ireland has faced many challenges in its history :
The IRB and Fenians are celebrated in many songs, poems, prose, plays and stories of Ireland and the Irish. Here is one below.
Another version at
IRB Today
The Irish Republican Brotherhood has always been a democratic organisation since 1858, and it's leaders have been democratically elected by it's members at AGM's or Supreme Council meetings. Today the IRB is a democratic organisation, with a national leader, the President. The IRB supports political democracy and supports democratic and peaceful means for achieving it's objectives. We believe in the power of the ordinary people. The IRB is not a secret organisation, it is an open organisation, which is open to males and females who are 18 years old or older who are of Irish descent.
Join the IRB
and access the rest of the web site and view the old and historical IRB books, manuscripts, IRB Constitutions, secret and old IRB documents, IRB Archives, and the rituals used for membership which are over 150 years old.
You can join the Irish Republican Brotherhood and become a member by going to the membership section and filling out the membership form and paying the annual membership fee of 25 euros.
