John O'Mahony facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John O'Mahony

John Francis O'Mahony (born 1815 – died 7 February 1877) was an important Gaelic scholar. He was also a key person who started the Fenian Brotherhood in the U.S.A.. This group worked closely with the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland. Both groups wanted Ireland to be independent.

Early life and education

John O'Mahony was born in 1815 in Kilbeheny, Ireland. His family were Catholic landowners. His father and uncle had been part of the United Irishmen and joined the Irish Rebellion of 1798.

John went to Midleton College for his schooling. When his older brother died, John inherited some property. He then went to Trinity College, Dublin. There, he studied old languages like Sanskrit, Hebrew, and Irish. He became very skilled in Gaelic. Later, he taught Greek and Latin and wrote articles for journals. He left Trinity College without finishing his degree.

Irish politics and leaving Ireland

In 1843, O'Mahony joined a movement led by Daniel O'Connell. This group wanted to end the Union Act of 1800, which had joined Ireland and Great Britain. However, O'Mahony soon felt the movement was not moving fast enough.

He then joined the Young Irelander movement, led by Smith O'Brien. He took part in the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848, which was not successful. Because of his involvement in the rebellion, he had to leave Ireland. He lived in Paris for a while, facing difficult times. In 1854, he moved to New York City and joined other Irish groups there.

Writing a history book

In 1857, John O'Mahony published a book called History of Ireland. It was a translation of an older Gaelic book. This was a very big project and took a lot of effort. The hard work affected his health, and he needed to rest for a short time.

Founding the Fenian Brotherhood

In 1858, O'Mahony started the Fenian Brotherhood in the U.S.A.. This group worked closely with the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland. Their main goal was to help Ireland become separate and independent from Britain.

The name "Fenian" likely came from O'Mahony's studies of ancient Gaelic history. The Fenians were a group of legendary warriors in old Ireland. The new society was officially organized at meetings in Chicago in 1864 and Cincinnati in 1865.

Role in the Civil War

During the US Civil War, O'Mahony was a colonel in the 69th Regiment of New York State Militia. Many members of the Fenian Brotherhood joined this regiment. Other Irish regiments, like Meagher's Irish Brigade, also had many Fenian members.

As the Fenian Brotherhood grew very quickly, O'Mahony could no longer lead the 69th Regiment. He resigned to focus all his energy on expanding the Fenian movement.

Fenian growth and later life

After the US Civil War ended in 1865, many Irish-American soldiers were no longer fighting. Many of them joined the Fenians, wanting to help Ireland. A lot of money was donated to the Fenian cause during this time.

O'Mahony remained the president of the Fenian Brotherhood for several years. He did not personally take part in the attempted rebellion in Ireland or the raids on Canada. However, his advice was very important for these actions.

In his final years, O'Mahony focused on writing. He faced poor health and struggled financially. Even though he had managed large sums of money for the Fenians, he often had very little for himself. He passed away in New York City in 1877. His body was later brought back to Ireland and buried with a public funeral in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.

Images for kids

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  Grave of John O'Mahony in the Fenian Plot, Glasnevin, Dublin