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Irish Republican Brotherhood
James Stephans, who was injured in Ballingarry, has managed to escape to France and became familiar with the revolutionary tactics in that country. James Stephans returned to Ireland with the idea to form a secret oath bound military organisation. With financial support from Michael Doheny, who also has been involved in the Ballingarry riots and has fled to the United States, James Stephans founded the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) in Dublin on Saint Patrick's Day 1858. Many of the participants were former members of Young Ireland.
Like their comrades in the United States the members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) became known as Fenians, but they preferred the designation Óglaigh na hÉireann, literally Volunteer of Ireland, this term is still in use in Republican circles.
The so-called circles, small Fenian cells organised by Thomas Clarke Luby, formed the basic structure of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). James Stephans and Thomas Clarke Luby roamed the country to recruit people and by 1867, the year of the Fenian Rising, their number was estimated on a 80,000.
Clan na Gael
On 20 June 1867 the Manchester division of the Irish Republican Brotherhood decided to break with the feuding factions of Fenianism in America and founded the Clan na Gael, usually translated as Descendants of the Gaels. The driving force behind the Clan na Gael was John Devoy, who would also be involved in the Catalpa rescue.
The Irish Republican Brotherhood organised several revolts in the nineteenth century. Due to infiltration most of them turned out disastrous and soon the Irish Republican Brotherhood fel apart and hibernated until 1915.
Like the legendary Fianna Éireann the Fenian Movement is veiled in myths of heroism. This is remarkable considering the track record of the Fenian Movement. Despite, or maybe thanks to, the failed operations the modern Fenians are remembered in songs such as Down By The Glenside.