Anthologies of our Fenian Ancestors

Mackle, Bernard  (1920 – 1988)

Bernard Mackle was an American patriot and a man of many interests including an abiding sense of fairness for those less fortunate, particularly those in Ireland who were marginalized and discriminated against in the British occupied counties.

He served his country during the Great War with courage, honor and dignity and, incidentally, was stationed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked. 

Amongst his many endeavors on behalf of Irish freedom, Bernie will be best remembered for his ‘England get out of Ireland’ banner which he displayed near and far to the consternation  British apologists and Irish history revisionists. --- link to biography

MacNeven, William James  (1763 - 1841)

William James MacNeven was an Irish patriot, a medical doctor, an author and a world renowned  scientist. He was regarded by his peers as the "Father of American Chemistry". 

He was born in 1763 in Co. Galway, Ireland.  As a young boy he attended Medical school in Vienna where he received his medical degree.

On his return to Ireland he joined the Campaign for Catholic Emancipation and the Society of United Irishmen.  He was arrested for his leadership role  in the planning of the 1798 Rising, imprisoned  and upon his release in 1802 exiled for life.

 After his release he joined the French Army as surgeon-captain in the Irish Brigade hoping of gain that country's aid for an invasion of Ireland.  When that did not materialize he came to the Unites States to embark on another phase of his life.

In New York he established himself in the practice of his profession and in 1806 received an honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine from Columbia University.  Amongst his many accomplishments he introduced new scientific ideas to his students, championed Dalton’s new atomic theory, founded the Duane Street medical school in 1826.

 He was a member of numerous societies in New York associated with the welfare  of his countrymen and women.  --- link to biography

 Meagher,  Thomas Francis (1823 -1867)

Thomas Francis Meagher was an Irish revolutionary, Union Army general, lawyer, orator, author  and secretary of Montana Territory. Sentenced to death (commuted to penal servitude in Van Diemen's Land)  for his part in the rebellion of 1848. Escaped to the United States where he practiced law and edited the Irish News

 During the Civil War he fought at the first battle of Bull Run with the 69th Regiment, afterwards returned to New York and organized the Irish Brigade.  Commissioned brigadier general of the Brigade, resigned commission after the Brigade was decimated in fighting in the battles of the Peninsular campaign. Resignation canceled and assigned to duty in the Western Theater,  serving under General Sherman. He was appointed secretary of Montana Territory  and served as temporary governor.  He drowned in the Missouri River near Fort Benton.

Meany,  Stephen Joseph (1822-1888)

Born in Co. Clare in 1822, Stephen Joseph Meany was a poet, a journalist, and an Irish Patriot.  He published his first poetry collection 'Shreds of Fancy' in 1841 while still a student.  After a short stint in the police he  worked for the Freeman's Journal the oldest nationalist newspaper in Ireland.

He joined the Young Ireland movement in 1845,  took part in the Uprising of 1848, was captured and spent a year in prison. On his release he moved to  Liverpool where he became the first President of the English Press Association. He emigrated to the United States in 1860 where he worked as a journalist, joined the Fenian movement, was admitted to the American Bar Association and became an American citizen. 

On a visit to England  in 1867, he was arrested and convicted of treason for speeches made in the United States. He was released in 1868 as a result of  U. S. government intervention. On his return to the U.S. he continued his work for the cause of Irish freedom. He died in Waterbury, Connecticut in 1888. His body was brought back to Ireland for burial in Drumcliffe graveyard in Ennis. --- link to biography

Mitchel , John  (1815 - 1875)

John Mitchel,  described by Patrick Pearse as 'Ireland's greatest literary figure' was an Irish revolutionist, journalist and  practicing lawyer who railed against the English administration of famine-ravaged Ireland, opposed Daniel O'Connell's reformist politics and championed Ireland right to freedom and sovereignty. 

His dedication and intelligence saw him rise to be one of the leading figures of the Young Ireland movement. His influence was to spread beyond that movement, with his work inspiring many generations of Irish republicans.

Mitchel contributed articles to the Nation and the United Irishman that openly preached total separation from England.  Arrested for sedition and exiled to Van Diemen's land, he escaped to the United States where he become a firm supporter of the Confederacy and an unapologetic defender of slavery.   His support for the Confederacy cost  him dearly as two of his sons were killed and the third lost an arm fighting in the Confederate army.

During his trip to Ireland in 1874 he ran  for parliament from Tipperary and won a lopsided victory against a conservative candidate. Although he won he had no intention of taking his seat in as he considered the Parliament an illegitimate body. Declared ineligible to hold the seat he was subsequently re-elected unopposed  in 1875.  --- link to biography

Mullin, Patrick  (1938 -1990)

Patrick Mullin was born in Williamstown, Co. Galway in 1938.  He came to the USA in his early 20’s.and served in its armed forces from 1962-1964. After completing his military service he went to work for the New York Telephone Co. where he remained for the remainder of his working life.

In the mid-1960’s, Pat became a founding member of the United Brooklyn Irish whose objective was to lend financial support to the oppressed Nationalists in the British occupied six Irish counties. Eventually the group became the Brooklyn Chapter of Irish Northern Aid (INA). Pat went on to serve on the Executive Committee of the  INA

In 1981, Pat was arrested along with Mike Flannery, George Harrison, Tom Falvey, and Danny Gormley all highly respected amongst Irish Republicans in the New York area.  All five were acquitted of all charges in November 1982. 

By 1989 Pat knew that Provisional Sinn Fein/INA were going in the wrong direction so he quit INA and helped re-activate Friends Of Irish Freedom (FIOF), originally founded in 1916.  He was an Executive Officer in FOIF until his death in 1990.  Patrick Mullin was a quiet, unassuming man.  He never looked for attention or publicity. 

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