Keith L. Miller
In the great 1950 Cavalry movie Rio Grande, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, is a song, performed by Ken Curtis, and the Sons of the Pioneer's. It is entitled The Bold Fenian Men. I always figured that it was an old Irish folk song. Here is a link to the Sons of the Pioneer's version on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OceQdHaLmV8
image The Battle of Ridgeway
As a Civil War rein-actor and arm chair historian. I have developed a love for the music of that era. I was listening to this song and decided that I needed to learn the history behind it. You need to remember that the Movie takes place in the Post-Civil War American West. I Googled The Bold Fenian Men, and came up with some very surprising results. It is not an ancient Irish folk song but the events that took place to inspire the song would have been happening at approximately the same time period that the movie is set. Also the events did not take place in Ireland; but right here in America. The events could have been straight out of any modern conspiracy theory. When I read about the events of the Fenian uprising I immediately thought of the ill fated Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961, and the 1995 Comedy film by Michael Moore, starring John Candy. In this movie John Candy plays American Sheriff Bud B. Boomer. It is set in the vicinity of Niagara Falls. This Movie in typical Michael Moore fashion concerns the struggle of the little man against big greedy Corporations, that are in cahoots with the Government. With the Cold War over, Big Arms makers are struggling to make a profit. So they create a New Cold War, with Canada, to boost sales. Well, Sheriff Boomer takes it upon himself to invade Canada. First off what is a Fenian Man? The Fenian Brotherhood was founded in about 1798. It was a group of Irish Patriots, that wanted to free Ireland from British rule.
The name Fenian comes from Fion mac Cumhaill a prominent figure in Irish Mythology. The modern Irish Republican Army (I.R.A.) is descended form this organization. There were branches of the Fenian Brotherhood in many lands including the United States of America. After the Civil War the Fenian s launched several unsuccessful invasions of Canada. One of the most famous took place near Niagara Falls, and was known as the Battle of Ridgeway. They were lead by John O'Neill, who had served as a General in the Union Army during the Civil War. The Fenian's were armed with surplus Civil War weapons and many were dressed in Civil War Union Uniforms.
image General John O'Neill
image Fenian Soldier
You need to remember that Canada of 1866 was very different than the Canada of today. Canada was still basically British Colony's and were divided into upper and lower Canada. The Canadians responded quickly with British Troops and Local militia. The U.S Army and Navy also became involved, but in a half-halfhearted manner. President Andrew Johnson while publicly denouncing the Fenian raids, was slow to react because the British (even though limited) support of the Confederacy.
image The Fenian's wore badges that identified them as the “Irish Republican Army.”
Not all of the Fenian s were Irish. About 500 Mohawk Indians fought with the Fenian's. As a result of the Fenian Raids America received $15,000,000 in reparations from the British Government, in return for a treaty of Neutrality. The Fenian s were basically a pawn of the U.S. Government. The Fenian Raids took place between 1866 and 1870. Because of the Fenian Raids, Canada became unified Country on July 1, 1867.
PS: I did some basic research into this subject. It basically gave me more questions than it answered. I challenge all of my readers to do their own research and come up with their own conclusions.