Overview

Birthing the Republic of Ireland: An American Fenian's Story is a sweeping, deeply researched historical narrative that traces the origins of Irish independence through the life of one man-Frank Bradley-an Irish Protestant born under British rule who devoted his life to the liberation of Ireland. Based on documented history, family artifacts, and firsthand investigation in Ireland and the United States, this book follows Frank's journey from famine-ravaged Londonderry to the violent immigrant streets of New York City, through the American Civil War, and into the heart of the Fenian movement that helped give birth to the Irish Republic. It challenges conventional narratives by illuminating the often-overlooked role of Irish Protestants, Irish-Americans, and political exiles in Ireland's struggle for independence. Set against the backdrop of the Great Famine, British occupation, sectarian division, and 19th-century American upheaval, the story reveals how oppression, forced emigration, and exile forged a transatlantic revolutionary movement. New York City emerges as the unlikely capital of a government-in-exile, where the Fenian Brotherhood organized, trained, and financed Ireland's fight for freedom. Interwoven with Frank Bradley's personal story are rich historical accounts of Irish social life, political movements, labor, immigration, the Civil War, and the legacy of Fenian activism across generations. The narrative extends into the lives of his descendants, including artist Josephine Joy, illustrating how history, memory, and resistance echo through family lines. This book is both an intimate family chronicle and a powerful contribution to Irish, Irish-American, and diaspora history-essential reading for anyone interested in the roots of modern Ireland, the Fenian movement, or the hidden histories that shaped nations.

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