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==Fianna organisation after 1950== {{more citations needed section|date=December 2015}} When World War II broke out, the old IRA and old Fianna organisations marched as a body to [[Griffith Barracks]] in Dublin and joined the Irish Army as a battalion (the 26th Battalion). When on parade, this battalion flew the Fianna and Óglaigh na h-Éireann flags. When the war was over these bodies stayed intact and had premises at Parnell Square. They marched in Bodenstown with Fianna Fáil and attended all the usual commemorations organised by the government. In 1953, the Old Fianna organisation issued an invitation to Ned Kelly (Chief Scout) to meet with them. The Old Fianna reportedly offered their Fianna flag to the then-current Fianna. However, when Kelly heard that the flag would be handed over in a military barracks in an official ceremony, that was unacceptable, and the parley proved fruitless. The old Fianna petered out in the late 1950s.<ref>Fianna Éireann notes, ''United Irishman'', September 1953</ref> In 1951 the Ard Fheis in Dublin reported that 9 ''sluaithe'' were in existence. 500 Fianna were present at the Bodenstown commemoration and Dick Bell was re-elected as Chief Scout. He did not seek re-election at the 1952 Ard Fheis and Tomas MacCurtain was nominated as a nominal Chief Scout, succeeded by Ned Kelly of Long Lane, Dorset Street, Dublin in 1953.<ref name=Watts/> Ned Kelly soon he gathered around him a cadre of young leaders and had four ''sluaithe'' running in the Dublin area. These were at North City, Drimnagh/Crumlin, Dundrum and Finglas. He had as his adjutant Brian McConnell from Swilly Road in Cabra. His QM was Annrai MacGloin from [[Glenasmole|Bohernabreena]]. In 1954/55 a split occurred in the republican movement. Activists led by Joe Christle became disenchanted with the leadership. They were looking for armed action in Northern Ireland, but were restrained by the Army Council. This breakaway group aligned with [[Saor Uladh]]. They set up a youth group who also called themselves Fianna Éireann with Gearoid O'Kelly as Chief Scout; he previously had a Fianna ''sluagh'' in Newbridge, but was now living in Ballyboden. This Fianna had one ''sluagh'', at Inchicore, with members mainly from the [[Drimnagh]] and [[Crumlin, Dublin|Crumlin]] area. A serious clash occurred between the two groups later in 1959 over the sale of the [[Easter Lily (badge)|Easter Lily]], commemorating the republican dead. Ned Kelly was dismissed from the republican movement in 1955 and replaced as Chief Scout by George Darle from Drumcondra, a nominee of the IRA who had some Catholic Boy Scouts experience. He brought new blood into the organisation,<ref>''United Irishman'', January 1955</ref> including Frank Lee and Terry Kiely. They set about reorganising the Fianna and soon new ''sluaithe'' were being formed in Navan, Dundalk, Drogheda and Sligo.<ref>Fianna Éireann weekly notes in ''Dublin Evening Mail'', August 1958.</ref> The Border Campaign by the IRA, which began in December 1956, led to the Fianna losing many of its members, especially in Dublin. In January 1957, 38 IRA recruits were surrounded and arrested in a house used for training in [[Glencree]], [[County Wicklow|Co Wicklow]]. At least 12 of these had been members of the Dublin Battalion of the Fianna.<ref>Fianna Éireann notes, ''United Irishman'', February 1957.</ref> ===Uniform changes ca. 1958=== [[File:Dick McKee commemoration November 1958.jpg|thumb|right|Dick McKee commemoration, November 1958]] The uniform in 1958 was basically the same as when Fianna was founded in 1909: a green blouse with two rows of brass buttons, an orange neckerchief, slouch hat, black shorts and a white lanyard with a whistle. Officers wore riding breeches and a military jacket, slouch hat and a Sam Browne belt. The uniform was now changed to resemble an American Boy Scout uniform: a green shirt with two pockets and a military-style side hat. Eventually, the side hats were replaced by a green beret, and the long trousers for officers were replaced by black shorts or breeches.<ref>Fianna Éireann notes, ''United Irishman'', March 1959.</ref> ===Jubilee Camp 1959=== [[File:Fianna Officers.jpg|thumb|right|Fianna Officers, Bodenstown, 1959]] A committee was sent up by GHQ in 1958 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Fianna's founding. Chief Scout Jimmy Cruise headed this body and it was decided to hold a camp in central Ireland for all Fianna ''sluaithe''. Permission was given by the [[Patrician Brothers]], Ballyfin, [[County Laois]], to use their grounds for this purpose in August 1959. These were years when money was scarce and travelling made difficult. Consequently, only about 100 Fianna members attended the camp. Each ''sluagh'' catered for itself and there were joint activities organised. The Special Branch of the Garda Síochána was busy while the camp was in progress, visiting the homes of Fianna members, especially the young Scouts, telling the parents that the boys were on an IRA training camp. Quite a few members were lost this way. In 1959, Fianna was given the privilege of having its colour party lead the annual pilgrimage to the grave of [[Wolfe Tone]] at [[Bodenstown]]. A report to the Ard Fheis in 1963 showed that, as well as the sluaithe mentioned above, there were now new units in Roscrea, Nenagh, and Ballyfermot/Chapelizod. A new department had been set up which catered for friends of the Fianna who were either too old to join, or were not in a position to do so. This was known as the dept. of Associated Members. This new section was run by the Adjutant General.<ref>''Fianna'' newspaper, January 1964</ref> [[File:Bodenstown 1959 Jubilee.jpg|thumb|right|Fianna colour party, Bodenstown 1959]] ===Junior members=== {{unreferenced section|date=December 2015}} Fianna had always catered for boys between the ages of eleven years and sixteen years. About 1959, a new idea was put in place to cater to younger boys. With the assistance of some Cumann na mBan members, boys as young as eight years were allowed into the ranks of the Fianna. They wore a plain green sweater and yellow neckerchief. This venture was a success and most sluaithe (branches) followed suit. ===New Fianna handbook=== A committee was set up circa 1963 to gather funds to produce a new Fianna handbook. All of the committee were members of the GHQ, and included Liam MacAnUltaigh, Deasún Ó Briain, Brian Mulvanney, Uinsionn O'Cathain and Tony Shannon. Funds and advertisers were procured and a new handbook appeared ca. 1965. This was the third edition of the handbook, the others having been printed in 1913 and 1924.<ref>Fianna Handbook advertised for sale in ''United Irishman'', January 1965.</ref> ===Arrest of Fianna officers=== {{unreferenced section|date=December 2015}} Around November 1963 action was taken against Gearóid O'Kelly who was allegedly collecting money in pubs for "Republican Prisoners' Dependents". On a Saturday night in November 1963 he was stopped near his home at Ballyboden Road, [[Rathfarnham]] by a party of armed men. They bundled him into a field and "tarred and feathered" him. About eleven senior officers were arrested by the Special Branch the following Monday morning and brought to the Bridewell. After a few hours, O'Kelly was brought in to try to identify those who may have assaulted him. The officers were all brought into one room and O'Kelly viewed them through a glass panel from an adjoining room. No one was detained, and most had alibis, as they were at an Ard Coiste meeting at Gardiner Place at the time of the assault and had been seen entering and leaving the building by the Special Branch men who constantly watched that premises. O'Kelly had also fallen out with his 'Fianna' and two of his associates (Weldon and Phelan), spent six months in prison for assaulting him. He gave up his activities at this stage. ===Activities=== {{unreferenced section|date=December 2015}} {{Tone|section|date=December 2015}} [[File:NaFiannaEireannOgraShinnFein.JPG|thumb|right|A Fianna Éireann/[[Ógra Shinn Féin]] colour party at Galbally, Tyrone 2009]] The 1950s and 1960s were very active years for Fianna members. A Sluagh usually held one meeting per week, where all met on parade in full uniform. All the usual Scouting test work was undertaken, games played and instructions given regarding hikes or camps on the following weekend. Weather never held the Scouts back from the 'great outdoors', and Fianna members could be encountered in all weathers, especially in the Dublin/Wicklow mountains. This was a time when much military surplus clothing and camping equipment was coming onto the market following the end of the [[Korean War]]. One Sluagh, Finglas, had snow tents previously used by the British Army, suitable for camping out in all types of weather. Another favourite weekend pastime was 'shacking'. Throughout the mountains were numerous old deserted houses (shacks), and at weekends the Fianna would use them for shelter. One favourite one was called 'Thunders' in Glencree. Another was in the Glen of the Downs, near the village of Delgany, where there was a Fianna Sluagh. All-night hikes were a favourite with the officers. The last bus out of town to Rathfarnham, Enniskerry or Bohernabreena would be taken, and then the group would march all night across the hills, to where they would pick up the first bus back to the city again. Youth-hosteling was also undertaken, popular with the younger Scouts. Hostels such as Glencree, Baltyboys and Knockree were all within striking distance of the buses from Dublin. Many Dublin Sluagh organised Whit weekend camps and annual week long camps. During the early 1960s national camps were held at Castledermot (County Carlow) and another at Glencolumbkille (County Donegal). [[File:OgraShinnFeinNaFIannaEireannColourParty.JPG|thumb|right|A Fianna Éireann/[[Ógra Shinn Féin]] colour party in [[Belfast]] 2010]] Republican commemorations were constantly being held and the Fianna was obliged to turn out in full to them. And during this time high ranking Inchicore republican John McGrath brought in several new members to the Fianna. The annual Easter Commemoration was usually the first on the calendar. The parade would line up at St. Stephens Green and march all the way to Glasnevin Cemetery. On the same day, a parade was usually held in Blackrock or Deans Grange Cemetery as well. The Wolf Tone Commemoration was next in line, usually on the last Sunday in June. This was usually a great day out. Trains would come from Dublin, Cork and Kerry for the occasion, and buses from all parts of the country: it was a festive occasion. In November there was held the [[Manchester Martyrs]] parade and concert, and in December the Fianna always hosted the Four Martyrs Concert in Dublin. In between all of these occasions, there were many times when the Fianna was invited to provide colour-parties and contingents in various parts of the country to commemorate fallen republican soldiers. Many republican demonstrations were held in these years to protest against internment and coercion. The Fianna always played its part on these occasions and was highly visible on the streets when needed. A major source of income always came from the sale of the Easter Lily at Eastertime. Many times the boxes and contents were confiscated by the Garda, as the Fianna never applied for permits. [[File:FianJohnDempsey.JPG|thumb|right|A plaque in memory of ''Fian'' John Dempsey – the last member of the organisation to have been killed on active service]] ===After 1969=== {{unreferenced section|date=December 2015}} [[File:Graffiti in Ireland.jpg|thumb|Pro-Fianna Éireann graffito in [[County Waterford]]]] Similarly to the wider republican movement, the Fianna experienced a number of splits after the outbreak of [[the Troubles]]. In 1969 two rival groups claimed the title of the Fianna Éireann; one composed of members under the control and influence of the Official movement who wanted to end the Sinn Féin abstentionist policy, and the other aligned to the re-organized Provisional Sinn Féin and IRA movement who supported a continuation of the traditional policy. The Fianna group aligned with the Officials was dissolved in 1976 by the Official Army Council and replaced by the Irish Democratic Youth Movement after a significant number of Fianna volunteers left, taking with them a significant quantity of arms, in the 1974 OIRA-INLA split.<ref>{{citation | title = INLA Deadly Divisions |author=Jack Holland |author2=Henry McDonald | date = 1994}}{{page needed|date=January 2022}}</ref> In 1986 there was a further split within (Provisional) Sinn Féin and the IRA due to the dropping of Sinn Féin's abstentionist policy. After this split the Fianna withdrew its support from the Provisional movement, citing republican principles. It now supports [[Republican Sinn Féin]] and the [[Continuity IRA]]. [[Vice News]] reported that in early 2015 the group had about 30 members.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZM9Z0NbQwM |title=The Republic's Dissident Youth: Ireland's Young Warriors |date=23 July 2015 |publisher=Vice News |access-date=26 December 2016 |archive-date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925144656/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZM9Z0NbQwM |url-status=live }}</ref> According to a 2020 study, four factors are associated with Fianna membership: "First, working-class background, with its related deprivation and social problems (such as criminality and drug addiction); second, the importance of family links and social networks; third, social media as an introduction to republicanism; and, fourth, fascination with Irish history."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Reinisch|first=Dieter|date=2020-09-16|title=Teenagers and young adults in dissident Irish republicanism: a case study of Na Fianna Éireann in Dublin|journal=Critical Studies on Terrorism|volume=13|issue=4|pages=702–723|doi=10.1080/17539153.2020.1820207|hdl=1814/68409 |hdl-access=free |s2cid=224886079|issn=1753-9153}}</ref> In May 2025, Fianna na hEireann was on the UK Government ''List of proscribed groups linked to Northern Ireland related terrorism''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-10 |title=Proscribed terrorist groups or organisations - GOV.UK |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250510172649/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proscribed-terror-groups-or-organisations--2/proscribed-terrorist-groups-or-organisations-accessible-version#list-of-proscribed-groups-linked-to-northern-ireland-related-terrorism |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref>
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