Organisation and 1916 activity
Na Fianna Éireann is an Irish nationalist youth organisation founded in 1909 by Constance Markievicz, later assisted by Bulmer Hobson. It played a key role in Ireland’s revolutionary period, helping to establish the Irish Volunteers and participating in major events such as the 1914 Howth gun-running, the 1916 Easter Rising, and the War of Independence. Many members opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty during the Civil War.
Fianna members were active in labour struggles like the 1913 Dublin Lock-out, where one member was killed. They contributed significantly to training and organising the Irish Volunteers and Cumann na mBan.
Fianna members fired some of the first shots of the Easter Rising, capturing the Magazine Fort in Phoenix Park; during this action, the commander’s son was killed while trying to raise the alarm. They fought across all major garrisons, with figures like Seán Heuston and Con Colbert holding leadership roles before both were executed.
Constance Markievicz, serving with the Irish Citizen Army, was sentenced to death but later reprieved and imprisoned for an extended period. In Galway, Liam Mellows led operations, escaped to the United States to gather support, but was later executed during the Civil War.
As the GPO was evacuated, James Connolly placed Fianna officer Seán McLoughlin in charge of organising the retreat. Many Fianna members were killed or wounded during the Rising, others took part in actions such as burning Linenhall Barracks, and several were later interned in Frongoch camp.
Seán Healy
(1D352) was shot dead at Phibsborough while delivering dispatches. As were Seán Howard and Seán Ryan. Volunteers under the command of Fianna officer Paddy Holahan captured and burned down the Linenhall Barracks. Eamon Martin, a future Chief of Staff, was seriously wounded at the Broadstone Railway Station. At least fifteen Fianna officers from the Dublin Brigade were later interned at Frongoch internment camp, North Wales after the Rising was put down. Seán Heuston and Con Colbert were executed for their role in the Rising.
The files
The membership rolls for Fianna Éireann cover Dublin City and County, Cork City and County, Waterford, Kerry, Tipperary, Clare, Mayo, Sligo, Louth, Armagh, Cavan, Meath, Wexford, Wicklow, Offaly, Carlow, Kildare, Athlone, Mullingar, Belfast and Derry City.
The files were compiled for the same purpose than the IRA membership rolls.
There are 41 files in the series but only one refers to the events in 1916.
This file contains typed and manuscript material detailing the organisation and location of battalions 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Dublin Brigade during the period 1916 -1923. This material was submitted under signature by Joseph Reynolds -Brigade Adjutant, and Herbert Mellows -Adjutant General (dated 10 April 1935). The file also contains a ‘Summary of Operations’ carried out by the brigade between Easter 1916 and 1920.
