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The Greatest of the Fenians
John Devoy and Ireland
Terence Dooley

Padhraig Pearse described John Devoy (1842-1928) as ‘the greatest of the Fenians’. Devoy joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) in 1861. Arrested in 1866 for attempting to recruit British soldiers to the Republican cause, he was imprisoned. Under the amnesty agreement of 1870 he accepted exile and sailed for America.

Devoy quickly started building up Clan na Gael to become the foremost Irish-American political organisation of its time. He became one of the most influential political figures on either side of the Atlantic. His single-mindedness often brought him into dangerous conflict with Irish and American leaders, most notably with Eamon de Valera.

Using Devoy’s invaluable collection of personal papers, government files and other sources, Terence Dooley exposes new evidence on Devoy’s life, particularly his use of the alias James Doyle. Dooley also explores Devoy’s early life, his role in the IRB, his imprisonment in Britain, his secret and illegal visit to Ireland and his triumphant return home in 1924. A fascinating read in the light of the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Rising.