Irish National Invincibles
Encyclopedia
The Irish National Invincibles, usually known as "The Invincibles" were a radical splinter group of the Irish Republican Brotherhood
and leading representatives of the Land League movement, both of Ireland and Britain. This group of assassins were active in Dublin between late 1881 and 1883, with an intent to kill then Chief Secretary
"Buckshot" Forster
, jurists, informers, and the likes.
's misfortune that he, on the very day of his arrival to Ireland, was walking with Burke when the assassin
s struck, in Phoenix Park
, in Dublin, at 17:30 Saturday, May 6, 1882, in what was to become known as the Phoenix Park Murders
.
The assassinations in the park were initiated by Joe Brady knifing Burke, followed in short order by Tim Kelly, who knifed Lord Frederick. Both men used surgical knives. The British press expressed the outrage felt by many and demanded that the "Phoenix Park Murderers" be brought to justice.
A large number of suspects were arrested. By playing off one suspect against another, Superintendent Mallon of "G" Division of the Dublin Metropolitan Police got several of them to reveal what they knew. The Invincibles' leader, James Carey
, and Michael Kavanagh agreed to testify against the others. Joe Brady, Michael Fagan, Thomas Caffrey, Dan Curley and Tim Kelly were hanged
by William Marwood
in Kilmainham Gaol
in Dublin between May 14 and June 4, 1883. Others were sentenced to serve long prison terms.
No member of the founding executive, however, was ever brought to trial by the British government. John Walsh, Patrick Egan, John Sheridan, Frank Byrne, and Patrick Tynan were welcomed in America, where sentiment toward the murders was less severe, if not celebrated.
, South Africa
, on July 29, 1883, by Donegal
man Patrick O Donnell
, for giving evidence against his former comrades. O'Donnell was apprehended and escorted back to London
, where he was convicted of murder at the Old Bailey
and hanged on December 17, 1883.
":
When Carey
told on Skin-the-goat,
O'Donnell
caught him on the boat
He wished he'd never been afloat, the filthy skite.
Twasn't very sensible
To tell on the Invincibles
They stood up for their principles, day and night.
Irish Republican Brotherhood
The Irish Republican Brotherhood was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland during the second half of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century...
and leading representatives of the Land League movement, both of Ireland and Britain. This group of assassins were active in Dublin between late 1881 and 1883, with an intent to kill then Chief Secretary
Chief Secretary for Ireland
The Chief Secretary for Ireland was a key political office in the British administration in Ireland. Nominally subordinate to the Lord Lieutenant, from the late 18th century until the end of British rule he was effectively the government minister with responsibility for governing Ireland; usually...
"Buckshot" Forster
William Edward Forster
William Edward Forster PC, FRS was an English industrialist, philanthropist and Liberal Party statesman.-Early life:...
, jurists, informers, and the likes.
Murder in Phoenix Park
After numerous failures to target Forster, the group settled on a plan to kill the Permanent Under Secretary at the Irish Office Thomas Henry Burke. It was the freshly installed Chief Secretary for Ireland Lord Frederick CavendishLord Frederick Cavendish
Lord Frederick Charles Cavendish was an English Liberal politician and protégé of the Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone...
's misfortune that he, on the very day of his arrival to Ireland, was walking with Burke when the assassin
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
s struck, in Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth...
, in Dublin, at 17:30 Saturday, May 6, 1882, in what was to become known as the Phoenix Park Murders
Phoenix Park Murders
The Phoenix Park Murders were the fatal stabbings on 6 May 1882 in the Phoenix Park in Dublin of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Henry Burke. Cavendish was the newly appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland, and Burke was the Permanent Undersecretary, the most senior Irish civil servant...
.
The assassinations in the park were initiated by Joe Brady knifing Burke, followed in short order by Tim Kelly, who knifed Lord Frederick. Both men used surgical knives. The British press expressed the outrage felt by many and demanded that the "Phoenix Park Murderers" be brought to justice.
A large number of suspects were arrested. By playing off one suspect against another, Superintendent Mallon of "G" Division of the Dublin Metropolitan Police got several of them to reveal what they knew. The Invincibles' leader, James Carey
James Carey
James Carey was a Fenian and informer most notable for his involvement in the Phoenix Park murders.Carey was son of Francis Carey, a bricklayer, who came from Celbridge, in Kildare, to Dublin, where his son was born in James Street in 1845. He also was a bricklayer, and for 18 years continued in...
, and Michael Kavanagh agreed to testify against the others. Joe Brady, Michael Fagan, Thomas Caffrey, Dan Curley and Tim Kelly were hanged
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
by William Marwood
William Marwood
William Marwood was a hangman for the British government. He developed the technique of hanging known as the "long drop".-Early life:Marwood was originally a cobbler, of Church Lane, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England.-Executioner:...
in Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol is a former prison, located in Kilmainham in Dublin, which is now a museum. It has been run since the mid-1980s by the Office of Public Works , an Irish Government agency...
in Dublin between May 14 and June 4, 1883. Others were sentenced to serve long prison terms.
No member of the founding executive, however, was ever brought to trial by the British government. John Walsh, Patrick Egan, John Sheridan, Frank Byrne, and Patrick Tynan were welcomed in America, where sentiment toward the murders was less severe, if not celebrated.
Retaliation
Carey was shot dead on board the Melrose Castle off Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, on July 29, 1883, by Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
man Patrick O Donnell
Patrick O'Donnell (Invincible)
Pádraig "Mhícheál Airt" Ó Domhnaill or Patrick O'Donnell, was an Irish republican who was responsible for killing James Carey, leader of the group that carried out the Phoenix Park Murders in Dublin, Ireland.- The Phoenix Park murders and Carey's death :On 6 May 1882, the most senior Irish civil...
, for giving evidence against his former comrades. O'Donnell was apprehended and escorted back to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he was convicted of murder at the Old Bailey
Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
and hanged on December 17, 1883.
In song
The Invincibles and Carey are mentioned in the folk song "Monto (Take Her Up To Monto)Monto (Take Her Up To Monto)
Monto is an Irish folk song, written by George Desmond Hodnett, music critic of the Irish Times, and popularised by the Dubliners.-Lyrics:Well, if you've got a wing-o, Take her up to Ring-o...
":
When Carey
James Carey
James Carey was a Fenian and informer most notable for his involvement in the Phoenix Park murders.Carey was son of Francis Carey, a bricklayer, who came from Celbridge, in Kildare, to Dublin, where his son was born in James Street in 1845. He also was a bricklayer, and for 18 years continued in...
told on Skin-the-goat,
O'Donnell
Patrick O'Donnell (Invincible)
Pádraig "Mhícheál Airt" Ó Domhnaill or Patrick O'Donnell, was an Irish republican who was responsible for killing James Carey, leader of the group that carried out the Phoenix Park Murders in Dublin, Ireland.- The Phoenix Park murders and Carey's death :On 6 May 1882, the most senior Irish civil...
caught him on the boat
He wished he'd never been afloat, the filthy skite.
Twasn't very sensible
To tell on the Invincibles
They stood up for their principles, day and night.