Joseph Brenan (Young Irelander)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Brenan was a poet, journalist and author. A leading member of the Young Ireland
ers and Irish Confederation
.
on the 17th November, 1828. Brenan began to write verse at an early age, and was one of the genuine poets of the Young Ireland
movement. His earlier poems were published under the initials "J. B., Cork," or "J. B—n," and some of his American verses under the pseudonym "Gondalez." He was also an able prose writer.
Brenan was an active member of the Cork Historical Society, and was one of the editors of the Cork Magazine, which appeared in November, 1847, and continued to appear until the end of 1848, when the journal then ceased publication. Some of its contributors, who included Frazer, Martin MacDermott, Fitzjames O’Brien, Mulchinock and Mary Savage, would later either end up in jail or in exile.
visited Cork and, according to Michael Cavanagh, who would publish a sketch of his Brenan’s life in Young Ireland, Dublin, in June and July, 1885, Brenan for the first time "beheld the man he most admired on earth, and with whose future destiny, whether for weal or woe, he felt his own was bound up. Never had the arch-enemy of England a more faithful or earnest follower."
Brenan contributed to the Mitchel’s United Irishman and, sold his rifle in order to obtain his train fare, to take up his residence in Dublin, the headquarters of the revolutionary movement. He later published articles in John Martin’s Irish Felon urging the Confederate Clubs members, many of whom had arms to be in readiness for action. "The sooner you realise the fact," he wrote in a Letter addressed to the Members of the Provincial Confederate Clubs, "that the Confederation was got up for the purpose of doing something, the better for us all. Just think what it undertook to do. It undertook to defeat the strongest Government and to liberate the most degraded country that ever existed. It undertook to give - to a province—to strike the chains off millions of slaves and, if necessary, to wash out the, iron moulds in blood."
In another Letter to "the Young Men of Ireland" on 22 July, 1848, he wrote: "On you I principally rely. You realise that you are very 'rash,' rather inclined to be 'violent,' and have exceedingly little prudence to spare. Brothers, let your watchword be 'Now or never—now and for ever' rashly"
Brenan was associated with John Savage
and John O'Mahony
while Savage was operating on the slopes of the Comeragh Mountains
. Brenan was arrested and kept in prison for seven months alternately in Newgate Prison, Carrickfergus and Kilmainham Gaol
s. During his confinement he wrote some fine poems, according to T. F. O’Sullivan, one, entitled "Yearnings," evidently addressed to Mary Savage, sister of John.
After his release without trial in March, 1849, Brenan became editor of the Irishman which had been started in Dublin by Bernard Fulham, and for six months attempted to rekindle the insurrectionary flame in the country. He was implicated in the attack on the Cappoquin police barracks on the 16th September 1848 and in October escaped to America.
.
Brenan wrote some articles and poems for John Mitchel’s Citizen in 1854. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Southern cause, and had founded the New Orleans Times.
Young Ireland
Young Ireland was a political, cultural and social movement of the mid-19th century. It led changes in Irish nationalism, including an abortive rebellion known as the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848. Many of the latter's leaders were tried for sedition and sentenced to penal transportation to...
ers and Irish Confederation
Irish Confederation
The Irish Confederation was an Irish nationalist independence movement, established on 13 January 1847 by members of the Young Ireland movement who had seceded from Daniel O'Connell's Repeal Association. Historian T. W...
.
Early life
Joseph Brenan, was born in CorkCork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
on the 17th November, 1828. Brenan began to write verse at an early age, and was one of the genuine poets of the Young Ireland
Young Ireland
Young Ireland was a political, cultural and social movement of the mid-19th century. It led changes in Irish nationalism, including an abortive rebellion known as the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848. Many of the latter's leaders were tried for sedition and sentenced to penal transportation to...
movement. His earlier poems were published under the initials "J. B., Cork," or "J. B—n," and some of his American verses under the pseudonym "Gondalez." He was also an able prose writer.
Brenan was an active member of the Cork Historical Society, and was one of the editors of the Cork Magazine, which appeared in November, 1847, and continued to appear until the end of 1848, when the journal then ceased publication. Some of its contributors, who included Frazer, Martin MacDermott, Fitzjames O’Brien, Mulchinock and Mary Savage, would later either end up in jail or in exile.
1848 Rising
In January 1848, John MitchelJohn Mitchel
John Mitchel was an Irish nationalist activist, solicitor and political journalist. Born in Camnish, near Dungiven, County Londonderry, Ireland he became a leading member of both Young Ireland and the Irish Confederation...
visited Cork and, according to Michael Cavanagh, who would publish a sketch of his Brenan’s life in Young Ireland, Dublin, in June and July, 1885, Brenan for the first time "beheld the man he most admired on earth, and with whose future destiny, whether for weal or woe, he felt his own was bound up. Never had the arch-enemy of England a more faithful or earnest follower."
Brenan contributed to the Mitchel’s United Irishman and, sold his rifle in order to obtain his train fare, to take up his residence in Dublin, the headquarters of the revolutionary movement. He later published articles in John Martin’s Irish Felon urging the Confederate Clubs members, many of whom had arms to be in readiness for action. "The sooner you realise the fact," he wrote in a Letter addressed to the Members of the Provincial Confederate Clubs, "that the Confederation was got up for the purpose of doing something, the better for us all. Just think what it undertook to do. It undertook to defeat the strongest Government and to liberate the most degraded country that ever existed. It undertook to give - to a province—to strike the chains off millions of slaves and, if necessary, to wash out the, iron moulds in blood."
In another Letter to "the Young Men of Ireland" on 22 July, 1848, he wrote: "On you I principally rely. You realise that you are very 'rash,' rather inclined to be 'violent,' and have exceedingly little prudence to spare. Brothers, let your watchword be 'Now or never—now and for ever' rashly"
Brenan was associated with John Savage
John Savage (Fenian)
John Savage was a poet, journalist and author. A member of both the Young Irelanders and the Fenians.-Early life:...
and John O'Mahony
John O'Mahony
John O'Mahony may refer to:*John O'Mahony , founder of the Irish Republican Brotherhood *John O'Mahony , Irish Fine Gael politician representing Mayo and twice an All-Ireland winner managing the Galway Football Team*Sean Matgamna , also known as John O'Mahony, Trotskyist theorist*Seán O'Mahony ,...
while Savage was operating on the slopes of the Comeragh Mountains
Comeragh Mountains
The Comeragh Mountains are a glaciated mountain range situated in the south east of Ireland in County Waterford. They are located between the town of Clonmel on the County Tipperary border and the villages of Kilrossanty and Kilmacthomas in County Waterford.The twelve mountains which form the...
. Brenan was arrested and kept in prison for seven months alternately in Newgate Prison, Carrickfergus and 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...
s. During his confinement he wrote some fine poems, according to T. F. O’Sullivan, one, entitled "Yearnings," evidently addressed to Mary Savage, sister of John.
After his release without trial in March, 1849, Brenan became editor of the Irishman which had been started in Dublin by Bernard Fulham, and for six months attempted to rekindle the insurrectionary flame in the country. He was implicated in the attack on the Cappoquin police barracks on the 16th September 1848 and in October escaped to America.
Escape to America
In America he became associated with a number of journals, including Horace Greeley’s Tribune, Devin Reilly’s People, The Enquirer of Newark, Jersey, and the New Orleans Delta in which he wrote a series of papers under the pen-name Ben Fox. On the 27th August, 1851, Brenan married Mary Savage, in her parents house, on Thirteenth Street, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Brenan wrote some articles and poems for John Mitchel’s Citizen in 1854. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Southern cause, and had founded the New Orleans Times.