Irish Republican Brotherhood

The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) played an important role in the history of Ireland. It was the chief group advocating armed revolt during the campaign for Ireland's independence from the United Kingdom during the latter half of the nineteenth century. It was formed around 1850 by James Stephens, and organised an abortive revolt in 1867. Although the IRB co-operated with Charles Stewart Parnell's Irish Parliamentary Party (which eschewed violent action) in the 1870s and 1880s during the Land War, it also organised a dynamite campaign in English cities. Its members often referred to themselves as "Fenians".

The oath

The oath of the Irish Republican Brotherhood changed throughout the years, though the one probably most well known goes as follows:

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In the presence of God, I, ?, do solemnly swear that I will do my utmost to establish the independence of Ireland, and that I will bear true allegiance to the Supreme Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and the Government of the Irish Republic and implicitly obey the constitution of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and all my superior officers and that I will preserve inviolable the secrets of the organisation.

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