Today, 2 June, 159 years ago in 1866, an army of 700 Fenians, many if not all of them veterans of the American Civil War, crossed Lake Ontario into the British Province of Canada under Fenian Brotherhood Brigadier General John O’Neill and defeated a force of 850 Canadian Militia and Queen’s Own Rifles. The British forces were quickly routed after a miscommunication in command, followed by a Fenian charge and a rousing “Faugh a ballagh!” (Clear the way!). Fenian casualties were next to none while heavy losses were inflicted upon the British forces.

The Fenian Raids were a series of invasions from 1866-1871 by the Fenian Brotherhood, the American wing of the IRB. The aim was to take Canada temporarily hostage, precipitate a political crisis in Britain, and use it to barter for Ireland’s freedom. Although there were several raids in the six year period, Ridgeway was the only major success.

The battlefield was visited by Ceannaire na Rannán Mheiriceá Thuaidh Eóin Ó Murchú and members of the Division.