What is a fenian?

The Fenian Brotherhood was an organization dedicated to removing British control of Ireland and establishing an independent Irish government. They were particularity active in Ireland and the United States. During the 19th Century the Fenians made several attempts to invade Canada from the United States; their objective being to take and hold Canada hostage in the hope of exchanging it for Ireland's independence. All their attempts failed; in fact their attempts only managed to alienate all support for Irish independence from Irish Canadians.