Fianna
''Fianna'' ( , ; singular ''Fian''; ) were small warrior-hunter bands in Gaelic Ireland during the Iron Age and early Middle Ages. A ''fian'' was made up of freeborn young males, often from the Gaelic nobility of Ireland, "who had left fosterage but had not yet inherited the property needed to settle down as full landowning members of the ''túath''". For most of the year they lived in the wild, hunting, cattle raiding other Irish clans, training, and fighting as mercenaries. Scholars believe the ''fian'' was a rite of passage into manhood, and have linked ''fianna'' with similar young warrior bands in other early European cultures.They are featured in a body of Irish legends known as the 'Fianna Cycle' or 'Fenian Cycle', which focuses on the adventures and heroic deeds of the ''fian'' leader Fionn mac Cumhaill and his band. In later tales, the ''fianna'' are more often depicted as household troops of the High Kings.
The Fenian Brotherhood of the 19th-century and the ''Fianna Éireann'', an Irish nationalist youth organisation of the 20th century, are named after them. Provided by Wikipedia
![[Ticket] Fianna Fáil, the Republican Party 1926-1951 : comóradh an 25 ú bhliain = celebrating 25 years.](/IIIF/000540000/000539170/vtls000539170_001.jp2/full/100,/0/default.jpg)
![They call this progress...Work and vote for [James] Geoghegan the Fianna Fail candidate /](/IIIF/000540000/000538604_34444101564607/vtls000538604_34444101564607_001.jp2/full/100,/0/default.jpg)
![Archbishop Mannix says "The patent fact is - whatever the reason or significance of it may be - that throughout the whole wide world every enemy of Ireland without exception, as well as many who profess to be Ireland's friends, is on the side of the Free State government" - Melbourne, St. Patrick's Day, '23 [1923]; Ask yourself why every enemy of Ireland is on the side of Mr. Cosgrave and his party /](/IIIF/000540000/000539091_34444101572873/vtls000539091_34444101572873_001.jp2/full/100,/0/default.jpg)