The Felon's Track; Or, History of the Attempted Outbreak in Ireland Embracing the Leading Events in the Irish Struggle From the Year 1843 to the Close of 1848

"The Felon's Track; Or, History of the Attempted Outbreak in Ireland" by Michael Doheny is a historical account written in the mid-19th century that reflects on the tumultuous events of the Irish nationalist movement from 1843 to 1848. The book particularly focuses on the Young Ireland movement, highlighting the struggles faced by its leaders, including Doheny himself, as they sought to foster a sense of national identity and independence against British rule. The opening of the narrative details the motivations behind Doheny’s writing as he aims to emphasize that Ireland's downfall was not due to any inherent cowardice among its people. He dedicates the work to General James Shields and discusses the broader context of the Irish struggle, focusing on key figures and events that shaped the movement. The beginning emphasizes a historical retrospective, examining the foundation of the Repeal Association led by Daniel O'Connell and the subsequent emergence of the Young Ireland party. It highlights the aspirations of figures like Thomas Davis and their efforts to energize the Irish populace towards a more assertive stance for independence, setting the stage for the events that led to the attempted insurrection of 1848. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Michael Doheny was an Irish writer, lawyer, member of the Young Ireland movement, and co-founder of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, an Irish secret society which would go on to launch the Fenian Raids on Canada, Fenian Rising of 1867, and the Easter Rising of 1916, each of which was an attempt to bring about Irish Independence from Britain.