On June 2, 1866, Canada narrowly escaped being kidnapped by 600 Fenians (members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood) when a brigade crossed the border from Buffalo and launched an assault on a Canadian regiment at Ridgeway, just outside Fort Erie. The stated objective of this unsuccessful expedition was to ransom part of Canada to England in exchange for a free Ireland, though grander designs were expressed in the group’s 1865 manifesto, which called for Canada to be conquered and renamed New Ireland. To atone for the too-tame St. Patrick’s Day celebrations Canadians have suffered through since, Fort Erie will delight visitors this year with a re-enactment of the raids.
