Correction, The Bold Fenian Men was first published in 1864, in a newspaper in Chicago, where the author Michael Scanlan was then living. It first appeared in book form in Scanlan's poetry collection 'Love and Land' in 1866. It was then titled simply 'The Fenian Men' - tho each verse ended with the line 'the bold Fenian men'!

'Love and Land' included this verse which I have never heard sung, quite possibly because it's never been recorded.

Up for the cause then, fling forth our green banners,
From the east to the west, from the south to the north,
Irish land, Irish men, Irish mirth, Irish manners,
From mansion and cot, let the slogan go forth.
Sons of old Ireland now,
Love you your sireland now?
Come from the kirk, or the chapel or glen,
Down with all faction old,
Concert and action bold,
This is the creed of the bold Fenian men.

Scanlan was a senior Fenian and took part in the Fenian 'raid' on Canada, from Buffalo, in 1866. For more detail on Scanlon, see the book 'From the Bog to the Bishop' by Dr. Margaret Doody-Scully (2005) which includes a chapter on Scanlan by myself titled 'Limerick is Beautiful', the title of another of Scanlan's great songs (he was a native of of Mathúnach,(Mahoonagh, Castlemahon) County Limerick.

The 'other' so-called 'Bold Fenian Men', by Peadar Kearney (1907) is properly titled 'Down by the Glenside'. Kearney was well aware of Scanlan's song and wouldn't have given his own song the same title. He wrote, of a visit to London by the Abbey Theatre, of which he was a member,

'I think it was Humphrey Murphy (a big man with a bigger voice) started singing Scanlon's [sic] 'Fenian men' and when we all joined in at 'Out and make way for the Bold Fenian Men' we actually hushed the surprised mob into momentary silence, the only remark I heard was 'Oirish! Co blimey - barmy'!