Sullivan and Cronin first clashed during the Clan’s ‘Dynamite Campaign’ of the mid-1880s. The attacks, for which hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised, were intended to spread fear and cause widespread damage in Britain. High-profile buildings in London were targeted, including Scotland Yard, underground stations, the Tower of London and London Bridge. Alexander Sullivan was an enthusiastic supporter of the campaign, while Cronin was opposed to the bombings, convinced that they would undermine Parnell’s parliamentary campaign aimed at securing Home Rule for Ireland. In any event, the Dynamite Campaign was a disaster. British police stymied many attempts to detonate bombs and eighteen men were arrested and imprisoned, while three were killed while attempting to secure a bomb to London Bridge.
