Brought out from Ireland to Melbourne in 1886 and spread around Australia as a Friendly Society. The INF provided a rallying point for Irish Australians with a social network of Irish music, dancing, sports and educational activities. Like all Friendly Societies it provided income & health benefits to its members and also campaigned for Irish independence in Ireland. Due to the occupations of its members many of its membership and leadership were active Trade Unionists. It was one of the earliest to set up female run branches, eventually becoming mixed branches and a number of the INF’s later state leaders were women. As with all Friendly Societies it suffered a decline in the 1960’s and effectively had ceased to exist by the late 1980’s. This is a story of the Irish diaspora in Australia and the key role the INF played.
