Irish Republican Army

Definition

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a paramilitary organization that has historically sought to end British rule in Northern Ireland and establish an independent, united Ireland through the use of armed force and political means. The IRA has been a central player in the complex history of resistance, revolution, and social movements in Ireland.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The IRA was founded in 1919 as the military wing of the Irish Republican movement, with the goal of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing an independent, united Irish republic.
2. The IRA's campaign of violence against the British government and security forces in Northern Ireland, known as the 'Troubles,' lasted for several decades, with the group carrying out bombings, shootings, and other attacks.
3. The Provisional IRA, a more militant faction that emerged in 1969, was responsible for some of the most notorious and deadly attacks during the Troubles, including the 1998 Omagh bombing that killed 29 people.
4. The IRA's armed struggle was accompanied by a political campaign for Irish republicanism, with the group's political wing, Sinn Féin, playing a key role in the peace process that ultimately led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
5. The IRA declared a ceasefire in 1997 and eventually decommissioned its weapons in 2005, marking a significant shift in the group's strategy and the overall trajectory of the conflict in Northern Ireland.

Review Questions

• Describe the origins and goals of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and how they relate to the concepts of resistance and revolution.
  • The Irish Republican Army (IRA) was founded in 1919 as the military wing of the Irish Republican movement, with the goal of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing an independent, united Irish republic. The IRA's armed struggle, known as the 'Troubles,' was a campaign of resistance against the British government and security forces in Northern Ireland, using tactics such as bombings, shootings, and other violent attacks. The IRA's revolutionary aims were rooted in the ideology of Irish republicanism, which sought to overthrow the existing political order and create a new, independent Irish state. The group's resistance and revolutionary activities were central to the complex history of social movements in Ireland during this period.
• Analyze the role of the Provisional IRA and its impact on the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and how it relates to the concept of social movements.
  • The Provisional IRA, a more militant faction that emerged in 1969, was responsible for some of the most notorious and deadly attacks during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The Provisional IRA's campaign of violence, including bombings, shootings, and other acts of terrorism, was a key part of the broader social movement for Irish republicanism and self-determination. The group's actions were intended to disrupt the existing political and social order, and to pressure the British government to withdraw from Northern Ireland. The Provisional IRA's activities were met with a heavy-handed response from the British security forces, further escalating the conflict and contributing to the complex and often violent dynamics of the Troubles. The group's role in this social movement highlights the ways in which resistance and revolution can take on violent forms in the face of perceived injustice and oppression.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the Irish Republican Army's activities on the peace process in Northern Ireland and the broader social and political landscape, particularly in the context of the Good Friday Agreement.
  • The Irish Republican Army's (IRA) armed struggle, known as the Troubles, had a significant and lasting impact on the social and political landscape of Northern Ireland. While the IRA's campaign of violence was intended to disrupt the existing order and pressure the British government to withdraw, it also contributed to the complex and often violent dynamics of the conflict. However, the IRA's eventual ceasefire in 1997 and the decommissioning of its weapons in 2005 marked a crucial shift in the group's strategy and the overall trajectory of the peace process. The IRA's political wing, Sinn Féin, played a key role in the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which laid the foundation for a more stable and peaceful future in Northern Ireland. The IRA's transition from an armed resistance movement to a political actor in the peace process highlights the ways in which social movements can evolve and adapt over time, and the potential for even the most entrenched conflicts to be resolved through negotiation and compromise.

Related terms

Provisional IRA: A faction of the IRA that emerged in 1969 and was the more active and militant wing of the organization, engaging in a campaign of violence against the British government and security forces in Northern Ireland.

Irish Republicanism: A political ideology and movement that seeks to establish an independent, united Ireland, free from British rule, often through the use of physical force.

The Troubles: The period of violent conflict in Northern Ireland from the late 1960s to the late 1990s, involving the IRA, British security forces, and various unionist and loyalist paramilitary groups.