Irish Republican Army Essay

The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) was formed in 1969. The Official IRA declared a cease-fire in the summer of 1972, and subsequently the term IRA began being used for the organization that developed from the 'Provisional' IRA. Organized into small, tightly knit cells under the leadership of the Army Council the IRA has remained largely unchanged. It is difficult to know the exact number of IRA members because of the political and economic persecution that comes with publicly endorsing the IRA. It is estimated that there are several hundred members, plus several thousand sympathizers, but the IRA's strength may have been affected by operatives leaving the organization to join hard-line splinter groups.

The IRA split into two groups; The official IRA who wanted to achieve a United Ireland, and the Provisional IRA who thought of the British Army as an army of occupation and believed violence was the answer and would achieve their goal. The Provisional IRA shot Gunner Curtis. He was the first British soldier to be killed in the Northern Ireland.

The Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) is a splinter group of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) that uses sabotage, subversion, and guerilla warfare to express its opposition to the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. This agreement basically recognized that the majority of the people within Northern Ireland wished to remain a part of the United Kingdom. It also recognized that a large section of the people of Northern Ireland, and the majority of the people of the continent of Ireland wanted a united Ireland. For the most part, the Good Friday Agreement brought an end to the struggle between unionists and nationalists during the “Troubles” (an unconventional war spanning from 1968-1998 in Northern Ireland between British security forces, republican and loyalist paramilitaries, and civil rights groups). To understand how the RIRA came to be, you have to know a little about the history of the IRA. Specifically, on how the members regarded violence as a means to a unified Ireland without British involvement. “In December 1969, the IRA divided into “Official” and “Provisional” wings. Both factions were committed to a united Irish republic, but the Officials eschewed violence after 1972, whereas the Provisionals, or “Provos,” carried out various attacks and assassinations, attempting to compel the British Army to withdraw from Northern Ireland. In the wake of the Bloody Sunday shootings by the British military in January 1972, the Provos’ ranks

The Irish were promised the Home Rule Act, but it was taken away at the start of the Ester Uprising. “This modest promise was swept away the Easter Uprising of 1916, when a small band of rebels paralyzed the city and the Irish Republic was proclaimed from the steps of the GPO” (Hegarty). Padhraic Pearse led about 2000 people into the Easter Revolution, only a small fraction of the people that had lived in Dublin at the time. Most of the Irish were involved in World War I. “They had little support – many Irish volunteers had joined the war effort and the rebels were perceived to be traitors to the great cause” (Hegarty). It would take more violence and rebellion against the British to bring attention to their cause both locally and abroad.

So the Irish tended to be in favor of slavery and against abolition. This was just another reason why many of the people around them did not get along with them, this in turn probably making their lives harder and less enjoyable. However, at the outbreak of the Civil War an estimated 170,000 men born in Ireland joined the Union Army, but only about 40,000 were in the Confederate Army. This occurred because the issue for the Irish was not so much slavery as it was preserving the Union. The church in Boston agreed with Archbishop Hughes that ?It is one country and shall be one?.

The conflict in Northern Ireland has persisted because of religious affiliations, their identities and the struggle for overall power. The morals and identities of the people and organizations of Northern Ireland

Óglaigh na hÉireann or the “dissident” Irish Republican Army, also known as the Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) and associated with the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA), the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA), and the New Irish republican Army (NIRA) broke away from the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in November 1997. The IRA called a cease-fire with the British government and Loyalists, which the RIRA wanted nothing do with. The RIRA is dedicated to ensure the removal of Great Britain from North Ireland and to unify all of Ireland. They are a small, tightly knit, and well-organized, powerful group.

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) will remain a threat to the regional stability of Ireland and England. Ireland’s significance to the United States can be seen through Irish immigration, the role of Irish Americans in politics, and their military contributions throughout the history of the country. Additionally, the conflict in Ireland is of great concern to England. England is a key ally of the United States with strong economic and military ties. According to the United States Census Bureau, 36.9 million Americans claimed Irish ancestry in 2009 (Bureau, 2011). This has the potential to have the American public sympathize with the IRA which could lead to friction between both the United States and Great Britain.

"America's bounty -- the abundance of the fields, the beauty of the landscape, the richness of our opportunities -- has always attracted people who are in search of a better life for themselves and their children. Our democracy owes its success in great part to the countless immigrants who have made their way to our shores and to the tremendous diversity this Nation has been blessed with since its beginnings. In March, when communities all across the country celebrate St. Patrick's Day, our nation honors the rich heritage of the millions of Americans who trace their lineage to Ireland." (Clinton 2003) This was, in part, a proclamation given by our former President William J. Clinton, on February 23, 1995.

The precursor to the IRA was a group called the Irish Volunteers who later transformed in the IRA around 1919. The goal from the start was to create the Independent Republic that was not controlled by Britain. The Sinn Fein was the government wing of the terrorist group, who shared the same exact goal but from a diplomatic standpoint. Not everyone who was a part of the IRA was also a part of the Sinn Fein and vice versa but the membership tended to overlap during the IRA’s inception period. The IRA first used terrorism during the war of Irish independence from 1919-1921 against Britain. At the end of the war, Britain had let go of 26 counties and this resulted in a new free Ireland. However, 6 counties remained under Britains control. The 6 six counties that remained were together named Northern Ireland and to this day, Northern Ireland is still a part of the United Kingdom. The first split of the IRA happened during this time between those who accepted 26 counties being set free (loyalist) and those who were upset that 6 remained under Britain control. Those who were not in favor of 6 counties apart of the United Kingdom were named the Irregulars. A civil war occurred between the irregulars and the new Irish government and the irregulars had lost. This did not stop them from recruiting and training, in hopes that their dream of a unified Ireland. The new Irish government made the organization illegal due to its continued

It also is well documented that the people who joined the IRA wanted Northern Ireland to be independent just like Southern Ireland after it became independent in 1916. The IRA‘s own stated aims were to defend their nation, to remove British troops from N. Ireland and to make it a part of the rest of Ireland as one country.

The Irish Republican Army Ideology The Irish Republican Army ideology is still living in Northern Ireland, nearly a century after the organization’s establishment. Although the IRA has since disbanded, the spirit is kept alive by a number of splinter factions, including the Provisional, Continuity, and Real IRAs. Not many terrorist organizations can maintain a campaign this extensive in time. The long history of the IRA campaign of terror leads to many political, social, religious, educational and economic effects.

In response to the Irish republican Army, what is now Northern Ireland established the Ulster Special Constabulary or “B Specials”. Starting in 1920, the Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) played a significant role in the unification and eventual founding of Northern Ireland. With a combination of various groups ranging from illegal to legal actions, the formation of Northern Ireland was shaped to have a unique and violent history until 21st century. Constantly looked at as the “Ulster problem” by all those around, policies and actions made by the North and the USC were greatly influenced by the attitudes surrounding this new nation.

Out of the 200,000 Irish Volunteers that joined the British army, 60,000 died. Not all of the Irish Volunteers joined the British army. The 11,000 that refused became known as the Sinn Fèin volunteers. The 1916 rebellion came from this group. Eoin Mc Neill was the leader but he didn’t want to start a rebellion.

On Easter Monday, 24th April 1916 the Easter Rising broke out. This was a Rebellion of the Irish Nationalist against the rule of Great Britain. This rebellion marked the beginning of Ireland gaining their Independence. Another attempt to gaining Independence of Ireland took place in 1919 when the IRA fought the British Army in the war of independence which lasted over 2 and a half years and