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fleshing out
The Provisional IRA, also known as the '''The Irish Republican Army''' or '''IRA''' was a [[terrorist]] organization fighting against the [[British]] in [[Ireland]], claiming to represent the nationalist largely [[Catholic]].
The Provisional IRA, also known as the '''The Irish Republican Army''' or '''IRA''' (Óglaigh na hÉireann in Irish Gaelic) is a [[terrorist]] organization that fought against the [[British]] in [[Northern Ireland]], claiming to represent the largely [[Catholic]] nationalist community in Northern Ireland.
The organisation is associated with [[Sinn Fein]], although a direct associasion is offically denied. The policy of violence was undermined by a number of peace initiatives and a loss of support for a violent programme - the conciliatory handling of the situation first by [[John Major]] and later by [[Tony Blair]] is often held up as an example of a more effective approach to counter-terrorism than invading irrelevant countries. The policy of violence was further undermined after [[911]], which prompted the USA Government to take a tougher line on terrorism and a loss of financial support that had previously arrived from the [[United States of America]], via [[Noraid]].
The organisation is associated with [[Sinn Fein]], although a direct association is offically denied. The policy of violence was undermined by a number of peace initiatives and a loss of support for a violent programme - the conciliatory handling of the situation first by [[John Major]] and later by [[Tony Blair]] is often held up as an example of a more effective approach to counter-terrorism than invading irrelevant countries. The policy of violence was further undermined after [[911]], which prompted the USA Government to take a tougher line on terrorism and a loss of financial support that had previously arrived from the [[United States of America]], via [[Noraid]].
IRA terrorists have since been caught helping [[FARC]] terrorists in [[Colombia]].
IRA terrorists have since been caught helping [[FARC]] terrorists in [[Colombia]].
== History ==
'''Origins'''
The IRA was first formed in 1919 from members of the [[Irish Volunteers]], an armed group formed in 1914 to promote self government in Ireland, which was then part of the [[United Kingdom]]. While the British parliament passed the Government of Ireland Act in 1914, providing limited powers of self government to the Irish, its implementation was postponed by the outbreak of [[World War I]]. The majority of the approximately 100,000 Irish Volunteers accepted British promises that the act would go into force following the war, and many joined the British Army to fight. However, approximately 12,000 did not accept the delay. This group retained the name Irish Volunteers. They were largely controlled by the secretive [[Irish Republican Brotherhood]], or IRB, which had been seeking to instigate rebellion against British rule since the mid-19th century.
On April 24, 1916, the [[Easter Rising]] broke out when the Volunteers seized Dublin's General Post Office and read a proclamation of Irish independence. The rebels managed to hold out for a week, but were defeated by British forces. The Rising had initially been unpopular among the Irish people, but this changed when the British executed 16 of its leaders.
'''Anglo-Irish War'''
In 1917, those who had participated in the Rising, as well as many who had been converted to their cause, organized the Irish Republican Army, dedicated to using force to attain independence. The [[Anglo-Irish War]] began with the killing of two Royal Irish Constabulary men in January 1919. The IRA was organized into "flying columns" of 20-30 men who attacked British bases and ambushed military and police forces. In July 1921, the IRA and the British agreed to a truce, which was followed by the negotiations for what became the [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]]. By the treaty provisions, Ireland was to become a dominion of the [[United Kingdom]], and the British were to retain possession of several ports on the south coast of Ireland. Additionally, members of the Irish Parliament were required to swear an oath of loyalty to the British Crown. The treaty also led to the partition of the island, as six northern counties (Armagh, Antrim, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Down, Derry) opted to remain part of the UK and became the new country of [[Northern Ireland]].
'''Civil War'''
The IRA leadership as well as its rank and file were deeply divided by the treaty. Pro-treaty members believed that it was a stepping stone to the independence they had sought, while anti-treaty members felt the treaty was a betrayal of the ideals that had motivated them to fight. These divisions ultimately led to a split in the IRA and civil war. The pro-treaty faction was reorganized as the Irish National Army, while the anti-treaty group retained the IRA label. The split ultimately led to a bloody civil war that ended in 1923 with the pro-treaty forces victorious.
'''World War II'''
During the period between the Irish Civil War and [[World War II]], the IRA was largely engaged in social issues, which they approached from a left-wing perspective. While a number of IRA men joined the socialist and communist [[International Brigades]] in the [[Spanish Civil War]], they engaged in generally non-violent protest in Ireland. This approach was unpopular, partially due to the influence of the conservative Catholic Church in Ireland, and IRA membership dwindled.
In 1938, the IRA began preparing plans to return to war with a bombing campaign in England. The IRA also sought German assistance with the campaign, but in the end the Germans provided little assistance. The IRA campaign had little effect, largely due to repressive measures taken by the UK and Irish governments. IRA members were interned without trial in both countries, and several were executed.
'''Border Campaign'''
In the early 1950s the IRA began planning for a new campaign, which was intended to reunite [[Northern Ireland]] with the remainder of the island. The Border Campaign began in 1956 and lasted until 1962. IRA groups attacked military installations and attempted to disrupt the workings of the Northern Ireland state by damaging its infrastructure. The governments once again responded by introducing internment, which severely inhibited IRA operations. Ultimately the Border Campaign ended with an IRA admission that it did not have sufficient popular support to maintain its activities.
'''The Troubles'''
[[Category:Terrorists]]
[[Category:Terrorists]]