Changes

[[Image:IRA3.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]

[[Image:IRA3.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]

'''See Also: [[Individual Retirement Arrangement]]'''

{{See also|Individual Retirement Arrangement}}

The '''Irish Republican Army''' or (IRA) is used to refer to many different, historically linked organisations; the Provisional IRA and the Official IRA. The former were formed in 1969 and have been more active since then with a particularly high profile from their military campaign. The Provisional IRA was formed as a reaction to perceived inactivity of the Official IRA, who were formed in 1919, but whose profile dropped since the end of the [[Irish Civil War]].

The '''Irish Republican Army''' or (IRA) is used to refer to many different, historically linked organisations; the Provisional IRA and the Official IRA. The former were formed in 1969 and have been more active since then with a particularly high profile from their military campaign. The Provisional IRA was formed as a reaction to perceived inactivity of the Official IRA, who were formed in 1919, but whose profile dropped since the end of the [[Irish Civil War]].

In 1938, however, the IRA began preparing plans to return to war with a bombing campaign in England. The IRA also sought the assistance of [[Nazi Germany]], but in the end the Abwehr provided little assistance.<ref>Tim Pat Coogan, "The IRA: A History," Chapter 9, "The IRA and the Nazis," pages 151-162.</ref> The IRA campaign had little effect, largely due to repressive measures taken by the British and Irish governments.  

In 1938, however, the IRA began preparing plans to return to war with a bombing campaign in England. The IRA also sought the assistance of [[Nazi Germany]], but in the end the Abwehr provided little assistance.<ref>Tim Pat Coogan, "The IRA: A History," Chapter 9, "The IRA and the Nazis," pages 151-162.</ref> The IRA campaign had little effect, largely due to repressive measures taken by the British and Irish governments.  

At the time of the Second World War, the [[Irish Free State]] was under the governance of [[Eamon de Valera]] and the Fianna Fail Party. Faced with an upsurge of terrorist violence, de Valera began interning IRA members without trial in the [[Curragh Camp]] in County Kildare. IRA men accused of capital crimes were tried by military tribunals and in some cases received the [[death penalty]].<ref> Tim Pat Coogan, "The IRA: A History,"  Chapter 8, "The Years of the Curragh," pages 143-150.</ref>  

At the time of the Second World War, the [[Irish Free State]] was under the governance of [[Eamon de Valera]] and the Fianna Fail Party. Faced with an upsurge of terrorist violence, de Valera began interning IRA members without trial in the [[Curragh Camp]] in County Kildare. IRA men accused of capital crimes were tried by military tribunals and in some cases received the [[death penalty]].<ref>Tim Pat Coogan, "The IRA: A History,"  Chapter 8, "The Years of the Curragh," pages 143-150.</ref>  

The most famous such incident of this era involved IRA Chief of Staff [[Charles Kerins]], who was hanged at [[Dublin]]'s Mountjoy Prison on December 1, 1944. He had been convicted by court-martial of the machine gun slaying of a Detective Sergeant [[Denis O'Brien]] of the [[Garda Siochana]]. Kerins is revered as a martyr by many militant Irish nationalists to this day.

The most famous such incident of this era involved IRA Chief of Staff [[Charles Kerins]], who was hanged at [[Dublin]]'s Mountjoy Prison on December 1, 1944. He had been convicted by court-martial of the machine gun slaying of a Detective Sergeant [[Denis O'Brien]] of the [[Garda Siochana]]. Kerins is revered as a martyr by many militant Irish nationalists to this day.

OIRA engaged in some military activity during the early years of the Troubles before calling a ceasefire in 1972. They have since transformed into a political party, currently known as The Workers’ Party, contesting elections largely in the [[Republic of Ireland]]. PIRA, on the other hand, launched a 30-year campaign of violence against British control of Northern Ireland. PIRA violence was responsible for approximately 1,800 of the 3,000 deaths during the Troubles. The PIRA campaign came to an end with a ceasefire in 1997 as a result of the [[Irish Peace Process]], which culminated in the [[Belfast Agreement]], sometimes known as the [[Good Friday Agreement]], in 1998. In 2005, the IRA officially announced an end to its campaign and decommissioned much of its arms under international supervision.

OIRA engaged in some military activity during the early years of the Troubles before calling a ceasefire in 1972. They have since transformed into a political party, currently known as The Workers’ Party, contesting elections largely in the [[Republic of Ireland]]. PIRA, on the other hand, launched a 30-year campaign of violence against British control of Northern Ireland. PIRA violence was responsible for approximately 1,800 of the 3,000 deaths during the Troubles. The PIRA campaign came to an end with a ceasefire in 1997 as a result of the [[Irish Peace Process]], which culminated in the [[Belfast Agreement]], sometimes known as the [[Good Friday Agreement]], in 1998. In 2005, the IRA officially announced an end to its campaign and decommissioned much of its arms under international supervision.

The PIRA's terror campaign was largely funded from overseas. Two significant sources were the Libyan government and sympathisers in the United States. <ref>http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1563119.stm</ref><ref>http://members.lycos.co.uk/inac/myth.html</ref>

The PIRA's terror campaign was largely funded from overseas. Two significant sources were the Libyan government and sympathisers in the United States.<ref>http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1563119.stm</ref><ref>http://members.lycos.co.uk/inac/myth.html</ref>

[[Noraid]] is an American fund-raising organisation claiming to support the peaceful campaign for a united Ireland. Set up at the beginning of the Troubles, it was often accused by the British, Irish and US governments of being a front for the supply of military hardware to the PIRA. Coupled with vocal support for Irish republicanism by certain US elected representatives and the refusal to extradite IRA suspects by members of the US judiciary, this caused many in the UK to suspect that Americans were anti-British and caused resentment of United States policy by many Britons.

[[Noraid]] is an American fund-raising organisation claiming to support the peaceful campaign for a united Ireland. Set up at the beginning of the Troubles, it was often accused by the British, Irish and US governments of being a front for the supply of military hardware to the PIRA. Coupled with vocal support for Irish republicanism by certain US elected representatives and the refusal to extradite IRA suspects by members of the US judiciary, this caused many in the UK to suspect that Americans were anti-British and caused resentment of United States policy by many Britons.

IRA volunteers have since been caught helping [[FARC]] terrorists in [[Colombia]]<ref>http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1563119.stm</ref>.

IRA volunteers have since been caught helping [[FARC]] terrorists in [[Colombia]].<ref>http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1563119.stm</ref>

[[Category:Terrorist Organizations]]

[[Category:Terrorist Organizations]]