Irish Republican Army

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The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is the name used by a number of groups which trace their origins to the original IRA which emerged out of the Irish Volunteers during the Easter Rising (1916) and the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921).

Early History - the 'Old IRA'

The term Irish Republican Army was first used by Pádraig Pearse, who adopted the title Commandant-General of the Irish Republican Army during the Easter Rising in 1916.[1] During the subsequent Irish War of Independence it came into general use to refer to the Irish Volunteers.[2]

The IRA split following the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1922, with the Pro-Treaty faction being absorbed by the forces of the new Irish Free State.[3]

In the Irish Civil War (1922-23) the Free State defeated the anti-treaty IRA, which nevertheless remained in existence.[4]

Official IRA

The IRA split into two factions in December 1969-January 1970 over the issue of recognition of the assemblies in Stormont, Leinster House and Westminster.[5]

The term Official IRA came into use to describe the faction which supported the parliamentary strategy and the pre-existing leadership of Chief of Staff Cathal Goulding. Its political counterpart was initially known as Official Sinn Féin.[6]

The Provisional IRA

The Provisional IRA emerged in 1969-1970 out of the faction which supported the traditional republican commitment to parliamentary abstentionism. Its political counterpart was Provisional Sinn Féin.[7] Sean McStiofain was the Provisionals' first chief of staff.[8]

External Resources

Notes

  1. Patrick Bishop and Eamonn Mallie, The Provisional IRA, Corgi, 1988, p.24.
  2. Robert Kee, The Green Flag: A History of Irish Nationalism, Penguin Books, 2000, p.644.
  3. Robert Kee, The Green Flag: A History of Irish Nationalism, Penguin Books, 2000, p.733.
  4. Patrick Bishop and Eamonn Mallie, The Provisional IRA, Corgi, 1988, p.34.
  5. Patrick Bishop and Eamonn Mallie, The Provisional IRA, Corgi, 1988, p.136.
  6. W.D. Flackes, Sydney Elliott, Northern Ireland: A Political Directory 1968-88, Blackstaff Press, 1989, p.206.
  7. W.D. Flackes, Sydney Elliott, Northern Ireland: A Political Directory 1968-88, Blackstaff Press, 1989, p.227.
  8. Patrick Bishop and Eamonn Mallie, The Provisional IRA, Corgi, 1988, p.137.