Rachel Evans
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a republican paramilitary organization with a long history in Ireland. It was created in 1919 and initially served as the military arm of Ireland's independence movement. The IRA has historically defended Catholic areas in Ireland, and its members have been predominantly Catholic. The organization's goals include establishing a republic, ending British rule in Northern Ireland, and reunifying Ireland. The Provisional IRA, which formed in 1969, was a faction of the IRA that sought to achieve these goals through violent means, and it became the most prominent and dangerous separatist paramilitary group during the Troubles. The Troubles were a period of conflict in Northern Ireland characterized by violence between Catholics and Protestants, with the IRA often defending Catholic communities against attacks from loyalist paramilitary groups. While the IRA has denied responsibility for sectarian attacks, its campaigns have been interpreted as ethnic cleansing by some Protestants.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religious composition | The IRA has historically defended Catholic areas and communities in Ireland, particularly in Northern Ireland. |
| Religious affiliation | The IRA's heritage is Catholic, and it has denied responsibility for sectarian attacks. However, some members have deemed sectarian attacks effective in preventing similar attacks on Catholics. |
| Opposition to drugs and prostitution | The IRA generally opposed drug dealing and prostitution due to their unpopularity within Catholic communities and for moral reasons. |
| Relationship with the Catholic community | The IRA's political and military influence in Northern Ireland declined over time, but it gained support from Catholics in the 1970s due to British policies such as internment and the killing of Catholic protesters on Bloody Sunday. |
| Relationship with Protestants | The IRA's campaign was viewed as ethnic cleansing by Protestants in the rural border areas of counties Fermanagh and Tyrone. |
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What You'll Learn
The IRA's defence of Catholic areas
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) was formed to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and create a "workers' republic" encompassing all of Ireland. The IRA's role in defending Catholic areas dates back to the 1920s, when it sought to protect these communities from attacks by Ulster loyalists.
In the late 1960s, Catholics in Northern Ireland launched a civil rights campaign against discrimination in voting, housing, and employment by the dominant Protestant government and population. Violence by extremists against these demonstrators, unrestrained by the mostly Protestant police force, sparked a series of escalating retaliatory attacks by both sides. During this time, the IRA was poorly armed and struggled to defend Catholic areas effectively. This prompted criticism of the IRA leadership's decision not to take sides, leading some members to break away and form the Provisional IRA, which focused on defending Catholic areas.
The Provisional IRA extended its armed campaign beyond the defence of Catholic areas, employing guerrilla tactics and bombing campaigns in Northern Ireland, England, and mainland Europe. They targeted military, political, and economic targets, as well as civilian contractors to the British security forces. The IRA's armed campaign resulted in over 1,700 deaths. While the IRA denied responsibility for sectarian attacks, many viewed their campaign as ethnic cleansing.
In the late 1970s, the IRA reorganised into detached cells to protect against infiltration and maintained a strong presence in certain localities, such as Belfast and Derry. Despite their efforts to defend Catholic areas, the IRA's actions contributed to a cycle of violence and retaliation, causing significant harm to both Catholic and Protestant communities.
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Catholic support for the IRA
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a paramilitary organisation that sought to establish a republic, end British rule in Northern Ireland, and reunify Ireland. It was created in 1919, shortly after the Anglo-Irish War (Irish War of Independence, 1919–1921).
The IRA's initial focus was on defending Catholic areas, particularly during the Troubles, a period marked by violent clashes between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. During this time, Catholics in Northern Ireland faced discrimination and violence from Ulster loyalists and the predominantly Protestant Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). The IRA's efforts to protect Catholic communities were sustained by support from units in the rest of Ireland.
Bloody Sunday, which took place on January 30, 1972, was a pivotal moment in increasing Catholic sympathy for the IRA. On this day, 13 Catholic protesters were killed by British troops, sparking outrage among the Irish population. This event led to a significant rise in support for the IRA, particularly through new recruits in local areas.
The IRA received external support from various sources, including Irish diaspora communities, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. They utilised guerrilla tactics and carried out bombing campaigns in Northern Ireland, England, and mainland Europe.
It is important to note that the IRA denied responsibility for sectarian attacks and maintained that their actions were in retaliation for attacks on Catholics. While some members disagreed with these sectarian attacks, others found them effective in deterring similar assaults on Catholics.
In summary, the IRA enjoyed support from Catholics in Ireland and abroad due to their defence of Catholic communities and their opposition to British rule in Northern Ireland. This support was particularly evident during times of heightened tension, such as Bloody Sunday.
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The IRA's Marxist leanings
The IRA (Irish Republican Army) has historically been associated with the defence of Catholic areas and communities in Northern Ireland, particularly during the Troubles. The Troubles refer to a period of conflict and political violence in Northern Ireland from the 1960s to the 1990s, characterised by civil rights campaigns, sectarian violence, and clashes between paramilitary groups, the British Army, and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).
In December 1969, the IRA split into two factions: the Official IRA (OIRA) and the Provisional IRA (PIRA). This division arose from ideological differences and dissatisfaction with the organisation's leadership and strategy. The Officials, or Official Sinn Féin, were Marxist-Leninists who sought to unite with other Irish communist groups under the Irish National Liberation Front (NLF). They aimed to establish a "`workers' republic' encompassing all of Ireland and believed that peace between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland was necessary before unification could occur.
The Provisionals, or Provisional Sinn Féin, on the other hand, took a more traditional republican stance and were willing to engage in paramilitary action to defend Catholic areas. They extended their armed campaign beyond the defence of Catholics and conducted guerrilla attacks and bombings against military, political, and economic targets in Northern Ireland, England, and mainland Europe.
The shift towards Marxism in the Official IRA was influenced by popular front ideology and communist thinking during the 1960s. Under the leadership of Cathal Goulding, the Official IRA embraced Marxist-socialist ideas, prioritising political activism over paramilitary tactics. This ideological shift angered more traditional republicans, who viewed the organisation as drifting away from its conventional roots.
It is important to note that the IRA's relationship with Catholicism is complex. While the organisation has historically defended Catholic areas and communities, it has also been involved in attacks on Protestant civilians. Additionally, the IRA has generally opposed drug dealing and prostitution, which are considered immoral within Catholic communities.
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The IRA's opposition to drug dealing
The IRA, or the Irish Republican Army, is a paramilitary group with a complex history that dates back to the early 20th century. The group has been involved in numerous conflicts and has often been associated with the defence of Catholic areas in Northern Ireland. While the IRA has been implicated in various violent incidents, it is important to note that their relationship with drug dealing is one of opposition.
The IRA has historically opposed drug dealing within the communities they operate in. This stance is driven by a combination of moral objections and a pragmatic recognition that drug dealing would be unpopular within Catholic communities. The group has taken measures to prevent its members from engaging in drug-related activities, and those who have been caught have faced consequences such as being "disowned and humiliated" within their local areas.
The activities of RAAD and other dissident republican groups have caused concern among security officials in Northern Ireland. In 2012, RAAD merged with other republican paramilitary groups to form the 'New IRA'. This new organization has been deemed a genuine threat due to its improved bomb-making capabilities and the potential for more sustained campaigns of violence.
While the IRA's opposition to drug dealing is well-documented, it is important to note that the group has had a complex relationship with drug trafficking. Some sources suggest that the IRA may have dabbled in the drug trade, and splinter groups may have taxed drug dealers. However, the IRA's overall stance on drug dealing within their communities remains one of opposition.
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The IRA's role in the Troubles
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) was created in 1919 as a successor to the Irish Volunteers, a militant nationalist organization founded in 1913. The IRA’s purpose was to use armed force to render British rule in Ireland ineffective and thus assist in achieving independence, which was pursued at the political level by Sinn Féin, the Irish nationalist party.
The Troubles refer to the violent conflict in Northern Ireland during the late 20th century, which began shortly after the IRA split into two factions: the Official IRA and the Provisional IRA. The conflict was characterized by violence between these IRA factions, loyalist paramilitary groups, and the British Army and Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). The Provisional IRA's armed campaign, primarily in Northern Ireland but also in England and mainland Europe, killed over 1,700 people.
The Provisional IRA initially focused on defending Catholic areas, but in 1970, they began an offensive campaign aided by external sources, including the Irish diaspora, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. They used guerrilla tactics and carried out bombings in Northern Ireland, England, and mainland Europe, targeting military, political, and economic targets, as well as civilian contractors to the British security forces.
The Provisional IRA denied responsibility for sectarian attacks, but many viewed their campaign as ethnic cleansing, especially in rural border areas where more Protestants joined the security forces. The IRA's campaign included a strategy called the "Long War," which acknowledged that their campaign would be prolonged and included increased political activity through Sinn Féin.
In 1994, the IRA declared a ceasefire, and in 1997, both the Provisional IRA and loyalist paramilitaries called ceasefires, leading to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which marked the end of The Troubles.
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Frequently asked questions
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a paramilitary organisation seeking to establish a republic, end British rule in Northern Ireland, and reunify Ireland. It was created in 1919 and has been involved in numerous violent conflicts, including the Troubles, which began in the late 1960s.
The IRA has historically been associated with defending Catholic communities in Northern Ireland, who faced discrimination and violence from Protestant loyalist groups and the predominantly Protestant police force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). The IRA's members likely included Catholics, as they sought to protect Catholic areas and their cause resonated with the Catholic community.
The IRA was a key player in the Troubles, a violent conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted from the late 1960s to the late 1990s. The IRA initially focused on defending Catholic areas but later launched offensive campaigns against the British Army, RUC, and civilian targets. Their armed campaign resulted in the deaths of over 1,700 people.
Yes, the IRA gained significant support from Catholics in Northern Ireland, particularly after the killing of 13 Catholic protesters on "Bloody Sunday" in 1972. Catholic sympathy for the IRA swelled its ranks, and the organisation received funding and weapons from various sources, including Irish Americans and international arms dealers.
