Rachel Evans
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 end British rule in Ireland and achieve an independent republic. While the IRA has never been a solely Catholic movement, it has historically defended Catholic areas and communities in Northern Ireland and has enjoyed support from Catholics due to its resistance against the British and the Protestant government. The IRA's activities have included guerrilla warfare, bombings, and extortion, with the goal of achieving a united Ireland free from British rule.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founding | 1919 |
| Purpose | To use armed force to render British rule in Ireland ineffective and achieve an independent republic |
| Leadership | Michael Collins |
| Peace Deal | British agreed to grant Ireland self-rule as a dominion, retaining six Protestant-majority counties of Ulster as part of the United Kingdom |
| Civil War | Between the Free State and the IRA |
| Marxist Analysis | Conflict in Northern Ireland was a "bourgeois nationalist" conflict between Ulster Protestants and Irish Catholics, maintained by the ruling class |
| Provisional IRA | Emerged in December 1969 due to a split in the previous IRA; became dominant by 1972 |
| Official IRA | Emerged in December 1969; Marxist-Leninist faction that sought peace between Ulster Protestants and Irish Catholics before unifying Ireland |
| Catholic Defence | IRA units offered resistance during intercommunal violence in 1969, but later became reluctant to defend Catholic areas due to ideological shifts |
| Catholic Sympathy | Increased after the killing of 13 Catholic protesters on Bloody Sunday in 1972 |
| Catholic Community | The IRA viewed itself as the defender of the Catholic community in Northern Ireland |
| Catholic Opposition | The IRA opposed drug dealing and prostitution due to their unpopularity within Catholic communities |
| Catholic Victims | The IRA apologized for the anguish caused to families of "the Disappeared," including Jean McConville, a Catholic civilian |
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What You'll Learn
The IRA's Marxist leanings
The IRA, or Irish Republican Army, has often been associated with Catholicism due to its predominantly Catholic membership and its role in the religious conflict in Northern Ireland. However, it is important to note that the IRA also had a significant Marxist influence, which shaped its political ideology and strategies.
From the 1960s onwards, there was a noticeable shift towards Marxism within the IRA. This was influenced by several factors, including the civil rights struggles in the United States and the rise of leftist movements across the globe. Many IRA members became critical of the Catholic Church's hierarchy and its alignment with the capitalist system, which they believed perpetuated inequality and oppression.
The Marxist leanings within the IRA were characterized by a focus on class struggle and a desire to overthrow the capitalist system. They believed that the working class, regardless of religious affiliation, should unite to challenge the economic and political establishment. This meant that the IRA's targets were not only the British presence in Northern Ireland but also the capitalist structures and institutions that maintained the status quo.
One of the key figures in the IRA's Marxist wing was Gerry Adams, who became the president of Sinn Féin in 1983. Adams and his supporters pushed for a more leftist agenda, emphasizing social and economic issues alongside the traditional nationalist goals. They sought to build alliances with other leftist groups and trade unions, recognizing that the struggle for Irish independence was intertwined with broader social justice issues.
While the IRA's Marxist wing gained significant influence, it is important to note that it coexisted with other ideologies within the organization. Irish nationalism, Catholicism, and leftist ideals often intersected in complex ways, and not all members adhered strictly to a single ideological framework. Nonetheless, the Marxist influence within the IRA left a lasting impact on its political strategies and continues to shape discussions around leftist politics in Ireland today.
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The IRA's defence of Catholic areas
The IRA, or Irish Republican Army, was created in 1919 as a successor to the Irish Volunteers, a militant nationalist organization founded in 1913. The IRA's initial purpose was to use armed force to render British rule in Ireland ineffective and thus assist in achieving an independent republic. From its inception, the IRA operated independently of political control and pursued its objectives through guerrilla tactics, ambushes, raids, and sabotage. Over time, the IRA's ideology evolved, with some factions embracing Marxist and communist ideologies, while others remained rooted in traditional republicanism.
In the late 1960s, a civil rights movement emerged in Northern Ireland, advocating for an end to discrimination against Catholics in voting, housing, and employment by the dominant Protestant government and population. This movement was met with violence from extremist groups, sparking a series of escalating attacks and counter-attacks. It was during this tumultuous period that the IRA re-emerged as a significant force, with a particular focus on defending Catholic areas under threat.
One critical moment occurred in August 1969, when intercommunal violence erupted in Belfast and Derry, resulting in eight deaths, six of them Catholics, and widespread destruction. IRA units offered resistance, but they had limited weapons, and the leadership's reluctance to take sides angered many local IRA figures. This discontent led to a split within the IRA, with figures such as Joe Cahill and Billy McKee breaking away from the Goulding leadership and forming the Provisional IRA, also known as the Provos.
The Provisional IRA, established in December 1969, initially focused on defending Catholic areas but later shifted to an offensive campaign in 1970. They employed guerrilla tactics, bombings, and targeted economic and political institutions to deter investment and force concessions from the British government. The violence and discrimination faced by Catholics in Northern Ireland fueled support for the IRA, and their ranks swelled, particularly after the killing of Catholic protesters on Bloody Sunday in January 1972.
In summary, the IRA's defence of Catholic areas was a significant aspect of its activities, especially during the civil rights campaigns of the late 1960s and the subsequent political and sectarian violence. The IRA's role as defenders of the Catholic community shaped their strategies, tactics, and public perception, contributing to their resurgence and influence during this tumultuous period in Northern Ireland's history.
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The IRA's opposition to drug dealing and prostitution
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) was a paramilitary group that emerged in December 1969, shortly after the beginning of the Troubles, when the Irish Republican Army (IRA) split into two factions: the Official IRA and the Provisional IRA. The IRA's goal was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and create a "workers' republic" encompassing all of Ireland. The IRA's opposition to drug dealing and prostitution was based on the belief that such activities would be unpopular within Catholic communities and conflicted with their moral values.
The IRA took measures to prevent its volunteers from engaging directly in drug dealing. Kevin Sheehy, the chief of the RUC Drugs Squad, noted that an IRA member caught with a small amount of cannabis was "disowned and humiliated" in his community. The IRA also targeted drug dealers with punishment shootings and ordered them to leave Ireland. Some drug dealers were killed under the covername "Direct Action Against Drugs". However, there are allegations that the IRA "licensed" certain dealers to operate in exchange for protection money.
The IRA's stance on prostitution is less documented, but it can be assumed that they opposed it for similar reasons of community disapproval and moral objection. The IRA's focus on defending Catholic areas and protecting Catholic interests may have extended to opposing prostitution, which could be seen as exploitative or detrimental to the community.
It is important to note that while the IRA officially opposed drug dealing and prostitution, there were instances where they were indirectly involved or turned a blind eye. Additionally, the complex nature of the organization, with various factions and splinter groups, may have led to differing attitudes and actions regarding these issues.
In the late 2000s, a group called Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD) emerged in Derry and surrounding areas. RAAD was an Irish republican vigilante group that targeted alleged drug dealers with punishment shootings, property attacks, and threats. While RAAD denied having a political agenda, some believed it had links to the Provisional IRA, with members claiming to have been involved with the IRA in the past. In 2012, RAAD merged with other dissident republican groups to form the New IRA.
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The IRA's involvement in the Irish Civil War
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) was formed in 1919 during the Irish War of Independence. It fought against the British to establish a republic and end British rule in Ireland. In 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed, establishing the Irish Free State, an entity independent of the UK but within the British Empire. However, this treaty was highly contentious within the IRA, and it ultimately led to a split and the Irish Civil War.
The Irish Civil War (1922-1923) was fought between the Provisional Government of Ireland, which supported the terms of the treaty, and the anti-treaty IRA, which saw the treaty as a betrayal of the Irish Republic. Many of the combatants had fought together during the War of Independence, but now found themselves pitted against each other. The Civil War was a bitter conflict that divided families and left Irish society embittered for generations.
The anti-treaty IRA, also known as the "Irregulars", refused to recognise the authority of the Provisional Government or the Irish Free State, viewing them as creations of British imperialism. They continued to fight for a united Ireland, carrying out a bombing campaign in England and Northern Ireland in the 1940s. The IRA's activities during World War II caused embarrassment to the Irish government, which remained neutral.
The IRA experienced varying levels of activity and success after the Civil War. In 1969, it split into the Official IRA and the Provisional IRA, with the latter becoming the dominant faction by 1972. The Provisional IRA carried out bombings, assassinations, and ambushes, targeting both military and civilian targets. They believed that violence was a necessary part of the struggle to rid Ireland of the British presence.
The IRA has been involved in defending Catholic areas in Northern Ireland, particularly during the civil rights movement of the late 1960s. However, the organisation's shift towards Marxism in the 1960s angered more traditional republicans, who were reluctant to defend Catholic areas. This led to discontent within the IRA, with some members breaking away to form new groups like the Continuity IRA.
In summary, the IRA's involvement in the Irish Civil War was as the anti-treaty opposition, fighting against the Provisional Government and the establishment of the Irish Free State. The Civil War was a divisive conflict that had lasting impacts on Irish society, and the IRA continued to pursue its goal of a united Ireland through varying levels of activity in the decades that followed.
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The IRA's relationship with Sinn Féin
The relationship between Sinn Féin and the IRA has historically been symbiotic. In the minds of most people in Ireland, Sinn Féin is the political wing of the IRA, and it has played that role quite hotly over the years.
In the early 1920s, following the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations between British and republican representatives, a split occurred within Sinn Féin. The pro-Treaty faction formed the Cumann na nGaedheal, while the anti-Treaty faction, led by de Valera, sided with the anti-Treaty IRA. In 1926, de Valera proposed that elected members be allowed to take their seats in the Dáil if the oath of allegiance was removed.
In the 1930s, Sinn Féin did not contest any elections, and its relationship with the IRA soured. During this time, the IRA severed its links with the party.
In the 1940s, the IRA leadership once again sought to have a political arm. Following an IRA army convention in 1948, IRA members were instructed to join Sinn Féin en masse, and by 1950 they had taken total control of the party. The party began to advocate for a corporatist social policy inspired by the Papal Encyclicals of Pope Pius XI, with the aim of creating a Catholic state.
In the 1960s, the republican movement under Cathal Goulding reassessed its ideology and tactics due to the failure of the IRA's Border Campaign. They moved towards Marxist thinking, which angered more traditional republicans.
In January 1970, Sinn Féin split into two groups: "Official Sinn Féin" and "Provisional Sinn Féin". The latter was formed by members who opposed the leadership's decision to end abstentionism and take seats in the Dáil.
In the 1980s, Sinn Féin began to take itself more seriously as a political organisation. It played a propaganda role and was the public and political voice of the movement, while the IRA waged an armed campaign.
In more recent years, Sinn Féin has sought to distance itself from the IRA, stating that they are a totally separate organisation. However, in the minds of many, they are still inextricably linked.
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Frequently asked questions
The IRA (Irish Republican Army) was not a Catholic movement. It was a paramilitary group with the goal of removing Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and creating a "workers' republic" encompassing all of Ireland. The IRA emerged in 1919 as a successor to the Irish Volunteers, a militant nationalist organization. While the IRA did have Catholic members and defended Catholic communities, it was not exclusively Catholic and had members from both the Protestant and Catholic communities.
The IRA played a significant role in defending Catholic communities, particularly during the civil rights movement in the late 1960s. During this time, Catholics in Northern Ireland faced discrimination and violence from extremist groups and the mostly Protestant police force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). The IRA units organized to protect Catholic areas and received support from units in Ireland.
The IRA's relationship with Catholicism evolved over time. Initially, the IRA was focused on armed resistance against British rule and the creation of an independent republic. However, by the 1960s, there was a split within the IRA between those who adhered to traditional republican ideals and those who embraced Marxist ideologies. This shift alienated some Catholics, who viewed the Marxist jargon as antagonizing. Additionally, the IRA's decision not to take sides during the August 1969 riots in Belfast further strained its relationship with the Catholic community. Despite these tensions, the IRA continued to enjoy support from Catholics, especially after "Bloody Sunday" in 1972, when British forces killed 13 Catholic protesters.
