Irish Republican Army
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This article is part of SpinWatch's Northern Ireland Portal. |
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 during the Easter Rising 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
- Paul de Rooij, Northern Ireland is Still the Issue: A Conversation with Gerry Adams, CounterPunch, 9 Oct. 2004.
