by Aaron Daniels
The Irish Republican Army,or the IRA,has a long history. The conflicts involved all relate to the tension between the English and the Irish. The IRA originally believed that Ireland should be ruled by the people of Ireland. The IRA and its supporters believe that England has no place, no rule, and no authority in Ireland. However, this is not true. England controls Northern Ireland, and has other non-direct control over Ireland. The Irish Republican Army was formed in order to take Ireland away completely
from the British.
Ireland has been struggling for home rule for many years. In 1870, The Home Government Association was formed, with Isaac Butt as its first leader. The name changed in 1874 to Home Rule Party. Tensions grew and support for home rule of Ireland became more of a choice as time progressed. Soon, the Irish Republican Army was formed.
The Government of Ireland Act was enacted in 1920. Northern Ireland was officially separate from Southern Ireland. Sinn Fein was already a group that supported home rule. In 1921, a civil war in Ireland broke out. The British force, The Royal Irish Constabulary, came to be known as the Black and
Tans. The Black and Tans, known for their khaki uniforms, burned
many villages and towns, which increased support for Sinn Fein and the IRA. Soon, the Irish Free State was formed by the signing of a treaty on December 6, 1921. The Irish Free State had its own parliament and was self-governing. Northern Ireland was given the choice to either join the free state or remain with Britain. The people chose to remain with Britain. The Government of Ireland Act was meant to unite Ireland, but instead a political division was created. A statement from The Original Council of Ireland, 1920. Out of this division the Irish Republican Army was formed.
The Irish Republican Army
claimed that the presence of British soldiers in Ireland enticed violence. The IRA wrote an Ultimatum
to the British Government in 1939. However, British
soldiers remain to this day. The main goal of the IRA was to unite
Ireland, but as time passed the goals changed.
In 1968, an outbreak occurred in Londonderry. The IRA had been campaigning for British removal of troops for many years, but the outbreak was not about removal of soldiers. However, it was about civil rights. The outbreak was to improve the conditions in Northern Ireland rather than to abolish the existence of
Northern Ireland.
The IRA began to split into many different sects. Some of the younger generations began to accept communist beliefs as a way to unite Ireland. Others stuck to traditional forms which include violence. The people who still believed in violence broke off and formed the Provisional Army Council in November 1969. In the early 1970's, riots broke out. Reasons behind these actions included a sense of solidarity in the community of Catholics, and a defense
against attacks by Protestants because the British Army did not provide such protection.The
Policy of the Provisional Wing of The IRA, stated by Sean MacStiofain,Chief of Staff, Provisional IRA, in 1972 tells of the policy of the IRA.
Of all the many different aspects of the IRA, violence has always been a huge part. In 1975, the IRA once again used violence to make itself known. Bombings in England by the IRA marked the age of terrorism by the IRA. The IRA still wants to unite Ireland, but still has Northern Protestant resistance from people living in the North. Therefore, the Irish Republican Army is still striving for unification, but still has resistence by England and Irish Protestants in the North.
In conclusion, the Irish Republican Army strives to this day to unite Ireland. It has used and may continue to use violence to achieve its goals. The violence in the past has characterized the organization as a terrorist group. The IRA is still in existence today, and strives for unification.
Links:
Behind
the Mask: The IRA & Sinn Fein
Archive of IRA Statements
Flag of the
Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
Provisional
Irish Republican Army (PIRA)
Sinn Fein
