Irish Republican Army - Socom: Combined Assault
[IRA] Óglaigh na hÉireann
Frequently Asked Questions
The Irish Republican Army is a guerilla organization dedicated to the achievment of a 32-Country Socialist Republic in Ireland. The original IRA was formed in 1916 when the Irish Citizen Army and the Irish Volunteers merged following the Easter Rising. The modern day IRA, known as the Provisional IRA, broke from the Official IRA in 1969 as a result of inaction on the part of the OIRA during times of civil strife and discrimination against nationalists. The PIRA formally announced and end to their armed campaign in February of 2006 and vowed to pursue their objectives through political means.
Is the IRA a terrorist organization?
In our eyes no, it depends on your definition of terrorist. The IRA's leadership has never condoned the killing of civilians, volunteers who did target civilians were frequently court-martialled. Throughout the 20th Century the IRA had considerable support from the people in the areas in which they operated.
"One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."
Isn't the IRA a Catholic organization?
No. The goal of the Irish Republican movement is the establishment of a United Irish Socialist Republic with equal rights for all, regardless of race or religion. The IRA's war was against the state, not the Protestant community. It is true that the majority of IRA volunteers have been Catholics, this is because Catholics in the occupied 6 counties have traditionally been oppressed by the Protestant majority. It is also due to the fact that most Irish Protestants are descendents of British settlers, loyal to the crown, who settled in Ireland, while most Catholics are descendents of Irish Celts.
Many of the famous early Irish Republicans, such as Theobold Wolfe Tone and Napper Tandy, were Protestants.
Didn't the IRA give up their weapons?
Yes. As a result of the Good Friday Agreement the Provisional IRA has agreed to decommission their arsenal and cease criminal activity in order to go the political route towards the Republic. There are still dissident groups such as the Continuity IRA and the Real IRA, as well as the Irish National Liberation Army who have not decommissioned, however these groups have only a fraction of the support that the PIRA does.
Are Irish Republicans racist?
No. The Irish Republican movement supports equal rights for all men and women in Ireland regardless of race, religion, or ancestry. There is no problem with the average British citizen, the IRA only has a problem with a foreign government occupying part of their country.
What relationship does the Irish Republican Movement have with the Republican Party of America?
Absolutely none, they are on opposite ends of the political spectrum.