...IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY (THE I.R.A.) 1.0 Background and History The I.R.A. has been around for some time. Activist militant Irishmen joined Feniean brotherhoods, organization that evolved into the Sinn Fein and it militant wing, the Irish Republican Army, which was founded in 1858. Money to support these movements came from Irishmen abroad, many of them having worked their way to influential positions in American trade unions. In 1867, anti-English sentiments were inflamed when a mob in Manchester, England attacked a police van in an attempt to free two Irish-American members of the pro-Irish-separatist Fenian Brotherhood. A policeman was killed and three members of group were executed after a controversial trial. The armed Fenian rebellion of 1867 was quickly put down by the British and turned out to be a dismal failure. Most of Ireland's revolutionaries were not from the embittered working classes or rural poor. Rather they were landowners, members of Parliament, and middle class professionals. Some were educated at Cambridge and Oxford. Belfast mural The Irish Republican Army (the I.R.A.) is Catholic-based paramilitary group whose objectives were to drive the British out of Northern Ireland and reunify Northern Ireland with Ireland. The I.R.A. was committed to the use of the violence to achieve these goals. The logic seemed to be that if they blow up enough buildings and killed enough people, the British and the their supporters would give up and leave Northern Ireland...
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...such as extortion, bank robbery, smuggling, and counterfeiting. 6. What is being done to eliminate this terrorist group? The Good Friday Agreement The IRA ceasefire in 1997 formed part of a process that led to the 1998 Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement between Ireland and British Governments. One aim of the Agreement is that all paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland cease their activities and disarm by May 2000. Calls from Sinn Féin, a political party in Ireland, led the IRA to commence disarming in a process that was monitored by Canadian General John de Chastelain's decommissioning body in October 2001. However, following the collapse of the Stormont power-sharing government in 2002, which was partly triggered by allegations that republican spies were operating within Parliament Buildings and the Civil Service, the IRA temporarily broke off contact with General de Chastelain. In December 2004, attempts to persuade the IRA to...
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...“This Time is Different: Comparing Al-Qaeda’s Unique Place in the History of Terrorism with the Freedom Fighters of the Irish Republican Army” Al Qaeda and the Irish Republican Army are two of the most complex and famous terrorist organizations in modern history. While both groups share some principles with one another, and undoubtedly have committed and continue to commit horrible acts, the world’s perception of each is undoubtedly different from the other. There is an apparent contradiction in Karl Heinzen’s famous quote: “If to kill is always a crime, then it is forbidden equally to all; if it is not a crime, then it is permitted equally to all.”[1] This difference in public perception is a result of several key tenets of each organization’s strategy and structure. The IRA fights to protect and support the liberties of the Irish people, while Al Qaeda relies upon the religious doctrine of a radical Islamic minority to carry out jihad against Western infidels. Al Qaeda, while claiming to represent the entire Muslim world, has never had a real home or a consistent base to draw upon; inversely, a large proportion of the Irish people are steadfast in their support for the cause. Al Qaeda’s indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians has resulted in a falling out with a large percentage of its former supporters. Finally, the IRA had a distinct, tangible, and realistic goal of expelling the British from Ireland, while Al Qaeda seeks to establish a new caliphate based...
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...Christopher Deion Smith 900751868 History 1112K Keywords Report #2 Irish Republican Army (IRA) The Irish Republican Army (IRA), also known as the Provisional Irish Republican Army was a paramilitary organization. It was created in 1919 with the purpose of using an armed force to remove British rule in order to create an independent republic and the unification of Ireland. During its time of operation it acted independently of political control and in some instances gained the advantage in the independence movement. During the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) under the leadership of Michal Collins the IRA made used of guerrilla tactics in order to force the British government to negotiate the Anglo-Irish Treaty which resulted in the...
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...On the 30th January 1972, British soldiers shot dead thirteen Irish nationalist civilians during a civil rights demonstration, which protested against the present discrimination and state tyranny against the Catholic minority; Derry city, Northern Ireland. This event is known as ‘Bloody Sunday’, argued to be the most devastating instance of the British state’s use of armed force against its own citizens (Dawson, 2005). Source two, an interview of a Catholic priest that attended the demonstration appears to be more valuable to a researcher seeking to understand the events. To compare, source three acts as less useful to a researcher due to the level of criticism it later received, which ultimately led to a fresh inquiry in 2010, named the Saville...
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...Ireland 1916, there was an event known as The Easter Rising. The roots of the Rising lie in the ‘new nationalism’ which emerged in Ireland from the 1890s. Its most significant outcome was the rejuvenation of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). This small, underground, revolutionary body planned and directed the insurrection in 1916. The truly dynamic element was a tiny minority within this organization; they were acting on the old republican principle: ‘England’s difficulty is Ireland’s opportunity’. In August 1915, this group formed the IRB Military Council. It was eventually composed of seven members – Thomas Clarke, Sean MacDermott, Patrick Pearse, Eamonn Ceannt, Joseph Plunkett, James Connolly, and Thomas MacDonagh. All seven approved and signed the Proclamation, and together they declared themselves to be the ‘Provisional Government’ of the Irish Republic when the Rising began. They were aided throughout by an Irish-American organization, Clan na Gael, which shared their aims and provided virtually the only channel of contact between the insurgents and Germany, from whom they hoped to receive military backing. The IRB was too small in number and covert in operation to precipitate a full-scale rising. For this purpose, it hoped to use the Irish Volunteer Force (IVF). This organization had been formed in 1913 by moderate nationalists, impressed by the impact of the Ulster Volunteer Force and frustrated by the delay in Britain granting Ireland self-government...
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...What were the consequences of the role of Collins on Anglo-Irish relations 1916-1922? Michael Collins played a key role within the IRA in the Irish war of independence as well as an elected member of Sinn Fein. Many people believe Collins was the best man available for the task in hand of leading Ireland in the quest for independence, ‘One day he'll be a great man. He'll do great work for Ireland’ was a quote from Michael Collins’ father on his deathbed. Collins was first active during the Easter rising of 1916 fighting alongside Patrick Pearse as part of the Irish Republican Brotherhood occupying the General Post Office for several days before surrendering. The rising was a military failure but left a legacy and sense of national pride which Collins was willing to utilise. ‘The greatest result of the rising is the complete and revival of Irish nationality. WE have been...now we have awakened to the knowledge that we really are a separate nation. ‘ That quote is an extract from Moira Reagan’s story in the New York Times, September 1916. I believe the source to be reliable as the story was published in a trustworthy newspaper at the time and the women who told the story lived in the period and understood the mood and patriotism of the Irish population. The majority of the leaders of the rising were executed, many members of the rising joined the nationalist party Sinn Fein and Collins quickly rose through the ranks of the organisation thanks to his intellect and self-confidence...
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...MY HERO: James Connolly was an Irish republican and socialist leader, He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish immigrant parents. He left school at the age of 11 to Work out of Family necessity. He enlisted in the British Army at the age of 14, giving a false age and giving a fake name ‘Reid’, as his brother John had done. He worked with the British Army in Ireland for nearly seven years. It was a very bad time in Ireland. He developed a deep hatred for the British Army that lasted his entire life. When he heard the regiment was being transferred to India, he deserted the army. Connolly met a young woman called Lillie Reynolds in Dublin. They moved back to Edinburgh Scotland & married in April 1890. He became strongly active with the socialist movement and he prioritized this over his own work. Connolly became involved with the Independent Labour Party. By 1892 he was involved in the Scottish Socialist Federation acting as its secretary from 1895. Two months after the birth of his third daughter, word came to Connolly that the Dublin Socialist Club was looking for a full-time secretary, a job that offered a salary of a pound a week. Connolly and his family moved to Dublin, where he took up the position. At his instigation, the club quickly evolved into the Irish Socialist Republican Party (ISRP). The ISRP is regarded by many Irish historians as a party of pivotal importance in the early history of Irish socialism and republicanism. In 1913, in response to...
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...Why did the Pro-Treaty side win the Civil War? The Irish Civil War caused many divisions within Irish Society. The Civil War resulted from divisions within the nationalist movement as a result of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. Sinn Fein split into pro and anti-Treaty factions. The Civil War ended in May 1923 and while there was no surrender by the anti-Treaty forces, the pro-Treaty side were clearly victorious in the war. In this essay I will look at the reasons why the Pro-Treaty side won the war. In an effort to retain the initiative in the aftermath of the Dail vote in favour of the Treaty, the anti-Treaty IRA occupied the Four Courts and other buildings in Dublin. This was a tactical error by the Irregulars as these buildings were difficult to defend and the Regulars knew exactly where their opponents were. As a result when fighting broke out up to 200 Irregular troops were killed or captured in Dublin. This significantly weakened the anti-Treaty side and contributed to their defeat. The anti-Treaty forces lacked a coherent strategy. They were against the Treaty but different people within the anti-Treaty side were opposing the Treaty for different reasons. DeValera opposed the Treaty because of his opposition to the Oath of Allegiance to the British King. More hard-line republicans opposed the Treaty because of partition. This lack of a coherent strategy contributed to a weakening of the anti-Treaty side and the victory of the Regulars. In contrast the pro-Treaty side had a...
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...discussion about the struggle for independence in Northern Ireland. This conflict is dramatized in the two films in context in the form of the Ireland Republic army (IRA) where two main characters are portrayed as a protagonist and an antagonist to bring out the theme in the films. The Wind that Shakes the Barley is a film featured in the nineteenth century, by Ken Loach. Basing its storyline between the years 1920 and 1922, the film is founded on historical events. The film also employs a fictional cast of characters drawn from experiences of real-life participants. The rebellion involved between the Irish people and the British remains a painful event in the books of history, but that has not prevented it from undergoing intense public discussions. The film involves two characters who join an Irish army to fight for independence. The main themes that are drawn from the film mainly revolve around events related to independence. The film is set in a rural setting. The next film is Michael Collins, by Neil Jordan. This film is more accurate in the way it examines its information compared to the Wind that Shakes the Barley (McLoone 226). It is a historical biopic. The film may in fact base its storyline on an accurate follow up of events, but it contains some historical alterations. Many found the film as a rich representative of the Irish way of life while others found it more of a Hollywood production. There are also arguments that the narration in this film conforms to the convention...
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...talks about the relationship between personal duty and humanity during the war, which also implies the relationship between political conflicts and the hope of peaceful life for humans. Though out history, at the beginning Ireland was a British colony, the economic depressed and had a time of hardship. By 1900, the Irish Civil War loomed. In the summer of 1913, Dublin workers went on strike for 5 months, indicating that the proletariat had become the Irish independent political force. During World War I in 1914, the Irish national fighting moved to further. Easter Rising broke out in April 1916. In 1919, the Sinn Fein refused to attend the British Parliament, but held their own in the Dublin parliament and the creation of army. In 1921, the Irish Civil War occurred; the Irish people started fighting for national independence, autonomy for land rights, and the struggle to recover. The Republic of Ireland was established (Lambert). O'Connor's background change strongly related to the history of the Irish Civil War. He experienced a difficult childhood. On the main page of New World Encyclopedia states that “In 1918, he joined the First Brigade of the Irish Republican Army in its resistance to British rule. Following the war, the...
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...unsettlingly terrorist. Collins orchestrated much of the political and militaristic provocation that led to the violent escalation of the Anglo-Irish war for independence, and eventually was one of the principal supporters and signers of the treaty that lead to the establishment of the Irish Free State and de-escalation of violence in the region. The widespread characterization of Collins as terrorist is principally derived of his actions and association with the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) which later became the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Sinn Fein. Collins significant political and demonstrative participation in the battle for Irish independence began with the former group when he participated as a volunteer during the Easter Uprising, an action planned to foster support for the Irish cause. These actions comprised the first portion of Collins’ life as a dissident and insurgent. It would be his subsequent involvement in Sinn Fein that would characterize him as a terrorist. Collins participated financially and by procuring weapons to help the organization’s efforts at rebellion. Though these actions alone are not enough to characterize Collins as a terrorist, he also organized a hit squad and setup much of the organization’s extensive intelligence network. He obtained a list of British and loyalist Irish police and intelligence officer and sent hit squads to their homes and killed them. He also attacked police stations and continued a campaign of...
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...Collins, but more specifically about the role he played in the Irish revolution. The film is based on historic facts, but it is fiction, and therefore stylistic means are used for the sake of making the movie entertaining. Nevertheless, the film manages to be both funny and sad while dealing with a complex historic, events and persons. the protagonist Michael Collins is played by Liam Neeson, while Alan Rickman is Eamon De Valera. The two leaders are both members of the Irish republican brotherhood, Valera is the president, Collins is head of several important sectors of the organization. for instance, he carries the title of Adjutant General of the IRA, and Director of Organization and Arms Procurement for the IRA. Both Valera and Collins are powerful men, and the main conflict of the movie, is the conflict between Valera and Collins. The conflict evolves around, Valera’s perception of Collins. He sees Collins as a threat, to his seat of power, and as Collins power in the film continues to grow, De Valera’s hostility toward Collins do so. In 1916 when Collins where defeated in the Easter rising, he realized that the Irish had to fight another way, if they were to defeat the British. So he starts innovating the fighting style of the armed forces, he isn’t going to play by their “rules” as he says in a conversation with Harry after he is released from prison. Collins changes his way of fighting for the Irish independence, in two ways. He starts the IRA with around a dozen...
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...of ethnic separatist, anarchist, social revolutionary, religious fundamentalist, and new religious terrorist groups differ significantly. (Hudson, 1999) Therefore, each terrorist group must be examined within its own cultural, economic, political, and social context in order to better understand the motivations of its individual members and leaders and their particular ideologies. (Federal Research Division, Library of Congress, 1999, para. 54) I will use Hudson’s assertion as my theoretical framework to analyze if my findings are compatible with a plausible assertion that terrorism is based off social and political views of the people who see their current state as unjust. The National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional or ELN) is a revolutionary guerrilla army; who have fought in the Colombian Civil War since it began in 1964. The ELN advocate a composite Communist ideology of Marxism and Liberation Theology. The ELN was founded by Fabio Vásquez Castaño and other Colombian rebels trained in Communist Cuba; upon the Vásquez Castaño death, the ELN was headed by a series of Roman Catholic priests, exponents of Liberation Theology. (Brittain, 2010) Most notable was the Priest Camilo Torres Restrepo, a university professor, egalitarian and Marxist, who was openly critical of the grossly unequal distribution of income among the social classes of Colombia. More concretely, the ELN's self-appointed role was to represent the rural poor and decrease the foreign presence...
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...Do you agree with the view that the key role in uncovering political scandals and controversies has been played by journalists? Although journalists have been recognised as playing a key part in uncovering scandals, the majority of them have actually been sexual scandals rather than political scandals. This includes such events like the Profumo affair, Boothby and Squidgygate, which were all sexual scandals. Source 4 shows evidence for agreeing with the question. This is shown when it is written that Tam Dalyell, a labour MP was ‘quick to praise the role of the press’. This shows some evidence that the press were key due to it establishing that they ‘would not be in this position’, with this position being that of uncovering the Belgrano scandal. Source 5 partly coincides with this statement, saying ‘very little was heard’ until ‘ Sunday Times argued that the ship was not a direct threat’. Source 6 also shows evidence that ‘it is clear that journalists have played a key role in drawing attention to corrupt politicians’. Source 6 mentions that the ‘Guardian have been assertive’ towards the uncovering of political scandals. This is evident in the Cash For Questions affair. The story originates from the Guardian quoting Al-Fayed, saying that he had approached the paper and accused Ian Greer of paying Neil Hamilton and Tim Smith to ask the parliament questions on his behalf for £2000 per question. Both Hamilton and Smith denied the charges, but between 1996 and 2000, court cases...
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