Irish Republican Army?

Question

Was the IRA a terrorist group?What are they doing now?And is it true,that if you join the IRA while living in America,you give up your American Citizenship?

Answer 1

As you can gather from some of the above contributions, a terrorist to one person is another person's freedom fighter. It's unfortunate that the word has lost meaning particularly in recent times because it's used indiscriminately to describe anti-government sentiment or activity - as in the case of a long-standing member of the British Labour Party who was arrested leaving their annual Conference, under anti-terrorist legislation - for shouting "rubbish" at Tony Blair!

You could define terrorism as coercing the civilian population of a country to a political stance by force - but how does that differ from"shock and awe" tactics in Afghanistan and Iraq?

I don't lick ar$e anybody by saying there's a difference between the IRA of the 20's and the IRA of today. There is a group calling themselves the "Old IRA" who were trotted out every now and then to parade for the government, but by definition they were no longer members of the IRA and were paid life-long generous pensions and cushy jobs to be co-operative. I know, because my grandfather, who was in Tom Barry's column, was offered these things and he turned them down, pointing out that this wasn't what he went to kill soldiers for. Also, you need have no doubt about their readiness to kill when needed - they wouldn't have scared the black and tans if they were that polite. If anything, they were far more ruthless than the IRA today.

One example: In the town of Dunmanway in West Cork in 1920, the IRA discovered a group of about 20 known civilian informers hidden in a house prior to their intended evcuation by the police - they shot them all dead, no trial no mercy. You could view that as murder or as the justifiable execution of spies, but it was certainly awful - and it shows there's no justification for claiming the IRA of that time were any way more "cuddly" than the IRA of today.

Answer 2

UP THE RA!!!!!!

Tell me how we are terrorist we are trying to free are country was George Washington a terrorist?NO he was doing the same as the IRA and also the Governments and all them r saying the IRA is decommissioned but if u look closely it says the Provisional Irish Republican Army is who decommissioned and they didn't nearly give up all there weapons we still have bases of weapons all over also there are no pictures of IRA weapons in British hands so how can u even be sure that those were given up and about the citizenship thing the answer is if while in America it is found out that you were a member of the RA you will be deported i can tell u that from experience and knowing someone it happened to

Answer 3

Both the IRA and Provisional IRA were and are considered terrorist groups respectively.

The IRA of the early 20th Century was a liberating rebel movement and brought independence for the Republic of Ireland.

The Provisional IRA was a group created by reactionary forces after the British government cracked down on the Catholic Irish civil rights movement in Northern Ireland, which was inspired by Martin Luther King Jnr. They did turn into a vicious terrorist organisation but now has put their arms beyond use and left the decisions about Northern Ireland up to politics.

Answer 4

As some of the previous answers indicate, what counts as a terrorist organization depends on your perspective.

The Provisional Irish Republican Army has, as part of the "Good Friday" Accords negotiated in the late 1990's finally decommissioned and turned over its arms. Whether or not it will stay decommissioned, no one can tell.

Sein Fein (the political wing of the P.I.R.A.) is currently the second largest party in Ulster. As such, they hold the Chief Deputy slot in the Provincial Government. Sein Fein is a non-factor for the most part in the Republic of Ireland, though they do hold a handful of seats in the Irish Parliament.

Since the P.I.R.A. is not a foreign government, joining it does not involve a surrender of American citizenship. However, if you were caught by the British engaging in any "military" action on behalf of the P.I.R.A., I would not hold your breath waiting for the U.S. embassy to request your release from a very long prison sentence.

Answer 5

Yes the IRA is still a terrorist organization.They just settled down quite a bit since 9/11.They are staying low at the moment because since the British is helping us in Iraq,they're fearful that the U.S. will help the British fight the IRA later down the road.As for giving up your American citizenship after joining,I honestly don't know if that's the case.

Answer 6

Freedom warring parties combating a distant places military. NI became carved out in particular to be sure a unionist majority. maximum individuals human beings of the completed of eire choose to be united. The IRA fought an invading military as you do In any conflict

Answer 7

What happened to the Irish Democrat Party which has only one member: Edward "Ted" Kennedy