What are some good documentaries on the troubles, the ira. The ira irish republican army bombed english targets in the 1980s to make the point that they felt their land was colonized by british. The leadership of the irish republican army remains committed to the full realisation of the ideals and principles enshrined in the proclamation of 1916. Books about irish republican army what should i read next. The reciprocity between the provisional irish republican army pira and the british authorities is analyzed as a case in point to illustrate how each side can adapt or reciprocate to each move or. They should not be confused with the chief of staff of the defence forces ireland. The late twentieth century organisation is known as the provisional irish republican army.
Ira strategies for guerrilla warfare by republican army, irish and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. I thought id create a thread to commemorate the achievements of the ira over the oppressive rule of britain here. An epic portrayal of one of the twentieth centurys longest wars. Just hearing on the news that senior irish republican gerry adams is stepping down from sinn fein after a long leadership. Thirty years of secret talks and negotiations between. At one point the ira sought assistance from adolf hitler to help remove the british from ireland. The irish citizen army, caught in the middle of irish trade unionism and republicanism ica militarism worried unions fearful of a british backlash, while class issues affected republican ties. The new ira and socialistrepublicanism in the twenty. Paramilitaries are surging again in northern ireland.
Sinn fein, recently told the boston herald that a resumption of the military campaign was still possible under a new irish republican leadership. The irish republican army ira is a name used by various paramilitary organisations in ireland throughout the 20th and the 21st century. Delving deeply into the inner workings, furtive plots, and deadly rivalries of the irish republican army, ed moloney, who has covered the ira since the late 1970s, delivers a riveting account of how one. The provisional ira was originally commanded by a leadership based in dublin. Filled with disclosures and based on the authors unprecedented access to the irish republican army, this explosive book sparked controversy when it was first published in hardcover. Provisional irish republican army project gutenberg self. For three decades the provisional irish republican army waged an armed struggle against what it considered to be the british occupation of northern ireland. Journalist ed moloney, who has covered the irish republican army since the late 1970s, discussed his book, a secret history of the ira, published by w. To its enemies, the ira was an illegal, fanatical, terrorist organization whose members were criminals willing to sacrifice innocent lives.
It was used by the post irish civil war irish republican army ira and cumann na mban, league of women, along with later incarnations such as the provisional ira pira. The political movement in total is dedicated to irredentism through irish republicanism, the belief that all of ireland should be an independent republic free. The irish republican army patriots of ireland total. Top 10 books about the troubles david keenan books the. The irish war of independence was a sporadic guerrilla campaign taht lasted from january 1919 until july 1921. I seriously doubt this is the irish republican army manual on guerrilla warfare or anything near it. It seems like it was written by a year old with no knowledge of the ira. What is the best book about the irish republican army. In his recent book, conflict, peace and mental health, the author david bolton writes that at least 34,000 people in northern ireland. The leaders of the ira at this time were political ideologues more than military commanders. Several people are reported to have served as chief of staff of the irish republican army irish. Chief of staff of the irish republican army wikipedia.
In contrast to the widely held assumption that terrorists as crazed fanatics, jerrold post demonstrates they are psychologically normal and that hatred has been bred in the bone. Zionists who bombed british targets in 1930s mandate palestine felt they must do so in order to create a jewish state. Fittingly, the decision by the adams leadership to pursue the peace process and. A true story of murder and memory in northern ireland by patr. Margaret thatcher caused great suffering in ireland. His father had been a member of the ira, and although my dad left belfast just as the troubles were beginning, most of his family stayed, and. An updated edition of this unique, bestselling history of the irish republican army, now including behindthescenes information on the recent advances made in the peace process. Five ira leaders were executed, and many more were interned.
It includes a statement of military objectives, tactics and conditions for military victory against the britsh army and their allies. It includes a statement of military objectives, tactics and conditions for military victory against the british government. Due to the clandestine nature of these organisations, this list is not definitive. The northern ireland peace process is often considered to cover the events leading up to the 1994 provisional irish republican army ira ceasefire, the end of most of the violence of the troubles, the good friday or belfast agreement of 1998, and. What are the ethical limits of state counterterrorism. When the irish republican army ira called its ceasefire in 1994, there were high hopes. The secret army is the definitive work on the irish republican army.
The ira provides the only objective, comprehensive history of the organization that has transformed the irish nationalist movement during the past century. The last september by elizabeth bowen, say nothing. The northern ireland peace process is often considered to cover the events leading up to the 1994 provisional irish republican army ira ceasefire, the end of most of the violence of the troubles, the good friday or belfast agreement of 1998, and subsequent political developments. The leaders of the ira at this time were political ideologues more than military.
On 26 july 2012, it was announced that some former members of the provisional irish republican army were merging with the real irish republican army, other independent republican paramilitary groups and the vigilante group republican action against drugs but, notably, not with the continuity irish republican army into a unified formation. It emerged in december 1969, shortly after the beginning of the troubles, when the irish republican army split into two. The irish citizen army, caught in the middle of irish. Up to 20 books are listed, in descending order of popularity at this site. That a guy surnamed english came to write a history of the irish republican army, its antecedants and. Dublin gerry adams, a pivotal figure in the political life of ireland for almost 50 years, said saturday that he would step down as leader of sinn fein, the main irish republican. Brian keenan 1942 21 may 2008 was a former member of the army council of the provisional irish republican army ira who received an 18year prison sentence in 1980 for conspiring to cause explosions, and played a key role in the northern ireland peace process. Mar 20, 2015 michael schmidt rated it it was amazing. In this structural transition, which will be discussed in more detail below, the quasimilitary organization was replaced by a compartmented, cellular structure. It is an absorbing account of a movement that has had a profound effect on the shaping of the modern irish state.
Operations and tactics although pira split off from the already operational irish republican army which. Books about irish republican army what should i read next register for free to build your own book lists. The green book is a training and induction manual issued by the irish republican army to new volunteers. This is the best book yet written about the provisional irish republican army. Filled with disclosures and based on the authors unprecedented access to the irish republican army, this explosive book sparked. Gerry adams, irish republican leader, to step down from. List of books and articles about military education. Some noted irish and british historians, including ed moloney, author of a secret history of the ira, have claimed that gerry adams has been part of the ira leadership.
In recent years the establishment of a free and independent ireland has suffered setbacks due to the failure among the leadership of irish nationalism and fractures within republicanism. It was used by the postirish civil war irish republican army and cumann na mban, along with later incarnations such as the provisional ira. Irish republican army ira, nationalist organization devoted to the integration of ireland as a complete and independent unit. One of the dominant ways in which the group aims to foster trust is by proposing their possession of an historical mandate from the republican forefathers of 1916, as well as the internally lauded paramilitaries from the troublesera provisional irish republican army. Although he admitted in his lifetime to ira membership, he denied ever being chief of staff chiefs of staff of the official irish republican army. You can get it directly here the provisional irish republican army and the morality of terrorism is terrorism ever morally justified. A member of the iras dublin brigade, larkin goes to a large meeting in which the leadership of his brigade, along with such personalities as cathal brugha, try to convince the dublin brigade which way to. Niall odowd, 64, at the old town bar near union square in manhattan, where he once met members of the irish republican army to discuss peace deals. The ira green book is a training and induction manual issued by the irish republican army to new volunteers. This military victory was to be achieved as part of the ongoing liberation of ireland from foreign occupiers. How an undocumented irish immigrant became an unofficial u. Brendan hughes october 1948 16 february 2008, also known as the dark, and darkie was a leading irish republican and former officer commanding oc of the belfast brigade of the provisional irish republican army ira. How should historical and cultural factors be taken into account in judging the morality of terrorist acts.
Later, the provisional ira developed the green book. Discover librarianselected research resources on military education from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. Adams has always denied ira membership, let alone being chief of staff. It traces the rise of the provos from the angry ashes of catholic workingclass streets incinerated by mobs of. Ceann foirne oglaigh na heireann in the organisations bearing that name. The growing trouble in northern ireland in 1969 had a significant impact on the irish republican army ira. Bells unique access to the leadership of the republican movement and his contacts with all involvedbritish politicians, irish politicians, policemen, arms smugglers, and others committed or opposed to the iraexplain why the secret army is the book on the subject.
Richard englishs brilliant book offers a detailed history of the ira, providing. The irish republican army also known as the provisional irish republican army provisional. The secret army in the service of the invisible republic has had a powerful effect on irish events over the past twentyfive years. Irish republican army ira irish republican army organized by michael collins from remnants of rebel units dispersed after the easter rebellion in 1916 see ireland, it was composed of the more militant members of the irish volunteers, and it became the military wing of the sinn fein party. The 1977 edition of the green book, an induction and training manual used by the ira, describes the strategy of the long war in these terms. List of books and articles about irish republican army. The longterm objective of the ira, as expressed in its green book a. Michael hopkinson makes full use of the recently opened files of the bureau of military archives in dublin, which contain valuable firsthand contemporary accounts of the war, meticulously piecing together the many disparate local actions to create a coherent narrative. Irish republican army abebooks shop for books, art. The official irish republican army or official ira oira.
Irish republicanism that was a philosophy developed by the united irishmen. About a 150 pages that could be condensed to 50 pages. With the united kingdoms rightwing press whipping itself up into a frenzy over the alleged sympathy of labour party leader jeremy corbyn for the irish republican army during the thirty years of conflict in the ukadministered six counties, i thought id bring a bit of rationality to the subject. When the irish republican army ira called its ceasefire in 1994, there were high hopes that irish republican violence had ceased for good.
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