The Ghost of Violence: The Irish Republican Army's Impact on Contemporary Ireland and Northern Ireland

open_access
Open Access
Author:
Safford, Noah
Area of Honors:
History
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Tamir Sorek, Thesis Supervisor
Cathleen Denise Cahill, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Ireland
Terrorism
The Troubles
The IRA
The PIRA
The Gaelic Revival
Anglo-Irish Relations
Abstract:
“For over 30 years, the IRA showed that the British government could not rule Ireland on its own terms.” Being next to the nation that hosted the largest empire in human history reaching its peak in the 20th century, the Irish became one of the first groups of people to be subjected to British rule dating back to the 12th century. Through England’s building of the largest empire in human history to date, there remained one constant, their oppression of the Irish people and the continuous denial of the existence of a Republic of Ireland. From the arrival of British rule on Irish shores in the 12th century into the 19th century the Irish continued to rebel against British control. These acts of rebellion were carried out in numerous ways throughout British occupation, yet all became unsuccessful. These rebellions all seemed to have the opposite effect of what the Irish intended. The continued rebellion brought upon the Irish a series of laws erasing their identity in an attempt to anglicize the people. As time continued the Irish, broken by English rule had to recreate Irish identity, reshaping a nationalist ideology that would fuel an Irish national struggle. This newfound national struggle would need a champion to carry on its cause. An organization that would be able to consolidate power against British rule championing the Irish national struggle. This organization would become known as the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and its later rendition, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA). When discussing the IRA as well as its successor the PIRA, the organizations spawn a million different feelings into the hearts and minds of people internationally and domestically in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Words such as ‘freedom fighters’ and ‘heroes’ are often paired with opposed terms such as ‘terrorists’ and ‘criminals’ depending on the individuals you are talking to. The Irish Republican Army’s complex perception by the general public is largely due to how it operated as well as its complex history and origins. The Irish Republican Army, through its military campaigns and ideological commitment to Irish nationalism, played a pivotal role in shaping the political and social dynamics of Ireland and Northern Ireland, leaving a complex legacy that continues to influence the region's struggles with identity, as well as its political and sectarian divides.