The term Official Irish Republican Army or Official IRA refers to one of the two organisations - the other being the Provisional Irish Republican Army - that emerged from the split in the then Irish Republican Army in 1969-70. Both organisations continued to refer to themselves as the Irish Republican Army and rejected the political legitimacy of the other. The Official IRA had an essentially Marxist approach. Initially engaged in military action against the British Army, it declared an end to offensive action in 1973 but since then engaged in feuds with both the Provisional IRA and the Irish National Liberation Army, a radical splinter group formed in 1974. In later years it was accused of involvement in organised crime, and while it has not carried out any military actions for many years it appears that it remains in existence. The Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA; more commonly referred to as the IRA, the Provos, or by some of its supporters as the army or the Ra) is an Irish Republican paramilitary organization. ... Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921, the Irish Republican Army in the 26 counties that were to become the Irish Free State split between supporters and opponents of the Treaty. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) is an Irish republican paramilitary organization which was formed on December 8, 1974. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ...

The Official IRA was associated with Official Sinn Féin, later renamed Sinn Féin the Workers Party and subsequently The Workers Party, and now known as The Workers Party of Ireland. Official Sinn Féin (later renamed Sinn Féin the Workers Party) was a Stalinst political party which evolved from the split in Sinn Féin and the IRA that took place in 1970. ... It has been suggested that Sinn Féin (Gardiner Place) be merged into this article or section. ...

The split in the Republican movement, 1969 - 1970

The split in the Irish Republican Army, soon followed by a parallel split in Sinn Féin, was the result of the dissatisfaction of more traditional and militant republicans at the political direction taken by the leadership. Particular objects of their discontent were the IRA's unwillingness to engage in armed action against the British state or military defence of Catholic areas in Northern Ireland, and Sinn Féin's ending of its policy of abstentionism in Ireland. This issue is a key one in republican ideology, as traditional republicans regarded the Irish state as illegitimate and maintained that their loyalty was due only to the Irish Republic declared in 1916 and in their view, represented by the IRA Army Council. It has been suggested that Provisional Sinn Féin be merged into this article or section. ... Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto) (French for God and my right)3 Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area  - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 4th 1,685... It has been suggested that Provisional Sinn Féin be merged into this article or section. ... Abstentionism is the policy of seeking election to a body while refusing to take up the seats or even sitting in an alternative assembly. ... Irish Republicanism is the nationalist belief that all of Ireland should be a united independent republic. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ...

During the 1960s, the republican movement under the leadership of Cathal Goulding had been heavily influenced by popular front ideology and drew close to Communist thinking. A key intermediary body was the Communist Party of Great Britain's organisation for Irish exiles, the Connolly Association. The Marxist analysis was that the conflict in Northern Ireland was a "bourgeois nationalist" one between the Protestant and Catholic working classes, fomented and continued by the ruling class. Its effect was to depress wages, since worker could be set against worker. They concluded that the military campaign was counter-productive, that it delayed the day when the workers would unite to declare a 32-county Socialist Republic. (25 years later, Provisional Sinn Féin came to much the same conclusion, although for very different reasons.) The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... Cathal Goulding (January 1922 - December 28, 1998) was Chief of Staff of the IRA and the Official IRA. Born into a Republican family, Goulding was involved as teenager in Na Fianna (the Junior IRA) and joined the IRA at the age of 17 in 1939, the earliest age at which... Popular Fronts comprise broad coalitions of political and other groups, often made up of oppositioners or left wingers, and often united against particularly stringent circumstances. ... Communism - Wikipedia /**/ @import /w/skins-1. ... The Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) was a political party in the United Kingdom, which existed from 1920 to 1991. ... Connolly Association The Connolly Association takes its name from James Connolly Irish socialist republican, born 1838 in Edinburgh, Scotland and executed by the British Army in 1916 for his part in the Easter Rising of the same year. ... Marxism is the social theory and political practice based on the works of Karl Marx, a 19th century German philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary, along with Friedrich Engels. ... Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto) (French for God and my right)3 Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area  - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 4th 1,685... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... The island of Ireland has 32 counties, with Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland being nicknamed respectively the six counties and the twenty-six counties. ...

The sense that the IRA seemed to be drifting away from its conventional republican and nationalist roots into Marxism angered the more traditional republicans. Many in the Official IRA later referred to the Provisional IRA as "the rosary brigade" because of what they saw as the Catholic and romantic nationalist ideology of the latter. Some radicals believed that the Irish government, MI5 and the CIA had conspired to cultivate the split because they were afraid of another Cuba in Europe's "back yard". The Arms Crisis provided evidence that some members of the Irish (Fianna Fáil) government had attempted to supply arms and funds to a variety of individuals in Northern Ireland. The radicals viewed Northern Protestants with unionist views as "fellow Irishmen deluded by bourgeois loyalties, who needed to be engaged in dialectical debate", although they had no short-term strategy for ending the attacks on Catholic areas by loyalist mobs. This increasing political divergence led to a formal split in the movement: the Marxists became the "Officials" and the traditionalists became the "Provisionals". Irish Republicanism is the nationalist belief that all of Ireland should be a united independent republic. ... Irish nationalism refers to political movements that desire greater autonomy or the independence of Ireland from Great Britain. ... Marxism is the social theory and political practice based on the works of Karl Marx, a 19th century German philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary, along with Friedrich Engels. ... The Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) is a paramilitary group which aimed, through the use of violence, to achieve three goals: (i) British withdrawal from Ireland, (ii) the political unification of Ireland through the merger of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland , and (iii) the creation of an all... Our Lady of Lourdes - Mary appearing at Lourdes with Rosary Beads The Rosary (from Latin rosarium, crown of roses), is an important and traditional devotion of the Catholic Church consisting of a set of prayer beads and a system of set prayers. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The Government (Irish: Rialtas) is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in the Republic of Ireland. ... Current MI5 headquarters in Thames House, London MI5, officially called the Security Service, is a British counter-intelligence and security agency. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Arms Crisis was a political scandal in the Republic of Ireland, in which two government ministers from the Fianna Fáil political party were accused of attempting to illegally import £100,000 worth of weapons for the Provisional Irish Republican Army. ... Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party (IPA ; English translation: Soldiers of Ireland but more often translated - inaccurately - as Soldiers of Destiny) is the largest political party in Ireland. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... In the context of Irish politics, Unionists are people in Northern Ireland, who wish to see the continuation of the Act of Union 1800, as amended by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, under which Northern Ireland, created in that latter Act, remains part of the United Kingdom of Great... Broadly defined, Dialectic (Greek: διαλεκτική) is an exchange of propositions (theses) and counter-propositions (antitheses) resulting in a synthesis of the opposing assertions, or at least a qualitative transformation in the direction of the dialogue. ...

The critical moment came in August 1969 when there was a major outbreak of intercommunal violence in Belfast and Derry, with tens of fatalities and whole streets ablaze. Since the Civil Rights marches began in 1968, there had been many cases of street violence. The Royal Ulster Constabulary had been shown on television in undisciplined baton charges, and had already killed three noncombatant civilians, one a child. The Orange Order's "marching season" during the summer of 1969 had been characterised by violence on both sides. By August, the violence was out of control. In accordance with its Marxist analysis, the IRA leadership opposed armed defence of Catholic communities. In the Republic of Ireland, the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Jack Lynch declared that he "would not stand idly by" and moved units of the Irish Defence Forces to the border, though without any intention of intervention in Northern Ireland. The Battle of the Bogside finally galvanised Harold Wilson's British government to send in the British army to "restore order". 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... Belfast (Béal Feirste in Irish) is a city in the United Kingdom. ... Derry or Londonderry (in Irish, Doire or Doire Cholm Chille), often called the Maiden City, is a city in Northern Ireland. ... Civil rights or positive rights are those legal rights retained by citizens and protected by the government. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2001. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... The Taoiseach (plural: Taoisigh) or, more formally, An Taoiseach, is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet. ... John (Jack) Mary Lynch (15 August 1917—20 October 1999), was the fourth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, serving two terms in office; 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979. ... The Irish Defence Forces are the army, navy and air force of the Republic of Ireland. ... The Battle of the Bogside was a battle only in a rhetorical sense. ... The Right Honourable James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 – 24 May 1995) was one of the longest serving Labour Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom. ... The United Kingdom is a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

The Officials were known as the "Stickies" because they sold stick-on lilies to commemorate the Easter Rising; the Provisionals were known as "Pinheads" because they produced pinned-on lilies. The term Stickies stuck, though Pinheads disappeared. The Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum) is a flower which is noted for its irregular blooming periods. ... Easter Proclamation, read by Pádraig Pearse outside the GPO at the start of the Easter Rising, 1916. ...

Impact of the Split

When the Provisionals (often called the "Provos") split from the Official IRA, they took away a number of experienced volunteers, depriving the OIRA of some of its operational expertise. The Official IRA remained active, however, albeit with a more restricted level of activity than the Provisionals. Unlike the Provisionals, it did not establish de facto control over Catholic areas of Belfast and Derry.

In December 1971, the Official IRA killed Ulster Unionist Party Senator John Barnhill at his home in Strabane. This was the first murder of a politician in Ireland since the assassination of Free State Minister for Justice Kevin O'Higgins in 1927. The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or OUP or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party ) is a moderate unionist political party in Northern Ireland, which formed its government between 1921 and 1972 and was supported by most unionists throughout the Troubles. ... Strabane (Irish, an Srath Bán, the White Strand) is a town in the west of County Tyrone in Ireland. ... The Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann) was (1922–1937) the name of the state comprising the 26 of Irelands 32 counties which were separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Irish Free State Agreement (or Anglo-Irish Treaty) signed by British and... Kevin Christopher OHiggins ( 7 June 1892- 10 July 1927), Irish politician. ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The Official IRA ceasefire followed a number of armed actions which had been politically damaging. The organisation bombed the Aldershot headquarters of the Parachute Regiment in revenge for Bloody Sunday, but killed only seven civilians. After the unpopular killing of William Best, a Catholic man home in Londonderry on leave from the Royal Irish Regiment of the British army, the OIRA declared a ceasefire. Map sources for Aldershot at grid reference SU8650 Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, on a moorland 55 km (35 miles) southwest of London, and is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council. ... The Parachute Regiments display team, the Red Devils at an American airshow The Parachute Regiment is the main body of elite airborne troops of the British Army. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Derry or Londonderry (in Irish , Doire Cholm Chille or Doire), often called the Maiden City, is a city in Northern Ireland. ... In the British Army, there have been two regiments titled the Royal Irish Regiment // Royal Irish Regiment The Royal Irish Regiment was formed in 1684 by the Earl of Granard from independent companies in Ireland. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

The Official IRA since 1973

Although formally on ceasefire (except for "defensive actions") since 1973 (see above), the Official IRA continued to be involved in a bloody feud with the Provisionals.

In 1974 radical elements within the organisation who objected to the ceasefire, led by Seamus Costello, established the Irish National Liberation Army. Another feud ensued, with prominent members of both organisations including Costello, losing their lives. However, from the mid-1970s onwards the Official Republican Movement became increasingly focussed on achieving its aims through left-wing constitutional politics. From 1981 on, Sinn Féin the Workers Party, renamed the Workers Party the following year, had some success in the Republic of Ireland, but little in the North. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... Seamus Costello (1939 - 1977) was a leader in Sinn Féin and the Official Irish Republican Army. ... The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) is an Irish republican paramilitary organization which was formed on December 8, 1974. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Much as the Provisionals were to find twenty years later, a commitment to armed struggle severely limited prospects for political growth and it seems reasonable to say that from no later than 1980 or so, the Officials had no effective military capacity. In later years, some former officials were to rise to high levels in the Republic – while a few others, formerly associated with the movement, even went on to act as advisers to David Trimble. However there has been no statement of any sort to the effect of winding up the Official IRA or even the traditional republican order to dump arms. 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Motto: none Anthem: Amhrán na bhFiann (The Soldiers Song) Capital Dublin Largest city Dublin Official language(s) Irish, English Government President Taoiseach Parliamentary democracy Mary McAleese Bertie Ahern Independence  - Declared  - Recognised From UK by treaty 21 January 1919 6 December 1921 Area  â€¢ Total  â€¢ Water (%)   70,273 km² (117th... David Trimble The Right Honourable William David Trimble (born on October 15, 1944) is a Northern Ireland politician, who served as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the first First Minister of Northern Ireland. ...

Throughout the 1980s, allegations that the Official IRA remained in existence and was engaged in criminal activity appeared in the Irish press. These eventually proved a considerable political embarrassment to the Workers Party, and in 1992 the leadership proposed amendments to the party consititution which would, inter alia, effectively allow it to purge members suspected of involvement in the Official IRA. This proposal failed to obtain the required two-thirds support at the party conference that year, and as a result the leadership, including six of the party's seven members of Dáil Éireann, left to establish a new party, later named Democratic Left. The Dáil Chamber Dáil Éireann is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... In Ireland, Democratic Left was a socialist political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland between 1992 and 1997. ...

Persons killed by the Official IRA

According to the Sutton database of deaths at the University of Ulster's CAIN project[1], the OIRA was responsible for 52 killings during the Troubles. 23 of its victims were civilians, 17 were members of the British security forces, 11 were republican paramilitaries (including three of its own members) and one was a loyalist paramilitary. The University of Ulster (UU) is a multi-site university located in Northern Ireland and is the largest university on the island of Ireland. ... The Troubles is a term used to describe two periods of violence in Ireland during the twentieth century. ... For the township in Canada, see Loyalist, Ontario In general, a loyalist is an individual who is loyal to the powers that be. ...

See also

• Official Sinn Féin
• Provisional IRA
• Provisional Sinn Féin
• The Worker's Party