OIRA (Official Irish Republican Army)

The Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) is a paramilitary organization that emerged in Northern Ireland during the late 1960s. It aimed to end British rule in Ireland and reunify the island, advocating for socialist policies. The OIRA split from the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) in 1969, taking a more political and less militant approach over time. While it participated in violent actions early on, by the 1980s, it shifted focus towards political engagement through the Workers' Party. The OIRA officially declared a ceasefire in the 1990s, reflecting its transition away from armed conflict.