Provisional Irish Republican Army

The Provisional Irish Republican Army (Provisional IRA) was an Irish paramilitary organization formed in 1969, committed to ending British rule in Northern Ireland and uniting Ireland. It engaged in armed campaigns, including bombings and attacks, aiming to achieve political goals through violence during the Troubles—a conflict spanning several decades characterized by religious and political tensions. The Provisional IRA declared ceasefires at times and played a central role in the peace process, leading to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which established a framework for shared governance and peace in Northern Ireland.