Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA)

The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) was an armed paramilitary organization active mainly from the late 1960s to 2005, committed to ending British rule in Northern Ireland and unifying Ireland. It emerged from earlier republican groups amid tensions and unrest, engaging in violence including bombings and attacks against military and civilian targets. The IRA aimed to establish a united Irish republic and sought political and military strategies to achieve this goal. Its activities sparked widespread conflict during The Troubles, a period marked by intense violence in Northern Ireland, and the organization declared a ceasefire in 2005, supporting peaceful political processes.