Organised criminal gang which operates in Northern Ireland and Eire. Their main efforts are spent nowadays on smuggling, drug dealing, protection rackets, robbery and handing out beatings to Nationalist people who cross them.
As a sideline, they also used to dabble in terrorism. Al Qeada and the Tamil Tigers are committed terrorists as they are willing to die to achieve their ends. The IRA were only ever involved in terrorism (think of bacon and eggs - the chicken was involved, but the pig was committed) and preferred to leave a bomb on a time somewhere in London, and slip home before it went off. The only times that they dared to face the British Army directly, such as Gibraltar and Loughgall Police Station, the Army slaughtered them.
As a sideline, they also used to dabble in terrorism. Al Qeada and the Tamil Tigers are committed terrorists as they are willing to die to achieve their ends. The IRA were only ever involved in terrorism (think of bacon and eggs - the chicken was involved, but the pig was committed) and preferred to leave a bomb on a time somewhere in London, and slip home before it went off. The only times that they dared to face the British Army directly, such as Gibraltar and Loughgall Police Station, the Army slaughtered them.
by fubarderby February 28, 2008
Get the IRA mug.A hugely positve force in Ireland which contained many brave and heroic men up until 1949 when (most of) Ireland won its independence from England and hence forth lost its porpose. Faded since the war independence and the civil war when it led Ireland to winning its independence but re-emerged as a terrorist organisation in the 1970's pointlessly murdering hundreds of people. Do not mistake the Heros of the old IRA for the murdering Provisional IRA of the 1970's onwards.
Micheal Collins general in the IRA, squad killed many top british leaders in the war of Independence,
by sean obrien December 28, 2007
Get the IRA mug.A group which protected the irish people from the british army. fought for a united ireland where the british empire had no say over the country. also helped fight for catholic rights in northern ireland. the catholic minority were treated as 2nd class citizens causing them to be likened to the blacks in america. many held a high regard for the ira during the troubles as they offered protection from the largely sectarian RUC(police force). they used violence both as a defence and later to attack the british. the british labled them as terrorists and many suspected of being a member of the ira were badly treated.
irelandbritishwaspiraeireriraciracivil rightstroubles
by eireanngobraigh May 6, 2009
Get the IRA mug.Irish Republican Army, fighting for a united ireland (with out the british/english) have numerous times attacked (mainly) targets in London my home town although im irish. these include bombings on canary wharf, pubs in soho and north and south london and also several atacks on 10 downing streets (the prime ministers house) with improvised mortars in backs of pick up trucks and vans. - dates and times to come at a latter date.
by fenian_rebel January 2, 2005
Get the IRA mug.Irish Republican Army, an organization variously labeled a terrorist group, rebels, freedom fighters or various other things. Contrary to some people who claim they kill without discretion, a quick look at the numbers will show that the ratio dead soldiers, politicians, cops and paramilitaries to the number of dead by-standers and civilians, is actually better then those of the RUC, or almost any standing army.
based on numbers taken from Wikipedia, about 36.7% of people killed by Republican forces where civilians, when in the entire conflict about 65% of those killed where civilians. Means that the Republicans did a lot better job of killing legitimate targets then other factions did. Also, estimates for the number of dead in Iraq exceeds half a million, when the US government has only ever estimated the number of insurgents as being around 20,000. So, that means at best 96%; but that is actually pretty typical for aerial bombing campaigns, and is probably much better then the Nazi siege of Leningrad (modern Saint Petersburg), or the fire bombing of Dresden or many other actions taken in World War Two
by eyezeek January 10, 2010
Get the IRA mug.1. A bunch of spineless cowards who are admired by overweight Americans who want to be Irish.
2. Terrorists who bomb Irish and English civilians (so much for being freedom fighters) - and think that English oppression justifies it when they are likely to be no better - worse when they force civilians to be SUICIDE BOMBERS.
3. The ones who are terrified of the SAS, and have been splattered by them many times.
2. Terrorists who bomb Irish and English civilians (so much for being freedom fighters) - and think that English oppression justifies it when they are likely to be no better - worse when they force civilians to be SUICIDE BOMBERS.
3. The ones who are terrified of the SAS, and have been splattered by them many times.
by Osamasbitch June 20, 2007
Get the ira mug.Militant group of brave people who are willing to give their lives to allow the people of northern ireland (catholic people) to become free. One day they will achieve their aims and Northern Ireland will become free form the fucking English. Those murdering loyalist bastards will be lined up and shot to avenge the blood of the women and children they murdered.
Mike: Sean has just joined the ira so now he will be fighting for our freedom
Susie: Wow he is so brave. I want all of those loyalists to die.
Susie: Wow he is so brave. I want all of those loyalists to die.
by fight for freedom December 27, 2008
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