Labeled as terrorists. However I tend to view them as freedom fighters. Wait a second, didn't the U.S. fight Britain for freedom. I guess Thomas Paine, Mr. jefferson, and Samuel Adams were terrorists. Now that we're buddy-buddy with England we view people defying their law as trouble makers. Give Ireland back to the Irish ( Hope the primeminster is listening).

the IRA should keep up the good fight through politics and diplomacy as well as take up arms. it sounds like that the IRA has won the hearts and minds of so many irish americans.it seems we are a nation of lost souls in search of a cause. The IRA should use this as an advantage and start recruiting here in the states.

Mob behavior is popular with many Catholic ethnic groups...this one is Exhibit A. In the USA...they just mask it as Team Jesus.

website is pijimmy@webtv.net. phone 16039641649. fuck the brits. they have been kicked out     every country in the world now its irelands turn, thank you, jim dwyer      up the i.r.a.

In the long context of Irish history, the IRA is on the right and winning side. British policy in Ireland has been one, long, oppressive and rapacious regime. By 1914, the Irish, by legal, democratic, constitutional means, won Home Rule for Ireland. That would result in the re-establishment of the Irish Parliament that had been abolished in a corrupt vote during the Act of Union (Ireland and Britain) in 1801. The British Parliament suspended the Home Rule Act because of the outbreak of World War I. At the same time imperialist and Protestant British officials were stirring up the Protestants of Northern Ireland. The Irish were content to be part of the United Kingdom and hundreds of thousands volunteered to fight in the British Army. The British made a terrible mistake when they executed many of the leaders of the Easter Rebellion. That Rebellion and the repression, created a political sea change in Ireland that never was reversed. The Irish were no longer content with Home Rule but wanted Independence. In the election of 1918, Sinn Fein, wiped out all the opposition in the Nationalist areas and triumphed everywhere except the North of Ireland. Had the British kept the deal that they made when the Home Rule Act was passed in 1914, all might have worked out. But that was not to be. The Northern Ireland interests insisted on partition. The British were sympathetic to that but first the Sein Fein had to be put down. That was the era of Micheal Collins and the first civil war. The British lost, but the peace conference was conducted to settle and adopt the status quo which resulted in partition. I must skip over the Irish Civil War that followed causing the political divisions still extant in Eire. I won't go into the long history and the mutation of the Provos out of the IRA, but it is pursuing the concept of the united Ireland that was accepted by the British in 1914 and then betrayed. British duplicity and betrayal have been the watchword and the rule in Ireland. The rump government in Belfast terrorized and oppressed the Nationalist minority in the Six Counties for fifty years until the Brits could stand the stench no longer and put that government out of existence. The only reason that negotiations have reached the stage that they have is because of the gun. The Irish learned that the British don't honor pacts or laws, and only by force of arms shall gains be made in Ireland. That sums up the sad history of that lovely isle. Ireland was the first English colony and is winding up being the last. The irony is profound.

we will spill the blood of the invidels that invade are nation

The British are bastards, and we Scotsmen should rise up and help the Irish, to repay them for their aid 700 years ago in the Scottish Wars of Independence. Erin Go Bragh

We are one nation. We shall murder and spill the blood of our enemies as long as ingnorance reigns. Aho
Raven

All we want is for the whole of the country to be united. If it takes violence then that is the price. Americans who oppose I laugh at. If you were taught about an american group fighting england for freedom back in the 1700's you would be all for them.

one of the ORIGIONAL terrorists groups

I used to worry about all that stuff but now after years of contemplating life, the universe and everything, all I want is a cracking looking blonde with big tits!

Sorry, but the Irish Republican Army was founded by Michael Collins in 1916, during the Easter insurrection.
Shimaine

violence is not good or wanted and when it is against innocents its criminal. But there is also a point when violence is not only justified but SHALL be used if no other means stands open.
Some actions of IRA and especilly splinter groups has been way over the limit for a freedom fight and merely been ordinary criminal actions.

BUT no crime is bigger nor worse than an government of a society commiting genocide against a people they rule and treat a choosen group of humans like a second rate of citizens. THAT is crime against the thought and meaning of a society, democrazy and humanity.
Therefore I vote 5 and wish IRA reach their goal and can dissolve themselves.

Out of the two, I'd take the IRA over the Brits any day. At least the IRA and the PIRA rids the earth of the drug runners/dealers and other criminals (including the British profiteers and thugs they call sodiers) that kill so many more people and ruin so many more lives than the IRA or its splinter groupes ever did/will.

Updated 03/14/2007 12:45pm  It amazes me that now two people found my review not helpful, do they not have the guts to explain why. So I guess that he or she thinks Killing and murdering innocent people for a cause, is OK. Any kind of murder no matter what the cause, IS WRONG!!!!! Have some guts and air your views, instead of being a coward like most terrorists. I do not agree with the occupation of my country of Ireland. But I detest and disagree with bombs and shootings, aimed at causing mayhem to innocent People- Mothers, Fathers, Children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The IRA should never be praised nor England for their evil ways!! Totally understand what you are saying and us English should have given back N.Ireland years ago. But I cannot in anyway support the many evil acts that the IRA inflicted on the general public of England. Most of which agree that N. Ireland should be given back and Ireland be one!!! I absolutely abhor any kind of violence against the General public done by England or the IRA. Most of you who have looked into this, your history is good; but remember there were lots of innocent lives wasted, due bombings and shootings!  Before people judge another country, look at your own and ask have we made any mistakes in our history? I'm just as ashamed of what my country has done, as I'am ashamed of what the IRA has done!!! 

There are a lot of splinter factions of the IRA, from the best known (Provos) to many lesser groups.

The IRA as founded in the wake of the Easter Rising in 1916, was an organization that used terror to fight an oppressor, and ultimately won a partial victory. They battled soldiers and militia of their enemy, and did not make a general practice of killing non-combatants.

The more modern IRA, since the beginning of the Troubles, has gone through various evolutions, from freedom fighters to terrorists, to outright gangsters, and back to some form of legitimate or quasi-legitimate politicians.

Some of the splinter groups are nothing but murderous thugs, who think that blowing the hands off postal clerks is advancing the cause of justice.

Very clearly, an organization in some turmoil, and at a crossroads in their history.

Fook the bloody british
"come out you black and tans come out and fight me like a man"

Do not disband destroy england and scotland should help just like 600 years ago when you helped us.

Legitimate cause, but any methods of violent resistance aimed at civilians is wrong.

I have a mixed view of this outfit. I abhor the violence but support some of their aims. The best reviews you can read here, by far, IMO, are by genghis the hun, CuChulainn, and irishgit. My question for A LOT of the American responders here is this: Have any of you people ever even heard of the Protestant paramilitaries and thugs? I'm wondering why there is 103 comments on this organization and just 13 for the UVF? I figure it comes down to a couple of things. Until quite recently, the UVF and similar groups got very little attention in the mainstream media. All you ever hear is IRA are terrorists and thugs. Ok, granted, not gonna dispute that. Most non-Irish Americans have a shadowy idea of Irish history: a vague understanding of a long history of oppression by England, which turns out to be over 800 years, something about a potato shortage, which in actuality was a cruel policy of exporting food to England while millions starved. Some people mistakenly think the IRA is religious based, but their targets aren't based in religious schism, unlike the UVF, who do target people based on religion. Now, in the northeast, there are tons of Irish Americans in Boston, New York, Philly, and other places, and some other places like Chicago have a strong contingent too. One of my ancestors was a prominent 19th century Fenian, so I'm a little biased. And yeah, I can't tell you how many Irish Americans I've known who have romanticized this struggle, or know very little about it, and who are, I guess you could say, only mindful of this oppression, and totally uncaring about similar issues around the globe. However, there is a huge information gap in this country regarding this issue. Part of the problem is that England is the country's biggest ally, and they don't want to step on any toes. We hear a lot about Irish Americans giving aid to this cause, and I agree, it's wrong to aid terrorists. But, we NEVER hear about Scotch-Irish and English fundamentalists here giving aid to the OTHER side, that happens too.Ian Paisley has an honorary degree from Bob Jones University, which is worth as much as a used rubber or a used piece of toilet paper IMO.

The IRA is not and never will be a "terrorist" organziation comporable to Hamas or Al Qaeda! Would the IRA ever try to take down the Twin Towers or destroy the Pentagon!?!?! I think NOT!!!! The IRA is not interested in slowly destroying the Western World, but rather its one and only goal is to recclaim the lands taken from it some 800 years ago. Sure, innocent people have died due to the acts of the IRA and many Englishmen and Irishmen alike have been murdered; however, after being raped, pillaged, degraded, and spat upon by Great Britain for centuries I think that by now the IRA is justified in almost any acts neccessary to secure freedom. So, in conclusion, I say long live the IRA now and forever!! And if you don't like that you can kiss my Irish Catholic ass!

AS much a threat to democracy as Al Queda, Hamas, and the rest of the Islamic terrorist factions. Some people might even place them further up on their list of people to hate just because they close to where this group operates. Terrorists are bad bad people that need to lose more then just their birthday....

Best army ever up the ira join if u want united eire too

Too many people have been killed for a over-rated crown

I do not like the english and I never will. I hearby vote the IRA as cool and anybody who disagrees cannot do nothing about it.

In the second post bellow this, someone states that the IRA have killed more innocent people in Ireland than the british government. This is the result of British arrogance/ lack of education. Britain has been slaughtering Irish for about 800 years from the CROMWELLIAN GENOCIDE to Bloody Sunday. Irish history before 1922 is little more than a record of unbelievable attrocities that the British commited when they stole our country from us, made us 'tennants' on our own land, and (during the famine) evicted us from the farms that had belonged to our fathers when we couldn't pay up the required tax to our british landlords. There was even a brief period shortly before the rise of the african slave trade during which Britain experimented with selling Irishmen into slavery in the barbados However, I agree that the IRA are a bloodthirsty group of terrorists and are not justified in their actions.

What about the loyalist paramilitaries?

They are and were a curse on the British and Irish people. How many innocent people did the British goverment kill as compared to the IRA over the years. What kind of monster would put nails in a bomb and blow it up in a pub, yeah real freedom fighters. What was it all about any way! Two Christian sects if you will, that were upset because of a guy that lives in the middle of Italy. The Irish people have been there own worst enemy for so many years, what a waste of time. The IRA has taken advantage of the ignorance of people around the world who support these terrorists. They are no better than the Taliban or Al Queda and should be treated accordingly as should any one who supports them. The majority of the people in Northern Ireland want to stay British, Nuff Said.

I unsure as to which side of the fence i am sitting on.I am writing an article on the IRA for a school project, i would like to thank the people who have placed their coments on the web site, they have been very usful to me!

If someone invaded your country wouldnt you be upset and want justice?

We as Irish Americans should support the NORAID fund as much as possible in order to allow IRA personnel to find a possible sollution towards ridding Northern Ireland of British control. The basic premisis in which the prods of Ulster base their beliefs of the 40% Catholics of Ulster upon is completely naive. Because of theirs and the British's unwillingness to accept us as human beings, we should support Sinn Fein's opinion and continue to fight their control over the country that was originally ours. "Our time will come". The belief that our greatest victory is a memorable defeat is coming to an end. We RC's have the ability to take back was is trully ours. Don't stop.

I'm an Macedonian and i'm seek of it when the big countrees ar using the small ones.My country to is a front of influens,of USA influance,and i now how it is when you have no rights,when your people is killed so other can live there.I respect the IRA like a liberation armi and i hope they will won there war.And i hope my people will follow thear exemple! In our country the albanians are like the blody english

Any organization which uses terrorists means for achieving their objectives, are terrorists. Don't be blindsighted into justifying their objectives (a republican state), the means will never justify the ends.

I live in the Republic of Ireland.We have been free from Britain officially since 1949 so for all you yanks,brits and other foreigners IRELAND IS FREE.as for the north i dont really care about nutters throwing petrol bombs and spewing hate at each other

Americelt I dunno much bout it being an American, and i dont plan on giving money to anyone outside my barman, and pizza delivery guy, but it wouldnt be great of we could just settle it all with a nice game of football (real football) UP CELTIC

if england would leave ireland all together as they have in india hong kong and other places.the world would be a better place amen.

Terrorists are terrorists. Calling these idiots freedom fighters gives freedom a bad name. UPDATE: Did I mention that they are a bunch of criminal arms dealers?

These were a bunch of murdering bastards who were tied up in crime rackets. Irish Freedom fighters my foot. Many of them loved violence for the sake of it. However, the only way to stop them was to engage them in talks, as distateful as that was. And halt the funds getting to them.

The Irish have never done anything worthwhile, they are just drunken arrogant little leeches who like to pretend they are worth something. They have a lower IQ than almost any other people in Europe. They love to self-aggrandize, but in reality they are worthless Pope-worshipping fools who breed like rats.

The IRA spouts the same crap as the muslims extremists about being oppressed and fighting for their homeland. They are both history's losers, and the cowards and deserve death. SAS / Green Berets / Air Force will deliver this.

i agree with Guava Monkeys veiw that the americans who beleive themselves to be supporting these people whilst they lead their (and our) army into war against other terrorists should step back and look at the world: they would see it is one f**ked up place and them pretending to be irish and sending funds and other things is just fuelling death and missery. i dont think that the IRA are all cowardly scumsucking peices of filth, but i dont agree with there methods as too many eighteen and ninteen year olds have died for very little i cant personally see how this is being succsesfull (however i have never seen ireland and maybe wrong). my veiws may be biased (my father is in the forces and i want to become a royal marine) but this is my oppinon.

The IRA are not a true terrorist organisation, but more a revolutionary freedom-fighter style force.

i was born in belfast 1970 and now live in england and till this day so proud to be irish my grandad was in the ira and my cousin was shot they said she was a informer i myself was going to join the ira because of what the brits and pilers had done to my people put war does not pay yes war when in a corner you will fight to get out some of theys poeple need to read about ireland before opening there traps.ireland holds theys graves shell be at peace. don't do to iraq what you did to ireland let them out of that corner

While I find these rants interesting and informative the sheer lack of understanding displayed by the vehement supporters of both sides surprises me. It seems to me that when taken as an idea the IRA is a wonderful idea, and most people would agree that liberty is a cause worth fighting for, but when the idea goes from a philisohical ideal and becomes a terrorist organisation, one whos organisational sturcture has been adopted by most other terorist organizations in the world, you have gone from freedom fighters to scum. This is not to say that the blame is entirely one sided in fact there have been as many Irish killed by british punative strikes as there have been british killed by IRA terrorisim. This is roughly equivalent to the war over the Gaza Strip between Palestine and Jerusalem. I also find it humorous that there are people who accuse the unted states of giving money and weapons to the IRA, this is false on as deep a level as can be the money that comes from america is not sanctioned by the US government anymore than the british government sactions their IRA sympathisers(and if you believe there are none you are a complete imbecile). In the end It matters not where you live or what you belive in, it's what you know that gives you the right to form an opinion, for without facts your opinons are just bigotry

SCUM RIGHT UP THERE WITH THY KU KLUX KLAN!!!!!!!!!!!

The Catholic/Protestant schism is a deeply rooted hatred. While the IRA seems to have faded as a high profile terrorist organization, it's clear that some obviously made a pretty good nickel out of it all and are unwilling to let it stop.

Time's up for you lads. It was quite a while ago.

The IRA are not Terrorist whats so ever the English/British are the terrorists they are the ones who terrorised the island of ireland for over 800 years.the IRA has every right to fight for independence they are the peoples army

I understand that Ireland is in need of some liberation. I understand that the people of Ireland are hurting. But when the IRA starts kidnapping, holding people hostage, or targeting British tourists, That's where I draw the line.

Vicious, cowardly scumsucking pieces of filth. Any of you 'Irish' yanks thinking the IRA, INLA are 'freedom fighters' go and say that to their victims families. Tossers.