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Glite Dictionary
Irish Republican Army

Irish Republican Army

8 6.7
A group of people who use violence to try to end British rule in Northern Ireland and unite Ireland
  • noun
  • /ˈaɪrɪʃ rɪˈpʌblɪkən ˈɑrmi/
  • NSFW
translation icon : Ejército Republicano Irlandés
  • The Irish Republican Army campaigned for the reunification of Ireland through various means.
  • Irish Republican Army (IRA)
  • Provisional Irish Republican Army
  • Irish Republican Army has declared

Examples

  • In May 1987, in Loughgall, Northern Ireland, a British special operations unit killed eight Irish Republican Army (IRA) militants who were preparing to attack a police station.

    Academic text (2010)

  • Authorities reported that the Irish Republican Army was involved in the recent violence in Northern Ireland.

  • In Northern Ireland, the Irish Republican Army has declared a complete cessation of military operations.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Opposing this new partition would be the government of the Republic of Ireland and the outlawed Irish Republican Army.

    Academic text (1995)

  • After the Irish Republican Army (IRA) declared a ceasefire in 1994, Magee immediately took action.

    Academic text (2007)

  • A faction of the Irish Republican Army, however, would not accept partition, and an Irish civil war raged from July 1922 to April 1923.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Peacemakers in Northern Ireland decided that the Irish Republican Army would have to cease its violence as a precondition for the involvement of Sinn Fein (the IRA's political wing) in the peace process, and the peace process was a resounding success.

    Academic text (2009)

  • Many remember the Irish Republican Army for its significant role in the conflict over British rule.

Synonyms

IRA
vsIrish Republican Army
  • Offensive
1 7.4

A group that used violence to fight British rule in Northern Ireland

is a timeless description of the group's purpose not tied to era
Provos
vsIrish Republican Army
  • NSFW
9.9

A group in Northern Ireland that used violence against British forces to try to unite Ireland

is the formal official name rather than an informal label
Provisional Irish Republican Army
vsIrish Republican Army
  • NSFW
8.8

An armed Irish group that used violence to end British rule in Northern Ireland

is a general description of that group's aims rather than the formal name
Provisional IRA
vsIrish Republican Army
  • NSFW
8.8

An armed Irish group that used violence to fight British troops in Northern Ireland and unite Ireland

is the broader description of purpose rather than this date focus

Surface Forms

Irish Republican Army singular
Irish Republican Armies plural

Morphology

Irish + republican + army

The phrase is directly compositional: 'Irish' (pertaining to Ireland) + 'republican' (supporting a republic) + 'army' (an organized fighting force) yields 'an army of Irish republicans', so a learner who knows the constituents can infer it denotes an organized armed group advocating republican aims. Specific historical and paramilitary nuances (e.g. tactics, campaign against British rule) are specialized background knowledge, but the core referent is transparently derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Irish Republican Army comes from its parts: Irish (people from Ireland), Republican ('wanting a republic'), and Army (a fighting group). That's why the name is used for the armed group that fought to end British rule and to reunite Ireland.