Just curious as to what Australians think of the IRA and the Irish struggle for unification of the island (north & south).
Do you think the IRA are opportunistic terrorists with a hidden agenda, or are they genuine freedom fighters, fighting imperialism and capitalism?
Thank you in advance for your views.

Soren wrote on Jan 13^th, 2011 at 7:13pm:


Just out of curiosity, where are you getting your information from when you say that the majority of the North want to remain part of the UK?

IrishRepublican wrote on Jan 14^th, 2011 at 7:27am:



http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/

Soren, if you are using the latest elections as a guideline, then you've just shot yourself in the foot. There were more votes cast to Nationalist parties than Unionist parties
Anyway, I'm not here to defend the IRA etc, I'm just curious as to what people think. The IRA are gone, however, the splinter groups remain, and they seem to be growing in membership, but national support is pretty much non-existent.

So Northern Ireland wants to be independent or just integrated into Ireland?

JC Denton wrote on Jan 14^th, 2011 at 7:39am:


Have a think about what you've wrote. Read it back to yourself and see does it make sense.

While I was sympathetic to the cause of Irish independence I disapproved of the PIRA and its methods. Now the issue is (mostly) resolved the PIRA has become respectable and members are now MPs etc. and there is a real peace in NI.

Unfortunately there are those who cannot let go of the past for whatever reason, be it a real conviction about uniting all of Ireland, or just that they get a kick out of being rebels fighting for a cause, or becuse there is money to be made in being a so-called 'freedom fighter'.

 .

Karnal wrote on Jan 17^th, 2011 at 11:58am:


You're not wrong there.

Karnal wrote on Jan 17^th, 2011 at 11:58am:


The IRA, and I speak of the Provisional IRA the one we all know, decommissioned their weapons nearly 6 years ago. Their political wing, Sinn Fein, are the 2nd biggest party in the Northern Irish assembly (which is still under the fiscal control of Westminster). They're in a co-alition with the Unionist Party.
In the South of Ireland, Sinn Fein look set to be the largest party in opposition after next months general election, judging by opinion polls.

Karnal wrote on Jan 17^th, 2011 at 11:58am:


No, the unification issue isn't really touched upon by the major political parties, not since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 which outlined that it's up to the people of Northern Ireland to decide their future. There hasn't been a border poll since the 70's and the majority of Republicans boycotted the poll as they didn't recognise Northern Ireland as a legitimate country.

But as someone here said there are still some people who want to fight on, the so-called 'dissident republicans' who are completely against the peace process outlined by the Good Friday Agreement. They still continue to recruit young working class guys in run-down areas of Dublin, Belfast and Limerick. These groups, namely the 'Real IRA', Continuity IRA and Oglaigh na hEireann, have been colaborating with each other over the past year and plan on extending their campaign back into Britain. Not sure what this will achieve. Perhaps these groups will use this to make the British troops come back onto the streets of Ireland in order to increase support for the IRA. Twisted, but it's happening.