Provisional Irish Republican Army

The Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA; more commonly referred to as the IRA, the Provos, or by some of its supporters as the army or the Ra) is an Irish Republican paramilitary organisation. Since its emergence in 1969, its stated aim has been the reunification of Ireland which it believed could not be achieved without an armed campaign directed against British rule in Northern Ireland. On July 28, 2005, the Provisional IRA Army Council announced an end to its armed campaign, stating that it would work to achieve its aims using "purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means" and that " Volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever".

See also

• IRA Army Council
• IRA Chiefs of Staff
• Irish Republican Army
• Gerry Adams
• Martin McGuinness
• Sinn Féin
• History of Northern Ireland
• Terrorism
• The Troubles
• Northern Ireland peace process
• Proscribed paramilitary organizations in Northern Ireland