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User:Jnestorius/Names for the IRA

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Various physical force Irish republican paramilitary groups have used the name "the Irish Republican Army", abbreviated "IRA", in the English language, and often also an Irish language name, usually "Óglaigh na hÉireann". Others may avoid using these labels for reasons of pragmatism and principle. Since multiple organisations have used the same name, some form of disambiguation is needed to distinguish them from each other; in addition, those who regard the labels as rightfully belonging to a particular organisation may regard its use by other groups as illegitimate.

In the Irish language, the most common label is the English initialism "IRA"; with the definite article an this gives an IRA or an tIRA.

Period English self name Irish self name Alternative English labels Alternative Irish labels Notes
1913–c.1919 Irish Volunteers Óglaigh na hÉireann, Fianna Fáil
c.1919–22 Irish Republican Army Óglaigh na hÉireann IRA, Old IRA IRA See Irish Republican Army; in Irish War of Independence
1922–24 National Army Free State army Did this use Óglaigh na hÉireann? If not, it should not be in the table.
1922–69 Irish Republican Army Óglaigh na hÉireann "Irregulars" (Irish Civil War); "the organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army (also the I.R.A. and Oglaigh na héireann)" (1939 proscription order) See Irish Republican Army (1922–69)
1924–present Defence Forces Óglaigh na hÉireann The Republic of Ireland armed forces
1969– Irish Republican Army Óglaigh na hÉireann Official IRA, OIRA
1969– Irish Republican Army Óglaigh na hÉireann Provisional IRA, PIRA, Provos IRA
1986– Irish Republican Army Óglaigh na hÉireann CIRA
1997– Irish Republican Army Óglaigh na hÉireann Real IRA
New IRA
Óglaigh na hÉireann See Óglaigh na hÉireann (Continuity IRA splinter group)
Óglaigh na hÉireann See Óglaigh na hÉireann (Real IRA splinter group)