The correct spelling of the dissident Irish republican organization is "Real IRA" [ˈrɪəl aɪ.ɑː]. The first syllable is pronounced with the vowel sound /ɪə/, which is a combination of the short "i" sound and the "schwa" sound. The second syllable is pronounced with the long "i" sound /aɪ/. This group split from the Provisional IRA in 1997, with the goal of continuing the armed struggle against the British presence in Northern Ireland. Their activities have included bombings and shootings, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries.
The Real Irish Republican Army, commonly referred to as the Real IRA, is a dissident republican paramilitary organization in Ireland. Formed in 1997, it emerged as a splinter group from the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) following the latter's decision to endorse the Good Friday Agreement, which aimed to bring peace to Northern Ireland. The Real IRA opposed the peace process and believed that the IRA's leadership had betrayed the republican cause by accepting a compromise rather than continuing the struggle for a united Ireland.
The Real IRA is classified as a terrorist group by the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States due to its involvement in a series of bombings and other acts of violence. It has been responsible for several high-profile attacks, targeting both military and civilian targets. While its activity diminished significantly in the early 2000s, it has continued to carry out sporadic attacks, especially in Northern Ireland.
The organization's primary objective is to unify the island of Ireland under an independent republic, with the removal of British rule from Northern Ireland. It has maintained a militant stance and rejects the political and peacebuilding efforts made by the main nationalist parties. The Real IRA operates through a clandestine network and depends on a combination of fundraising, weapons smuggling, and recruitment to sustain its activities.
Efforts by security forces in Ireland and the United Kingdom have been directed towards dismantling the Real IRA and preventing its capacity for violence and terrorism.
The word "Real IRA" is an acronym that stands for "Real Irish Republican Army". Its etymology comes from its association with the Irish Republican Army (IRA), a paramilitary organization that operated in Ireland.
The "Real IRA" emerged as a splinter group from the Provisional IRA in 1997. The split occurred due to conflicts over the IRA's decision to engage in the peace process in Northern Ireland. Those who opposed the peace agreement, known as the Good Friday Agreement, referred to themselves as the "Real IRA" to differentiate from the Provisional IRA.
The usage of the term "Real" in the group's name implies that they considered themselves the true or authentic representative of Irish republicanism. This name reflected their belief that the Provisional IRA had deviated from the fundamental principles of republicanism by negotiating and working towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Northern Ireland.