Florence O'Donoghue has written:

'No Other Law' -- subject(s): Biography, Irish Republican Army, Irish Volunteers

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) were a paramilitary group with the goal of freeing Ireland from British rule.

They originally formed in 1913, under the name "The Irish Volunteers," in response to the Ulster Volunteer Force's creation in Northern Ireland (which was intended to help prevent the Home Rule - a document trying to let Southern Ireland vote on their own taxes)

They officially became the IRA in 1969.

"Dear Land of My Love" was written by Eamon Bulfin, an Irish republican and member of the Irish Volunteers who fought in the 1916 Easter Rising. The song reflects his love for his homeland and desire for Irish independence.

General collective nouns for people can be used for volunteers; a crew of volunteers, an army of volunteers, a couple of volunteers, a flight of volunteers, a corp of volunteers are all examples.

In 1919, the Irish Republic was formally established by an elected assembly called Dáil Éireann. The Irish Volunteers were the fighing group. The Dáil Éireann renamed them the Irish Republican Army. After the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921, supporters of the Treaty formed the National Army while the anti-treaty forces continued to use the name Irish Republican Army.

There have been many groups since then that have re-used the name.