What is the difference between the Official Irish Republican Army and the Provisional Irish Republican Army?

Answer 1

The Provisional Irish republican army (IRA), was formed in 1969 after it split from the Official Irish republican army (OIRA) over the OIRAs failure to protect Irish nationalist areas from attack by british loyalists and the police the Royal ulster constabulary (RUC). The Real Irish republican army (RIRA) split from the provisional IRA in 1997 after the IRA called a ceasefire and entered into the northern Ireland peace process. The Real IRA (RIRA) continue to use armed struggle to free northern Ireland from british rule, they attack british military, political and economic targets throughout northern Ireland and are believed to be preparing to bomb the british mainland. The Provisional IRA have ceased their armed campaign, have decommisioned most of their weapons and have moved into peaceful politics through their political party Sinn Fein. The Real IRA regard the provisionals as sell outs of republicanism and believe themselves to be the legitimate army in the struggle for Irish freedom.

In short, the Real IRA are still fighting, the Provisional IRA have stopped.