IRA n
1. a militant organization of Irish nationalists who used terrorism and guerilla warfare in an effort to drive British forces from Northern Ireland and achieve a united independent Ireland [syn: Irish Republican Army, Provisional Irish Republican Army, Provisional IRA, Provos]
2. a self-funded retirement plan that allows you to contribute a limited yearly sum toward your retirement; taxes on the interest earned in the account are deferred [syn: individual retirement account}]
3. belligerence aroused by a real or supposed wrong (personified as one of the deadly sins) [syn: wrath, anger, ire]

The Irish Republican Army or IRA originated from the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and fought against the British army to get freedom for Ireland in the Irish War of Independence. When the island of Ireland was split up and the Republic of Ireland became independent, the IRA split up and some parts of it were involved in the fighting in Northern Ireland called 'The Troubles'.

The Irish Republican Army (Irish: Óglaigh na hÉireann) was formed from the joining of a part of the Irish BROTHERHOOD with the union's Irish Citizens Army militia after the Easter Uprising of 1916. And they were to continue to play an important role in the cause of Irish freedom from Britain.

After the unilateral declaration of independence by the Irish Parliament in 1919, the IRA until 1921 continued the war against British occupation in what was called the Irish War of Independence. This ended in 1921 with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which established the division of Ireland. The signing of the treaty led to a split in the IRA those against the treaty and those for the treaty. This led to a bitter civil war, which saw former friends and even family members on different sides. The IRA lost the civil war but the group did not go away and they continued to fight to free Ireland.

• Meaning: Descendant
• Origin: Hebrew
• Gender: Male

• Londonderry police seize bombs, arrest IRA suspect - CBS News
  DUBLIN — Residents of a Londonderry street voiced their anger Tuesday at Irish Republican Army die-hards after police seized at least two bombs in an apartment in the Northern Ireland city. Officers arrested a 30-year-old local man on ... Read more on this news related to 'IRA'
• Policeman's widow: Punishment for IRA killers weak - YAHOO!
  DUBLIN (AP) — The widow of a Northern Ireland policeman killed by Irish Republican Army die-hards condemned the length of prison sentences imposed Monday on his murderers, saying they were too short to deter more attacks by IRA factions. Kate Carroll ... Read more on this news related to 'IRA'
• Catholic residents angry at IRA faction after police find at least 2 bombs in Londonderry home - Washington Post
  DUBLIN — Residents of a Londonderry street voiced their anger Tuesday at Irish Republican Army die-hards after police seized at least two bombs in an apartment in the Northern Ireland city. Officers arrested a 30-year-old local man on suspicion of ... Read more on this news related to 'IRA'