Is the IRA a Terrorist Organization?

[Bengalzona]

WAS the IRA a terrorist organization?

Is the Pope Catholic?

Of course they were.

But the question the OP poses is "IS the IRA a terrorist organization?" I suppose it would depend upon which IRA you were talking about as they have broken into so many smaller factions over the years (OIRA,PIRA,CIRA, RIRA, etc.). I think most IRA members have accepted the Good Friday Agreement. The PIRA stood down militarily in 2005 and the British withdrew troops from Northern Ireland in 2007. A small group of radicals continue to pledge violence. But overall, what they were is not what they are now. And I believe it is important to recognize that these groups can (and often should) change.

Probably the best comparison to the IRA might be the PLO. No one doubts that they were a terrorist organization. But they tried to turn from violence. Not everyone in the group went along with that. That aspect is sort of similar to the IRA.