2. The IRA Split into Multiple Factions
In December 1969, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) experienced a significant division, leading to the formation of the Provisional IRA and the Official IRA. This split was primarily due to differing views on Northern Ireland’s status and strategy. The Provisional IRA, under leaders like Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, advocated for armed struggle to end British rule, while the Official IRA, led by Cathal Goulding, leaned towards Marxist ideology and political engagement (en.wikipedia.org).
