10. IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY
A revolutionary organization in Ireland, it was formed out of the Irish Volunteers (founded in 1913). The IRA was responsible for waging a war of independence against the British in the period 1919-21. The entire war of independence was an extremely brutal affair and there were heavy casualties on either side. Having been trained as a guerilla unit, the IRA was skilled in quick attacks and ambushes. With an end to the war, the Anglo-Irish treaty was signed that resulted in a split within the IRA- those that supported the treaty came to be known as the Irish National Army and the rest remained affiliated to the IRA. A civil war followed as an inevitable result of the rift and the IRA lost it. Ever since, the group has remained in existence with the sole intention of overthrowing the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland in order to achieve the dream of Irish Republic. The IRA have been responsible for numerous car bombings and assassinations (including the assassination of Lord Mountbatten in 1979).
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