Armed militias in Ireland

Ireland has unfortunately faced many political and warlike conflicts in the past. Its regular confrontation with the British, combined with deep-rooted territorial struggles, has therefore given rise to many armed small groups throughout Irish history.

The Irish armed groups

Between armed conflicts and ideological struggles…

Most of the armed militias existing in Ireland were born out of a single conflict: that between the Irish and the British. Centuries old, this quarrel has often degenerated into violent clashes, leading to the creation of militias on both sides, such as the Black and Tans (on the English side), or the IRA (on the Irish side)…

Ideologically, the two camps have never ceased to oppose each other on the question of the independence of Ireland and Northern Ireland…

Although the conflict no longer exists in the Republic of Ireland, some militias are still active in Northern Ireland (sometimes through peaceful, sometimes violent actions). Here is an overview of the different small groups that have marked Irish history, whether they are still active or not today:

The different armed groups that exist and have existed in Ireland and Northern Ireland: