User:Orlamaeve/sandbox

The term ‘independent republican’ (Ireland) was a political term often used amongst Irish republicans from the 1920s onwards, when disputing elections in both Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland. These republicans view British rule in Ireland as essentially illegitimate, with the political agenda to see unity as a result of independence from the British monarchy. The foundations of republicanism began in the late 18th century when the economic, political and social domination of Ireland occurred between the 17th and 20th century by members of the Establish Church (England). Tension between these countries resulted in the 1916 rising, and 1919 – 1920 saw the formation of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) by its founding members Michael Collins and Richard Mulcahy. The IRA was first organised as a guerrilla campaign against the British Army and the Royal Irish Constabulary, with the aims putting a stop to the atrocities occurring as a result of the actions of the ‘black and tans’ as well as the auxiliary army (British paramilitary police) during the Anglo-Irish war (1919-1921). Its relevance within modern Ireland remains prevalent, as 1969 saw The Troubles re-ignite the Provisional Irish Republican Army. The term ‘independent republican’ today is still prevalent, seen within the Sinn Fein left-wing political party that is currently operating in modern Irish politics, recently coming first in the most recent general election. Controversies surrounding the use of this term most commonly associated with politicians within connections to Sinn Fein, Irish Republican Gerry Adams, the previous president who upholds speculations of being involved in the IRA during the 1980s.