I had to do it at some point. I love U2 too much, and it was really too tempting to put up their video. But at least you can jam while reading this, right?
Anyways, after finding this article from 2009 on the NY Times website, I found it rather significant how the Bloody Sunday Massacre affected support for the IRA.
First, a wee bit of background. In 1969, the IRA split between the OIRA (Official IRA) and the Provisional IRA (otherwise known as the Provos). The Official IRA was a more pacifistic, Marxist group based in Dublin. They wanted a united Ireland without all the violence. The Provisional IRA, however, was more than willing to partake in violence.
This view is summarized pretty well by Tomas MacCurtain, one of the first leaders of the IRA (in 1920), when he said, “Violence never was or is no longer the best way or the most convenient way or the most comfortable way or the most comforting way. But it is the only way.” (From the Secret History of the IRA documentary)
On January 30th, 1972, the Bloody Sunday Massacre in Bogside changed a lot. In short, this was essentially what was described as “mass murder by the British army” (from an article in the Irish Echo, in Ireland’s Agony part 3). What started as a peaceful march ended in the deaths of 13 civil rights marchers by the British army. This massacre sparked protests, such as:
From The Irish Echo in Ireland's Agony part 3
A few months after the massacre, the British army was absolved from the primary blame of the massacre, as it was believed that the first shots were fired from snipers aiming at the army, not the army men themselves. While many Brits believed that the army was innocent, many Ulster Catholics didn't think the same way.
What is perhaps more important is that this marked the death (essentially) of the OIRA, as they officially surrendered to the Brits in 1972. The support of the provisional IRA, which then became known as the IRA, skyrocketed, as did anger amongst the Ulster Catholics. To quote a NY Times article (February 13, 1972), "It created a new reality in Northern Ireland, a reality that makes political compromise virtually unacceptable, at least until violent passions are cooled, and the unthinkable thinkable."
What is perhaps more important is that this marked the death (essentially) of the OIRA, as they officially surrendered to the Brits in 1972. The support of the provisional IRA, which then became known as the IRA, skyrocketed, as did anger amongst the Ulster Catholics. To quote a NY Times article (February 13, 1972), "It created a new reality in Northern Ireland, a reality that makes political compromise virtually unacceptable, at least until violent passions are cooled, and the unthinkable thinkable."
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