A Broad Church Volume 2: The Provisional IRA in the Republic of Ireland, 1980-1989

by Gearóid Ó Faoleán

In this fascinating sequel to the ground-breaking publication of Broad Church in 2019, A Broad Volume 2 reveals the true history of the Provisional Republican movement in the south of Ireland in the cataclysmic decade of the 1980s. This period saw a sea-change in the movement, with the political wing increasingly coming to fore of the republican struggle. This led to a rethink on the movement’s policy of abstentionism both within the military and political movements, culminating in the historic overturning of the policy in the Republic.

This growing politicisation supplemented the armed struggle, which saw the most significant arms importations in the IRA’s history take place in the South during the mid-1980s. With the acquisition of an array of new weaponry, the IRA took on larger and more prestigious British targets. The decade also saw a return to attacking commercial targets in Britain in a concerted and systematic strategy for the first time since the mid-1970s.

Outlining the developments year by year, and the Irish state’s attempts to deal with the Provisional IRA, A Broad Volume 2 presents a comprehensive and fascinating picture of the evolution of the republican movement.

432 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2023

Reviews

[Matthew O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personally i think volume 1 is more interesting however thats just because i think the period is more interesting. Its a very good book and i would highly reccomend anyone interested in the national liberation struggle to read this. I hope a third volume gets released soon.

[Bob Holden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read for anyone who remembers that period. Should be compulsory for anyone who thinks shouting "up the ra" is a sign of patriotism.