The Irish language was banned. The Catholic faith was illegal in the early modern period. The land of natives was stolen. The native population was beaten down, robbed, starved, and deported.
Not genocide? Close enough.
Ireland's population was cut in half in the nineteenth century. Nor genocide? Yes, all of those people were not murdered or starved. Most left to escape the poverty forced on Ireland by English law and brutality.
And what the hell has all that got to do with the modern IRA? What has a famine 150 years ago got to do with today?
They are trying to overthrow Irish democracy, they are have also killed 2000 people, north and south!!
Why can't you all listen to the opinions of someone who actually lives in Ireland?
The IRA have murdered innocent Protestants in Northern Ireland, in a war against British democracy.
They have murdered members of the Irish police force, in a war against Irish democracy.
They are engaged in a criminal conspiracy to overthrow Irish demcoracy, and replace it with a socialist dictatorship.
They are in league with FARC, ETA, the PLO, Al Qaida, etc.
They are allies of Castro and Chavez.
The English honed the divide and conquer strategy used so successfully around the world when they were brought into the internecine warring between the kingdoms of Ireland.
The Irish, being Irish, did not view the English as worthy opponents, and thus continued to fight among themselves to this very day!
:-)
Actually, I tell my relatives in Ireland that if I walk into a shop or pub and see a sign saying "We treat you like family", I turn around and run out the door!