Óglaigh na hÉireann

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Óglaigh na hÉireann (IPA: [ˈoːgliː nə ˈheːrʲən], old orthography Óglaiġ na h-Éireann, [pronunciation] ([Media helphelp]·[info])) is an Irish language term traditionally translated as "Volunteers of Ireland" or "Warriors of Ireland". Its exact designation has changed throughout recent history.

Currently it is the official title of the Irish Defence Forces (since 1922), recognised by the Irish Government as the only legitimate armed Forces of the southern state in Ireland (1922-1937 Irish Free State, since 1937 Ireland or in the Irish language Éire , since 1948 also referred to as the Republic of Ireland). The name reflects both the sense of the Irish state as inheritor of the pre-independence nationalist movement, and, as "Volunteers", Ireland's historic opposition to conscription. The Irish Defence Forces regard the use of the title Óglaigh na hÉireann by groups other than themself as an insult [link], and furthermore it is illegal to be a member of a group falsely styling itself Óglaigh na hÉireann.

The term may historically refer to:

the Irish Volunteers (1913-1919)—an Irish nationalist paramilitary group
the official title of the Irish Republican Army (1919-1922)—the successor to the Irish Volunteers and army of the secessionist Irish Republic.

Alternatively, it may refer to any other Irish Republican Army since 1922—various groups which have refused to recognise the legitimacy of Northern Ireland (and, for some, the Republic of Ireland). These include the Provisional IRA, the Continuity IRA and the Real IRA.

In February 2006, the Independent Monitoring Commission reported that a new dissident republican group styling itself Óglaigh na hÉireann had been formed after a split from the Continuity IRA.

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