TY - JOUR PY - 2012// TI - Tiocfaidh ár Mná: Women in the Provisional Irish Republican Army JO - Behavioral sciences of terrorism and political aggression A1 - Bloom, Mia A1 - Gill, Paul A1 - Horgan, John SP - 60 EP - 76 VL - 4 IS - 1 N2 - This article seeks to answer the question of who were the women of the Provisional IRA and to assess any demographic patterns of PIRA involvement. We use a multi-method approach to describe the many roles and functions of female members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army from 1970 to 1998. Drawing on a sample of 61 convicted or deceased PIRA members, we outline the shifting socio-demographic and operation profile of these women and how structural, tactical and strategic needs of PIRA accounted for those changes. Women in the Provisional IRA played crucial operational roles throughout the period both front-line and behind the scenes. From the outset of the conflict, women consistently took part in violent operations. We also provide a historical case study of Mairéad Farrell's PIRA career to provide further illustrations of these themes in greater detail.

LA - SN - 1943-4472 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19434472.2011.631345 ID - ref1 ER -