IRA Northern Command - Provisional IRA

Provisional IRA

In the mid-1970s a new Northern Command was proposed by Gerry Adams and Ivor Bell, which would cover the six counties of Northern Ireland, and also County Louth, County Cavan, County Monaghan, County Leitrim and County Donegal. These counties were effectively the "war zone" where paramilitary operations were planned and carried out. The role of Southern Command, covering the remaining 21 counties, would be to provide logistical support for the campaign in the north. Veteran republicans such as Joe Cahill and Billy McKee opposed the idea fearing a split in the movement, but Chief of Staff Seamus Twomey backed the idea and a new Northern Command was formed in late 1976.