The Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) was an Irish paramilitary organization formed in 1969. It aimed to end British rule in Northern Ireland and reunify Ireland. The PIRA emerged from the original Irish Republican Army and became known for its armed campaign against British forces and loyalist groups during the Troubles, a conflict that lasted several decades. The PIRA was involved in various violent activities, including bombings and shootings, which led to significant loss of life and widespread destruction. In the late 1990s, the group declared a ceasefire and participated in the Good Friday Agreement, which aimed to establish peace in Northern Ireland.