*** A GLOSSARY OF IRISH TERMS AND ACRONYMS ***
>>
>>
>> A brief glossary of terms and acronyms in daily use in Ireland
>>
from Irish Republican News, for reference. Additions or
>> corrections welcomed.
>>
>>
>> #
>>
>> * 26 Counties: Most of Ireland;
became independent from
>> Britain after the Easter rising of 1916 and the war of
>>
independence fought by the IRA between 1919-1922
>>
>> * 6 Counties: Northern portion of Ireland
under British
>> government rule; also referred to as 'Northern Ireland."
>>
>>
A
>>
>> * A Chara (Pron: oh KORR-oh): Irish Gaelic introduction to
>>
letter, meaning 'Friend'. Plural is A Chairde (Pron: oh
>> KARR-DYEH)
>>
>>
* AAI: Australian Aid for Ireland - Irish Republican solidarity
>> organisation in Australia
>>
>> * Aer Lingus (Pron: AYR LING-uss): Irish national airline
>>
>> *
Alliance Party: A small northern political party which wishes
>> to maintain the union with Britain.
Led by Seamus Close
>>
>> * An Post (Pron: onn PUST): The semi-state
body operating the
>> postal service.
>>
>> * AOH: Ancient Order
of Hibernians. Irish Catholic organisation
>> based in the US.
>>
>> *
Ard Chomhairle (Pron: ORD KOW-ir-leh): Leadership or 'high
>> council.'
>>
>>
* Ard Fheis (Pron: ORD ESH): Annual Convention, usually of a
>> Political Party.
>>
>>
>> B
>>
>> * BBC: British Broadcasting
Corporation. Available in much of
>> Ireland
>>
>> * Bord Failte
(Pron: BURD FAWL-che): The Irish Tourist Board.
>>
>> * Bus Eireann (Pron: bus AIR-inn):
A subsidiary of CIE
>> responsible for bus services outside of Dublin.
>>
>>
C
>>
>> * Cabinet: Government decision making body. Chaired by
>>
Taoiseach. Government Ministers. The Attorney General and the
>> Chief Whip are seated members but cannot
participate in
>> decision-making.
>>
>> * Cairde Sinn Fein (Pron.
CARD-yeh SHINN FAYN) Support
>> organisation for Sinn Fein (inside the US, see Friends of Sinn
>>
Fein)
>>
>> * CLMC: Combined Loyalist Military Command - a now defunct
>>
grouping of the loyalist paramilitary UVF, UFF/UDA and
>> the Red Hand Commando
>>
>> * CIE: Coras Iompair Eireann (The former State Transport Company).
>>
>> * Coiste
na n-Iarchimi (Pron. KISH-te noh NEER-chi-MEE) - Umbrella
>> organisation working for former Irish Republican
political prisoners
>>
>> * Connolly Association: British-based Republican
organisation
>> campaigning for Irish re-unification and independence.
>>
>>
* Conradh na Gaeilge (Pron: CUNN-rah noh GAYLE-geh): Organization
>> devoted to the preservation
and promotion of Irish language and
>> culture.
>>
>> * Constituency:
Electoral region, usually about 30,000-40,000
>> voters.
>>
>> *
Cumann (Pron: KUMM-onn): Local organisation or constituent
>> 'society' of a larger organisation.
>>
>>
>> D
>>
>> * Dail (Pron.
DAWL): Parliament of the 26 counties.
>>
>> * DOE: (British) Department of the Environment
>>
>> * DHSS: (British) Department of Health and Social Services
>>
>>
* Drumcree: Site of major confrontations for past several years
>> between Orange Order marchers
and local nationalist residents.
>>
>> * DUP: Democratic Unionist Party - Ultra-hardline
unionist party.
>> Led by Ian Paisley.
>>
>>
>>
E
>>
>> * Eire (Pron. AY-reh): Irish Gaelic name for Ireland
>>
>> * EU: European Union; formerly EC or EEC.
>>
>>
>>
F
>>
>> * Feile: (Pron. FAY-leh) Festival
>>
>> *
Fleadh: (Pron. FLAH) Traditional music gathering, with
>> competitions
>>
>>
* F.F.: Fianna Fail (Pron. FEEN-oh FAWL): - 26-County Political
>> Party; conservative, generally
nationalist - led by Bertie Ahern.
>>
>> * F.G.: Fine Gael (Pron. FIN-eh GAYLE): - 26-County
Political
>> Party; conservative, with more secular social policies; generally
>>
unionist. Led by Enda Kenny.
>>
>> * First Minister: Head of the Stormont Executive responsible
for
>> devolved government in the Six Counties
>>
>> * FOSF: Friends
of Sinn Fein - US based lobby and fund-raising
>> organisation for Sinn Fein.
>>
>> * Foyle: The Derry region and river/estuary
>>
>>
>> G
>>
>> * GAA: Gaelic Athletic Association (Governing
Body for Hurling,
>> Gaelic Football, and Handball).
>>
>> * Gaeltacht
(Pron. GAIL-tockt): Irish Speaking Regions.
>>
>> * Garda (Pron. GORR-doh): Police - Full name
is Garda Siochana
>> ("Guardians of the peace"). Gardai (Pron. GORR-DEE) is the plural
>>
of Garda.
>>
>> * GFA: Good Friday Agreement. Internationally binding peace
treaty
>> signed in 1998 by the Irish and British governments and all the
>> political
parties in the Six Counties except the DUP and UKUP.
>>
>> * GHQ: General Headquarters
>>
>> * Green Party: Environmentalist political party
>>
>>
>>
H
>>
>>
>> * H-Blocks; components of Long Kesh prison; site of
1981 hunger
>> strike
>>
>> * House of Commons: Lower chamber of
the British parliament at
>> Westminster
>>
>> * HRC: Human
Rights Commission
>>
>>
>> I
>>
>>
* IAUC: Irish-American Unity Conference
>>
>> * ICTU: Irish Congress of Trade Unions
>>
>> * IDA: Ireland Industrial Development Authority (State body
>> chartered to attract
foreign industry.)
>>
>> * IDB: Industrial Development Board (British state body chartered
>>
to attract foreign industry to the 6-counties).
>>
>> * IFA: Irish Farmers' Association
>>
>> * IICD: Independent International Commission for Decommissioning.
>> Body set
up under the GFA to mediate the process of putting
>> arms beyond use.
>>
>>
* INAC: Irish Northern Aid Committee - US-based Republican support
>> organisation.
>>
>> * INLA: Irish National Liberation Army (small republican
>> socialist organisation,
now on ceasefire).
>>
>> * IPLO: Irish People's Liberation Organisation (Breakaway group
>>
from INLA, now defunct).
>>
>> * IRA: Irish Republican Army - army of volunteers engaged
>>
in armed struggle against the British forces in Ireland, now on
>> ceasefire
>>
>> * IRSM: Irish Republican Socialist Movement (includes the INLA
>> and a political
party, the IRSP) - opposed to IRA ceasefire
>>
>> * ITV: Independent Television. British
television channel, available
>> in Ireland as UTV.
>>
>>
>>
L
>>
>> * Labour Party: Small 26-County political party; left of centre
>>
on many issues. Led by Ruairi Quinn. The British equivalent, led
>> by Tony Blair, is the party of government
at Westminster
>>
>> * Leinster House: The seat of the Irish parliament in Dublin
>>
>> * Long Kesh: Large prison which formerly housed most 6-county
>> political prisoners;
the H-Blocks are located here.
>>
>> * Loyalism: A sort of Unionism, traditionally more disposed
to
>> violence; proponents are 'loyal' to Great Britain. Includes a
>> number of
paramilitary organisations which have worked in
>> collusion with British forces.
>>
>> * LVF: Loyalist Volunteer Force - a loyalist paramilitary
>> organisation not on 'ceasefire'
- broke away from UVF in
>> Mid-Ulster area
>>
>>
>>
M
>>
>> * Maze: British name for Long Kesh
>>
>>
* MEP: Member of the European Parliament.
>>
>> * MI5: British military 'intelligence'
organisation; operates
>> undercover in Ireland, often in collusion with loyalist
>>
paramilitaries.
>>
>> * MoD: (British) Ministry of Defence
>>
>>
* MP: Member of (the British) Parliament.
>>
>>
>> N
>>
>> * NIWC: Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
>>
>> * NIO: Northern Ireland
Office - the administrative headquarters
>> for the 6 Counties, headed by Britain's direct ruler Paul
>> Murphy and a team of British government ministers.
>>
>> * NIUP:
Northern Ireland Unionist Party - small unionist party
>> which broke away from the UKUP
>>
>> * Noraid: See INA
>>
>>
>> O
>>
>> * OFMDFM: Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers at the
>> Stormont Assembly.
>>
>> * Oireachtas (Pron. irr-ACK-tos): Name to cover both houses of
>> the 26-County Parliament
(ie. The Dail and the Seanad) and the
>> President.
>>
>> * Orange
Order: Extreme anti-Catholic religious/political
>> organisation in 6-Counties; opposes 'popery'; Unionist/Loyalist
>>
in political allegiance. Led by Robert Saulters.
>>
>>
>> P
>>
>> * PD: Progressive Democrats - Political party founded in the late
>> 80's by Fianna
Fail dissidents; policies generally right-wing.
>>
>> * PR: Proportional Representation
- voting system employed in
>> 26-Counties, namely STV - single transferable vote.
>>
>> * PSNI: Police Service of Northern Ireland - the new name for
>> the RUC
>>
>> * PUP: Progressive Unionist Party - small fringe unionist party
>> associated with
the UVF.
>>
>> R
>>
>>
>>
>> * 'Real' IRA: Small new republican organisation engaged in armed
>> actions. Claim
to be "the true IRA". Goals are similar to those
>> of RSF.
>>
>>
* Red Hand Commando: Another loyalist paramilitary organisation,
>> part of the CLMC.
>>
>> * Republican Movement: Describes the principle modern incarnation
>> of the Irish
republican tradition which draws on 18th century
>> French republicanism and historical Irish influences,
including
>> Wolfe Tone, the United Irishmen, Irish Republican Brotherhood and
>>
the Easter Rising. Includes Sinn Fein and the IRA.
>>
>> * RIR: Royal Irish Regiment
- British Army regiment formed in
>> 1992 with the amalgamation of the UDR and Royal Irish Rangers.
>>
>> * RMD: Republican News, online Irish republican news service.
>>
>> *
RSF: Republican Sinn Fein - small breakaway Republican
>> political party. Goals are similar to those
of the 'Real' IRA.
>>
>> * RTE: Radio Telefis Eireann (Pron. RAH-dee-oh TELL-if-eesh
>>
AIR-inn): (The state-owned broadcasting authority). RTE1 and
>> Network2 are its two television channels.
>>
>> * RUC: Royal Ulster Constabulary - former name of the British
>> militarised police
force in the 6 Counties.
>>
>> S
>>
>>
>> * SAS: Special Air Services (An undercover wing of the British
>> Army, some of whose
members operate in the 6-Counties, largely
>> above the law).
>>
>> *
SDLP: Social Democratic and Labour Party (A nationalist
>> political party in the 6-Counties).
>>
>> * Seanad (Pron. SHAN-odd): Senate (or upper house of Parliament)
>> - must approve
all legislation before it can become law. Styled
>> on the British House of Lords.
>>
>> * Sinn Fein (Pron. SHINN FAYN): Political party led by Gerry Adams
>>
>>
* Slan: (Pron. SLAWN): Irish Gaelic for 'Farewell'.
>>
>> * Sky TV: British satellite
TV station owned by Rupert Murdoch
>>
>> * Stormont: Buildings employed by several 6-County
parliaments.
>> Seat of British rule in Ireland.
>>
>> * STV: Single
Transferable Vote - see PR.
>>
>> T
>>
>>
>> * Taoiseach (Pron. TEE-shack): Prime Minister (Head of Government
>> - the President
is Head of State)
>>
>> * Tanaiste (Pron. TAW-nish-teh): Deputy Prime Minister.
>>
>> * TD: Teachta Dala (Member of the Dail).
>>
>> * TG4: Irish language television
channel
>>
>> * TOM: Troops Out Movement - British based organisation working
>>
to bring about a withdrawal of British forces from Ireland.
>>
>> * Tories: British Conservative
Party of government in Britain;
>> supports continuing British occupation in Ireland. Led by William
>>
Hague.
>>
>> * TV3: Independent Irish television channel
>>
>>
U
>>
>>
>> * UDA: Ulster Defence Association, a loyalist paramilitary
>>
organisation in the 6-Counties synonymous with the UFF; worked
>> largely in co-operation with undercover
British forces.
>>
>> * UDP: Ulster Democratic Party - small unionist party with one
or
>> two elected councillors. Was associated with the UDA/UFF, now
>> replaced
by the UPRG.
>>
>> * UDR: Ulster Defence Regiment (Now renamed - a regiment of the
>>
British Army which operates in the 6 Counties. Amalgamated into
>> the RIR.)
>>
>> * UFF: Ulster Freedom Fighters (A loyalist paramilitary
>> organisation. Synonymous
with the UDA.)
>>
>> * UKUP: United Kingdom Unionist Party. Small new unionist Party.
>>
Led by Bob McCartney.
>>
>> * Ulster: Province of Ireland. Nine counties, including the
>>
6 Counties and Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan.
>>
>> * Unionism: Political philosophy supporting
maintainence of
>> British rule of the 6 Counties.
>>
>> * United
Kingdom: Defined by British government as Britain and
>> its offshore islands but also the 6 counties.
>>
>> * UPRG: Ulster Political Representation Group: Group formed
>> to represent
the paramilitary UDA in the political arena.
>> Replaced the disbanded UDP.
>>
>>
* UTV: Ulster Television - the independent commercial television
>> channel serving the 6-Counties,
part of ITV
>>
>> * UUP: Ulster Unionist Party - largest unionist party. Led by
>>
David Trimble
>>
>> * UVF: Ulster Volunteer Force (Loyalist paramilitary
>>
organisation). Allied to the PUP.
>>
>>
>> W
>>
>> * Westminster: Seat of the British parliament in London,
>> including the House of
Commons (lower chamber) and the House of
>> Lords (upper chamber)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> (c) Republican News. May be reprinted with credit.
>>
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