Provisional IRA Belfast Brigade

Belfast Brigade
ActiveDecember 1969–July 1997
DisbandedJuly 2005
AllegianceProvisional Irish Republican Army
Size1,500 (maximum)
Area of operationsGreater Belfast
ConflictThe Troubles


Commanders
Notable
commanders
Billy McKee
Joe Cahill
Seamus Twomey
Gerry Adams (disputed)
Ivor Bell
Brendan Hughes
Martin Meehan
Brian Gillen
Gerard "Jock" Davison
Eddie Copeland(3rd Battalion Commander)

The Belfast Brigade of the Provisional IRA was the largest of the organisation's brigades, based in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The nucleus of the Belfast Brigade emerged in the divisions within Belfast republicans in the closing months of 1969, and was formally established in January 1970 as the structures of the new dissident group were created after splitting from the Official IRA.

The brigade was organised along geographical lines into three battalions:

  • The first battalion covered the Upper Falls, Ballymurphy and Andersonstown
  • The second battalion covered the Lower Falls, Clonard and the Divis Flats
  • And the third battalion covered The Bone and the Short Strand.[1]
  1. ^ Bowyer Bell, J. (2000). The IRA, 1968-2000: An Analysis of a Secret Army. Routledge. pp. 225–226. ISBN 978-0714681191.