Irish Republican Army
A revolutionary force from Belfast, clashing with the Peaky Blinders and the British state.
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a militant organization that appears in the series as a political and criminal force. They are specifically mentioned in relation to Major Chester Campbell, a detective chief inspector in the Royal Irish Constabulary sent by Winston Churchill from Belfast, where he had been sent to fight against the Irish Republican Army flying columns. Later, in the sixth series, Tommy Shelby must deal with plots from the Irish Mob as well as the Anti-Treaty IRA.
Quick Facts
- Notable leader in series
- Laura McKee/ Captain Swing
Lore & Background
The IRA's presence in the series is defined by their conflict with the British authorities and their uneasy relationship with the Shelby family. In the first series, Major Chester Campbell is brought from Belfast, where he had fought the IRA's flying columns, to recover stolen guns and deal with the Peaky Blinders. This establishes the IRA as a background concern for the British government. In the sixth series, set in 1933, the Anti-Treaty IRA is a specific faction that Tommy Shelby must contend with, alongside the Irish Mob, as he deals with the rise of fascism and the repeal of Prohibition. The IRA is not a unified ally or enemy; they are a volatile element in the political landscape.
Reader's Guide
The Irish Republican Army functions as a recurring antagonistic force, particularly in the early and final series. In the fifth series the IRA's Captain Swing captures Michael Gray and lets him go at Tommy's request; in the sixth she takes credit for foiling the plot against Oswald Mosley and has the bodies of Polly Gray, Aberama Gold and Barney Thomason delivered to Tommy's home. For Tommy Shelby, the IRA represents a dangerous political complication. He must navigate their plots, which are mentioned alongside those of the Irish Mob in the sixth series. Their methods are violent and their goals are ideological, making them unpredictable allies or deadly enemies.
Historical Context and Setting
Set in Birmingham, England, starting in 1919, the series places the Peaky Blinders gang in a world still reeling from the First World War. The Irish Republican Army is introduced through the character of Major Chester Campbell, a detective chief inspector in the Royal Irish Constabulary. He is sent by Winston Churchill from Belfast, where he had been fighting against the Irish Republican Army flying columns, to suppress disorder in Birmingham and recover stolen arms. This establishes the IRA as a key concern for the British government and a shadowy threat that extends beyond the streets of Ireland into the industrial heart of England.
Narrative Arc and Expansion
The IRA's role evolves across the series. In the first series, IRA men appear in Birmingham: Ryan, who is shot by Grace, and his cousin Malachi Byrne. By the sixth series, set on 5 December 1933, the political landscape has shifted. The Nazi Party has obtained power in Germany, and Tommy Shelby must deal with plots from the Irish Mob as well as the Anti-Treaty IRA.
Key Characters and Ensemble
Major Chester Campbell, played by Sam Neill in the first two series, is the IRA's old enemy. He is an Ulster Protestant policeman drafted from Belfast, where he had been fighting the IRA's flying columns. His mission from Winston Churchill is to suppress disorder and uprising in Birmingham, a task directly linked to his previous experience fighting the IRA. In later series, the threat is personified by Laura McKee, also known as Captain Swing, an IRA leader from Belfast who appears in the sixth series. She serves as Battalion Commander of the IRA's Fermanagh branch.
Production History and Legacy
Created by Steven Knight, the series premiered on 12 September 2013 on BBC Two. It moved to BBC One for its fifth and sixth series, the final of which was released in 2022. The show gained international distribution through Netflix. The series features a large ensemble cast, with Sam Neill appearing in the first two series as Major Campbell, the primary antagonist linked to the IRA. The story continues in the feature-length film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, released on 6 March 2026 and set a few years after the series finale.
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