To expand on that, from an Irish person;

The OG IRA did excellent work and id agree that they did nothing wrong on a grand scale. It was a war of independence back then, and they were fighting against the issues highlighted in the post.

The newer branches of the IRA during the troubles fought for the right cause but made some questionable choices throughout. They used a much more aggressive tactic, buying guns from the middle east and robbing places to get the money. In the end, technically it led to the good Friday agreement, which brought forward opportunities for future reunification. Good overall, but some clear "downsides".

Despite this though, it is underreported how many heinous acts the loyalists committed during the same time. From tearing apart Irish families, destroying entire housing estates and starting the troubles in the first place, they really were a pathetic group.

Basically, the IRA were undoubtedly on the good side. but how good that was varied throughout the century.